Jeff Tarpley Jr.

January 29, 1932 - February 17, 2020

Jeff Tarpley, Jr., 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Kemp, Texas with his loving wife of almost 70 years, Margie Sue, by his side.

He was born in Rand, Kaufman County, Texas to Thomas Jefferson Tarpley and Mamie Iva Glenn Tarpley. He was the youngest of 8 children.

Jeff started working at James Tool Company in Dallas, Texas at the age of 17 and continued for 31 years until 1980. When Mr. James was ready to retire, he thought so much of Jeff that he offered to give him all of his business if he purchased the equipment. He did just that, built a shop on his land and reopened as Tarpley Bit & Machine Shop, which is still run by his son Tommy today.

Jeff and Margie raised their three children, Kathie, Sherron and Tommy, in Mesquite. There are so many stories about the great times on Hogan Drive with their friends. They bought their first piece of land in Styx, now called Tarpley Hill, which they later sold to buy the Hill place. He loved to ride horses, fish, check his cows, play cards, watch countless westerns, but, most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Margie Sue Elston Tarpley of Kemp; his daughter Kathie and son-in-law Watt Norman of Malakoff; daughter Sherron and son-in-law Ray Pyle of Kemp; son Tommy and daughter-in-law Sandy Tarpley of Kemp; grandson Steve and wife Miriam Stevens of Kemp; granddaughters, Camille Gaddis of Rockwall and Cortney Gaddis of Mabank; grandson, Cody Tarpley of Dallas; and great grandchildren, Morgan Gaddis, Thomas Stevens, and Amyrie Gaddis. Jeff was also blessed to have numerous nieces, nephews and honorary grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, and a great grandson.

Pallbearers will be Cody Tarpley, Thomas Stevens, Jerry Brewer, Jeff Tarpley, John Tarpley, and Jimmy Coker.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Steve Stevens, Wayne Tarpley, Tommy Coker and Bobby Coker.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lone Oak Cemetery.

Services will be held on Friday, February 21st, at 2:00 p.m. at Anderson-Clayton Brothers Funeral Home in Kemp, Texas. The family will welcome visitors between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20th. A personal tribute can be made online at www.andersonclaytonkemp.com.