James Willoughby Fikes, age 85 of Lake Brownwood, was born April 27th, 1934 in Llano, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents William Wallace and Exie Dodd Fikes of Brady, Texas; his wife, Shelia Woodson Fikes of Claremore, Oklahoma; his brother, Wallace Fikes, Jr. of Richland Springs, Texas; and his sister, Mary Faye Myer of Wylie, Texas.
He is survived by his three children, Kimberly and husband Ken Kelso of Midland, Texas; Lynn and husband Ron Smith of Del Rio, Texas; and James Osborn and wife Noelle Fikes of Abilene, Texas.
He is survived by his nephews Barry Fikes and Chuck Carr and niece Kathy Smith.
He is survived by seven grandchildren, Kelsi Kelso Pierce, Kade Kelso, Kara Kelso Knicky, Daniel Burright, Tyler Burright, James Caldwell Fikes, Hailee Noelle Fikes, and eleven great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, at Highway 279 and 4300 County Road 557 with Reverend Rick Justice officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Creek Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at Davis-Morris Funeral Home, 800 Center Avenue in Brownwood, Texas.
He was a teacher and coach who loved teaching, training athletes, and attending football games, basketball games, and track and field meets. He was fond of playing dominoes and going to the horse races in Ruidoso, New Mexico with his friends.
He served in the United States Army in Japan, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, and shared the barrack with a then-unknown singer, Conway Twitty.
He taught school and coached in California, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and at a U.S. Indian Reservation. He enjoyed the camaraderie of the coaching profession. He was especially proud of the young men he coached while at Brownwood Junior High School.
The family requests that donations be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be left for the family at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.
