Jim House

Jim Tom House, 82, of Brenham passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at Trinity Care Center. He was born February 27, 1927, in Center City, Texas, to Thomas Henry and Frances Wilcox House. He graduated from Goldthwaite High School in 1944 and enlisted in the army. He served in the 48th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon. After being discharged from the army, he enrolled at John Tarleton Agricultural College where he was the editor of the Grassburr, the Tarleton yearbook. After receiving a two-year degree from Tarleton, he attended Texas A&M. While at Texas A&M, he was the editor of the Agriculturalist Magazine, secretary of Alpha Zeta, and company commander of Company 11, transfer fish. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1951 with a BS in Agricultural Education. Following his undergraduate degree, he began teaching at Pattison High School and started the first agriculture department there. It was there that he met his wife, Lydia Estelle Kitzman, whom he married on June 10, 1954. After teaching in Pattison for three years, he moved to College Station to teach agriculture at A&M Consolidated High School and pursue his Master''s Degree at Texas A&M which he received in 1960. In 1961, he moved his family to Brenham to realize a long time dream of living on a farm in Washington County and owning Aleshire Collie Kennels. He was hired by Brenham Independent School District first as a teacher of math, science, chemistry, and English; then an assistant principal in 1969; and finally as a vocational administrator in 1971, all at Brenham High School. In 1977, he was chairman of the Area 5 Administrators'' Association. He was also drama director and co-sponsor of the Brenadiers. He was employed by BISD for 29 years, retiring from full-time education in 1986. During his teaching years, he directed 24 plays for Brenham High School, Brenham Community Theater, and the Methodist Youth Fellowship. He was the press box announcer for Brenham High School football for 35 years. He also served as Youth Director for the Washington County Youth Club and the Methodist Youth Fellowship. After retiring from the school district, he was appointed to and later elected to the position of Justice of the Peace of Precinct 3, a position he held for 7 years. He was an original member of the Laymen''s Prayer Breakfast; a long time member of the Brenham Noon Lions Club, where he served a term as president; a member of the American Legion, serving a term as commander in 1976; a member of the Washington County Association of Former Students; a member of the Louise Giddings Retired Teachers'' Association, and chairman of the Washington County Child Welfare Board in 1976. He was a Washington County Fair Supporter and served on the sheep committee. In 1967, he was chairman of the Talent Contest at the Washington County Fair. He became a professional sheep shearer in 1968, employing his family as assistants. He was named Honorary Chapter Farmer in 1971. In addition, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and the Sons of the Confederate Veterans. He was named Washington County Man of the Year in 1973 and Blue Blazer of the year in 1983. He joined First United Methodist Church in Brenham in 1961 and continued to be a faithful member throughout his life. He was a member of the United Methodist Men and was a former president of that group. He taught Sunday School classes for many years and served as chairman of the administrative council. He was also instrumental in restoring Phillipsburg Methodist Cemetery. For many years the church lawn was graced with a live nativity scene in December put on by the church youth and animals from Jim Tom''s Bar-V-Bar Farm. Jim Tom was well known for his sense of humor; he knew and enjoyed every Aggie joke ever told. He was a great story teller and enjoyed the company of many people. As a teacher, he touched many lives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Frances House; brothers, Roydston House and wife Veona, John L. House and wife Helen; sisters, Alpha Harris and husband Jim, Nora B. Solomon and husband D.A.; brothers-in-law, James Humphreys and Ellis Kitzman and wife Mary; sisters-in-law, LaVerne Landig, Gleister Biddy, and Norma Jean Kitzman. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Lydia Estelle Kitzman House; children, Martha Frances House McLemore of Brenham, Thomas Henry House and wife Jessica of Robstown, Lydia Ann House Jurden and husband Dan of Brenham; grandchildren, Philip McLemore of Lubbock and fiancé Jennifer Regalado of San Antonio, Rachel Markham and husband Cole of College Station, Emily McLemore of Brenham, Pam House of College Station, Terry House and Laura House of San Marcos, LeeAnn Jurden, Lane Jurden, Kara Beth Jurden, and Kelly Jurden all of Brenham; great grandchildren, Jackson Markham and Wesley Markham of College Station; sisters, Ann Stachowiak and husband Richard of Brownsville and Billie Jo Humphreys of Austin; brothers-in-law Bill Kitzman and wife Mary Grace of Pattison, Oliver Kitzman of Brookshire, Norman Kitzman and wife Carolyn of Pattison, and Henry Kitzman, Jr., and wife Beverly of Bronte; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family appreciates the loving attention provided by the staff at Trinity Care Center during the past year. Visitation with the family will be from 6-8 p.m., Monday, November 9, 2009, at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at First United Methodist Church of Brenham with Rev. Sam Duree and Rev. Terry Doughtery officiating. Burial will follow in the Phillipsburg Methodist Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Philip McLemore, Cole Markham, Gary House, Charlie Humphreys, Billy Jim Stachowiak, Ronnie Solomon, Charley Kitzman, and Danny Kitzman. Honorary pallbearers are all of his nephews. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church of Brenham or to the charity of choice.