James Othello "Jim" Greer

James Othello "Jim" Greer, 94 died February 9, 2015 at his home in Hutto, Texas. Services will be 2:00 PM Monday, February 16, 2015 at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Steve McMaster officiating, burial to follow at the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Serving as Pallbearers will be Clint Connolly, Scott Holden, Jerry Holden, Rowe Greer, Roby Crump, Glenn Harrison, and Wayne Hanselka.

Jim was born on September 24, 1920 on the John Sauls Ranch in Coke County, near Robert Lee, Texas to Jim and Mary Jane (May) Landers Greer. When he was 9, his mother died after a long illness. His sister, Ruth became the homemaker at only 13 years old, and tended to her young brother. The following year, his Dad, Ruth and he moved to the Tommy Roberts dairy north of Austin.

His Dad married Ruby Harrison in 1931, and Ruth no longer had to be the mother and housekeeper. When Jim was about 14, he left home and began to work for his various uncles. He would hitchhike across several counties and show up at their doorstep. Lubbock and the Fredericksburg area become his new homes. The families would put him to work, pay a small wage and all the food he could eat, and send him on his way when the crops were in or he became restless. In Fredericksburg, he worked for his uncle Emory Hodges, and later lived in what is now the LBJ Ranchhouse tending to the owner, Judge Clarence Martin, in his declining years.

He married the love of his life, Lena Belle Harrison, in 1941 in Lubbock, Texas. They eventually moved to Pasadena, California. He received his high school diploma from Pasadena City College while working at Cal Tech. He studied nights and went back to school to earn certification as an electrician. He graduated with honors, receiving the Joe Morgan Award in Excellence in Electrical Technology in 1946 from Pasadena Junior College. Jim and Belle's first child, Rhonda was born a few years later, followed by Kathy. Becoming homesick, they moved back to Texas in 1954 and settled in Rockdale. He became an electrician at Industrial Generating Company that powered electricity for ALCOA Aluminum Company. The family made their home in the Praesel Addition where the girls, and Jim could enjoy outdoor life.

He retired from what had become Texas Utilities in 1985 after 31 years. His life wasn't idle for long however, because Belle had purchased the Fabric Shop in Rockdale years earlier. After his retirement, he repaired sewing machines.

Jim is survived by his wife of 73 years, Belle Harrison Greer; his daughters Rhonda Willard of Elgin and Kathy McMaster of Hutto; grandchildren Steve McMaster and wife Elizabeth of Hutto and Debra McMaster of Houston; great grandchildren Lauren, Nathan and Calvin McMaster of Hutto; sister Lena Ruth Young of Lubbock, Texas. He was a proud member of the Christadelphian Church, and his guidance, lectures and walking in the truth were inspiration to the members.

During the past few years, Jim struggled with kidney failure. Dr. Helen Maidment ensured that he enjoyed the last year of his life. The family gives thanks to the wonderful nurses from Hospice for their care, as well as Donna Cooper and Lisa Decker for the love, unselfish and constant care they provided.