Jimmy Von Gonten

Funeral services for Jimmy L. Von Gonten, 65, of Rogers, Texas will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday April 5, 2007 at First Baptist Church of Rogers with Rev. Will Passmore officiating. Burial will be in Rogers Cemetery. Jim died Monday April 2, 2007 at his home with his wife and daughters around him. Jim was born in Cameron, Texas to Johnnie Von Gonten and Jane Ondrasek Von Gonten on January 31, 1942. He graduated from Rogers High School and attended Business College in Austin, Texas. He married Shirley Moreland August 26, 1961. Jim worked as an insurance salesman for many years before becoming ill. Jim moved his family back to Rogers, Texas 32 years ago. He was very active with fastpitch softball in the Central Texas area and coached the Cen-Tex Babes for 15 years. Jim put together a first class organization and worked diligently to put his players in front of college scouts. He was very proud that 100% of his players were offered scholarships for higher education. Many of his players received high academic honors, many were All Conference and one player has gone on to play professional softball. His daughter, Jennifer Maple, was a first team All-American at Schreiner College. Jim served on the Rogers City Council for 12 years and served as Mayor Pro Tem. He was very involved in getting a new city park for the City of Rogers. Jim was preceded in death by his father Johnnie Von Gonten. Survivors include his wife Shirley Von Gonten of Rogers, Four daughters Cindy Von Gonten-Villarreal of Georgetown, Melissa Von Gonten and Jennifer Maple, both of Rogers, and Rhonda Latham of Temple. He is also survived by his mother, Jane Von Gonten of Rogers, two sisters Doris Akard of Waco and Judy Deaver of Temple. The light in Jim's life were his four grandchildren, Skylar Corrine Maple, Riley Jo Maple, Jackson Leland Reeves and Lee Ann Pittman and one great granddaughter, Londyn Pittman. There was not a single day that they did not bring a smile to his face. Visitation will be from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Wednesday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple.