James Stanton, Jr.

James “Jim” Dalton Stanton, Jr., age 63, entered his eternal home on July 25, 2019. Visitation will be Sunday, July 28, 2019 from 5-7 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, July 29, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Groesbeck with burial to follow at the Thornton City Cemetery.

Pallbearers are K.L. Smith, Jay Krenek, Jim Haley, Scott Newberry, James Beard, Gary Beard, Jim Longbotham and Mike Matthews. Honorary pallbearers are Leon Jordan, Steven Payne, Liz Matthews, Andrea Cromeens, and Diane Masters.

Jim was born December 13, 1955, in Fairfield, Texas, to James and Mildred Legalley Stanton. He graduated from high school in Fairfield and finished his education at Christ for the Nations Bible College in Dallas, Texas after declining a full scholarship to play college football. He was a member of the Thornton United Methodist Church.

Jim met the love of his life Martha Lewis Tilley in 1981 and they were married on April 8, 1983. Their two wonderful families were blended together as the two were happily married for more than 36 years.

Jim was employed by Houston Lighting and Power at the start-up of the power plant operations on Lake Limestone in 1984. He remained there as a loyal employee for the company as they went through all the corporate changes up to the present time as a plant operator for NRG Energy.

Jim had several hobbies over the last several years. Most noted of these were fishing, boating on Lake Limestone, cooking, reading, and playing dominoes with family and friends at the lake. Jim was a great joke teller. His photographic memory allowed him to never miss the punch line, and he always had everyone laughing. Last but not least was his love and passion for his Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys. He was all in, win or lose. Jim was dedicated to reading his Bible every day. He was the spiritual leader to his family, and his love for his Savior Jesus Christ remained unquestioned.

He had so many friends, especially those fellow plant operators at work whom he loved and respected so much.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother Mildred of Buffalo and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lori and Tommy Beard of Groesbeck.

He leaves behind his wife who he referred to as “Sunshine”, the love of his life Martha Stanton. He also leaves behind his father James Stanton, Sr. and wife Jean of Buffalo; son James Stanton III of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; step-son Keith Tilley and “daughter” Diane Tilley of Groesbeck; step-son Mark Tilley and daughter-in-law Laura Tilley of Houston; brother Tom Stanton and sister-in-law Pam Stanton of Whitehouse; grandchildren Joshua Stanton, Caleb Stanton, Serra Stanton, Alan Brewer, Travis Tilley and Tatum Tilley; nieces Stephanie Jennings and husband Joseph, and Shelby Hollister and husband Johnathan; nephews Spencer Stanton and James Beard; and great niece Lorraine Renee Hollister and great nephew Killyon Beard.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Thornton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 382, Thornton, Texas 76687.