James Alfred McCarley

James Alfred McCarley, 84, of Canadian and formerly of Pampa, died October 6, 2015 in Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM Friday, October 9, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in Canadian, with Rev. Danny Sanders, pastor, officiating. A private family burial will be held earlier at Memorial Heights Cemetery in Lefors. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. McCarley was born on July 3, 1931 at his grandparents’ farmhouse in Grayson County. He was a 1948 graduate of Lefors High School. He had been a resident of Pampa and Canadian most of his life. James married Ruby Crandall on August 19, 1950 in Lefors. He was chief appraiser for Hemphill County for over 15 years, retiring in 1995. James was a member of Pampa Masonic Lodge #966 and past Master of Canadian Masonic Lodge #855 where he received his 50-year pin. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Canadian, past president of Canadian Rotary Club, and volunteered at Hemphill County Hospice and Abraham Memorial Home. James enjoyed building and sailing sailboats, building duck decoys, making knives, and raising mules. He was an avid fisherman and loved spending time with his family. He organized the Fourth of July parade in Canadian for many years. James was preceded in death by his parents, Haskell and Ann McCarley. Survivors include his wife, Ruby McCarley of the home; a daughter, Sharon Carter and husband Lee of Amarillo; a son, Steven McCarley and wife Clifann of Garland; three granddaughters, Kristi Weil and husband Clint of Arlington, Nicole Gordon and husband Eric of Garland, and Stacie Mathis and husband Josh of Lubbock; two great-grandchildren, Carter Jai Weil and Nathan Charles Gordon; a brother, Bill McCarley of Gainesville; and two sisters, Melba Ward and husband Dean of Ft. Stockton, and Peggy Parker of Amarillo; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation, c/o The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, P. O. Box 446, Waco, Texas 76703; or Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 S. 4th Street, Canadian, Texas 79014. The family will receive friends from 6:00-7:30 PM Thursday, October 8, 2015, at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Home in Pampa.