James T Tabor

James T. Tabor, age 92 of Copperas Cove formerly of Temple, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2021 at a local care center. He was born on March 2, 1929 in San Angelo, Texas the son of Turner Thomason “T.T.” and Ruby (Martin) Tabor.

James was raised in Midland, Texas and attended Midland High School. He went on to work for the United States Post Office and worked for many years throughout Texas and Oklahoma in administration before retiring. He married Eileen Davis on October 2, 1947 in Midland and was a member of the Western Hills Church of Christ in Temple.

He is survived by his daughter Linda Couch and husband Al of Kempner, 3 grandchildren, Holly Landez of Killeen, Phillip James Tabor of McKinney, and Valerie Begovic and husband Mirza of McKinney, and 7 great-grandchildren, Trenton, Rhianna, Caitlyn, Julianna, Allison, Grant, and Harry. He is also survived by his brother Turner Thomason Tabor, Jr. and wife Sarah of Lake Whitney and many nieces and nephews throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

James was preceded in death by his wife Eileen, parents, and a son Johnny Lynn Tabor.

In lieu of flowers memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital www.stjude.org would be appreciated.

See more for Linda's touching tribute.

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A Wonderful Life

When anyone happens to ask me about my background, I tell them that I had a wonderful childhood. That’s because of the love showered on my little brother Johnny and me by our loving Father and Mother. We were the center of their universe and both of us thrived in that huge love-light.

Dad was only 19 years old when I was born, and Mom often said she had 3 kids to raise. The three of us would play flies and skinners or slap-jack while Mom cooked, but we would all pitch in to help clean up. Fun was an important goal in our family.

We loved vacation time better than Christmas. The four of us would pile into the car, often a Chevy from Uncle Kenneth’s car dealership in Houston. There was always a fiercely guarded demarcation between the riders in the backseat. Only occasionally though would Dad, the disciplinarian, tire of hearing “She threw her book at me, “ or “His hand is still on my side of the seat,” etc.,etc., and turn and give us a pop.

Parenthetically, I got spanked a lot more than my little brother, Johnny, but it wasn’t that awful. At home , after he had meted out corporal punishment with his really large hands, we would hear Daddy, the disciplinarian, quietly crying in the bathroom. But back to the story.

All our trips were to visit relatives, who were people we loved, and we knew they loved us too when that made us pallets on the floor. Two large families and almost all of them loved us, helping to build a large storehouse of love to pass on.

Mom and Dad welcomed to our little family the spouses Johnny and I chose. My sister-in-law Devonna is both an angel and a saint, even though she has never been Catholic. And Dad always said my husband, Al, was his best friend. Mom called him Precious Al. More love to pass on.

Then came the grandchildren! Holly was first, then Philip, and then Valerie. There was so much love that swelled up in their hearts, Mom and Dad could only pass it on.

And then the 7 great grandchildren! Love multiplied by a squillion. Dad told me only a truly blessed man gets to watch his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren grow up.

You can see why I say I have never known one second in my life that I wasn’t loved and cherished. Mom left us in 2013 and John in 2015. The last few years Dad has been wisely aware that he was becoming a short-timer. About 3 weeks ago while he was still able to speak through his pain, he said to me, quite clearly, “I have had a wonderful life. I am ready to go.”

Last Friday afternoon Dad passed on peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, Al, Holly, and me.