Eaves, James "Coach"  
 	
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Jim Eaves, 
passed away on November 28, 2006, in Tyler. Jim was born on August 
26, 1930, in Pampa, to J.E. and Ethel Eaves, who preceded him in 
death. The family moved to Longview in 1930, where Jim grew up and 
graduated in 1948. Jim participated in athletics for 50 years, 
either playing, coaching, or officiating. After his father's death, 
he was guided by two wonderful Christian men, Coach Maco Stewart 
and Coach Ted Jefferies of Stephen F. Austin State University. Jim 
entered his coaching career in Texarkana, with the legendary Coach 
Watty Myers. He then moved to Gainesville High School with Coach Ed 
Dusek. While in Gainesville, he was one of the youngest basketball 
coaches at Gainesville Junior College. He moved to Denton and 
received his master of science degree in 1957. He then moved to 
Odessa and remained there for seven years. He taught one semester 
in Mesquite, while being recruited by former high school friend, Don 
Barton. They successfully coached together for seven years at Tyler's 
Robert E. Lee High School. After coaching, he taught and was an 
administrator at Chapel Hill I.S.D. for 10 years. Jim then retired 
and moved to the farm in 1987, and continued to do things until his 
health failed in the last two years. He was an official in basketball 
and football all over East Texas. He was a Mason and a Shriner. He was 
Circus Chairman for Sharon Temple in Tyler for seven years. Jim was a 
permanent contributor to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital. 
Jim received an endowed membership at St. John's Lodge No. 53. Jim was 
a member of Tyler's S.B.O.A. and received their outstanding award. Jim 
was presented honorary life membership to the Southwest Officials 
Association. Jim was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin Hall of Honor 
by the Lumberjack Association. Jim was a professed Christian and held 
membership at First Baptist in Tyler for 37 years, and was a current 
member of New Beginnings Baptist Church. Jim is survived by his wife of 
52 years, Lela Chism Eaves; his daughter, Laura Bailey and husband, 
Travis of Dallas; son, Maco Eaves of Tyler; daughter, Colleen Ruppert 
and husband, Jim of Plainfield, Illinois; three beautiful granddaughters, 
Genie Talkington of Macoma, Illinois, Ginger Talkington of Plainfield, 
Illinois, and Tara Talkington of California; and a host of friends. 
Pallbearers will be Matt Clapp, Ken Townsend, David Todd, Phil Brooks, 
Mike Gaffney, Dr. Roy Smith, Kevin DeOrnellas, and Alan Callicoat. 
Honorary pallbearers will be John Muse, Coach Maco Stewart, and Longview 
classmates and friends. A celebration of Coach Eaves' life will be held 
at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 2, 2006, in the chapel of Burks Walker 
Tippit Funeral Home, with Dr. Milton Redeker, Bob Taylor, Bob Sitton, 
Matt Clapp, and Tara Talkington officiating. Burial will be in Cathedral 
in the Pines Cemetery. The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday 
evening, December 1, 2006, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, 
memorial contributions may be made to Rockin C Ranch Christian Camp 
Scholarship Fund or Stephen F. Austin Scholarship Fund.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 12/2/2006.