James McAnally

A story of integrity, trust, and a life well-lived

Main Tribute Word Count: 4175

In Loving Memory of James Earl McAnally

August 29, 1947 – June 20, 2026

Created on: June 30, 2026

Written by Douglas Watts, James’ Middle Son

MAIN TRIBUTE WORD COUNT: 4396

Contents Page | 1

Contents

JAMES EARL MCANALLY .............................................................................................................................................. 2

The Heritage of Cow Creek .................................................................................................................................... 2

Grandpa Turner’s Cow Creek Land .................................................................................................................. 2

River Frontage and the Turner Inheritance ..................................................................................................... 3

Noni, Popi, and Early Family Life ..................................................................................................................... 3

Learning the Land as a Boy ............................................................................................................................. 4

McAnally Roots, Family Bonds, and the Wider Circle ........................................................................................... 5

The Paternal McAnally Line .............................................................................................................................. 5

Popi, Noni, and the Working Life of Cow Creek .............................................................................................. 5

George McAnally and the Hunting Cabin ........................................................................................................ 6

JoAnn, Norman, and the Snow Family ............................................................................................................. 7

Family Bonds Beyond Texas ............................................................................................................................ 8

Service, Craftsmanship, Integrity, and Family Legends ....................................................................................... 9

Service to Country............................................................................................................................................. 9

A Lifetime of Master Craftsmanship ................................................................................................................ 9

Handshake Integrity and Lessons Passed Down .......................................................................................... 10

Safety, Precision, and Protective Instinct ...................................................................................................... 11

The White Kitchen Rattlesnake Story ............................................................................................................ 11

The Peebles Ranch Legacy .................................................................................................................................. 12

A Trusted Beginning in Bertram ..................................................................................................................... 12

The White Kitchen Ranch in South Texas ..................................................................................................... 12

Fifteen Years of Family Tradition ................................................................................................................... 12

A Heartfelt Thank You to the Peebles Family ................................................................................................ 13

A Friendship Honored Across Generations ................................................................................................... 13

A Devoted Family Man ......................................................................................................................................... 14

Finding Love and Faith with Sherry ............................................................................................................... 14

Building a Family on Beloved Land ............................................................................................................... 14

Faith, Marriage, and Fatherhood ................................................................................................................... 14

Final Years of Work, Peace, and Legacy ....................................................................................................... 15

Survivors and Preceding Family .......................................................................................................................... 15

Services ................................................................................................................................................................ 17

Visitation and Memorial Service .................................................................................................................... 17

Graveside Burial and Military Honors ............................................................................................................ 17

Memorial Luncheon and Celebration of Life ................................................................................................. 17

Pallbearers ...................................................................................................................................................... 18

APPENDIX: OFFICIAL OBITUARY FOR THE BURNET BULLETIN ................................................................................ 19 Page | 2

JAMES EARL MCANALLY

James Earl McAnally, a lifelong resident of the Burnet and Bertram area, passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his wife, Sherry, and two of his sons, Doug Watts and Randy McAnally. He was 78 years old. James was a man defined by his quiet strength, his proud service to his country, his dedication to his trade, and above all, his deep, unwavering devotion to his family and the rugged Texas land he called home.

The Heritage of Cow Creek

Grandpa Turner’s Cow Creek Land

James was born in Burnet, Texas, on August 29, 1947, to Earl Manan McAnally and Lucille (Turner) McAnally. His family history was deeply woven into the fabric of the region. His maternal grandfather, Grandpa Turner, originally owned a vast, historic footprint of roughly 5,000 acres in the area. His land started up near Punk’s place, about a half-mile to a mile up Highway 1174 toward Bertram, and ran back along 1174 and Cow Creek, encompassing both sides of the creek for a good distance down toward the first cattle guard heading toward the Travis County line. Past that cattle guard and the county line bridge, Grandpa Turner’s ownership picked up again, spanning the sections through the creek. Along County Road 328 heading toward Highway 1431, the right side of the road was divided among the children: Dick’s place, followed by Gordon’s, and a piece owned by Noni before the next bridge. Past that bridge lay Minnie-Joe’s place, followed by Son’s massive property, which spanned many fields, including a huge field right in front of his old house, Page | 3

marking the end of the Turner land before the low water crossing and the old Coffee place.

River Frontage and the Turner Inheritance

Separate from the Cow Creek acreage, Grandpa Turner also owned an extensive amount of coveted Colorado River frontage, stretching from Turkey Bend over to Muleshoe Bend, and heading north. He ultimately divided his massive estate among his nine children: Lucille (McAnally), Dick (Turner), Merle (Turner), Son (Turner), Punk (Turner), Joyce (Morris), Alene (Morris), Minnie-Joe (Phelps), and Gordon (Turner). Each child was given a portion of the riverfront acreage that Grandpa Turner had held onto, alongside their Cow Creek plots. Over the decades, as the region underwent a massive wave of gentrification, the siblings slowly passed pieces down or sold portions. While it was long believed that the Turner descendants had fully moved on from Cow Creek, one vital connection remains unbroken: James' sister, JoAnn Snow, still holds fast to her portion of the beautiful family land, keeping the soil firmly in the family name.

Noni, Popi, and Early Family Life

James’ mother, Lucille—affectionately known to the family as Noni—lived a remarkable 98 years, witnessing a century of profound global change that spanned two World Wars, the industrial revolution, and the dawn of the digital age. She grew up in a different era on Cow Creek, walking miles to school every day, a routine frequently paused so the children could work the family cotton fields. Noni picked her share of cotton back in her day, instilling a legendary work ethic that she passed down to her children. James and his sister, JoAnn, grew up surrounded by this rich history, spending most of their lives in Burnet and Bertram, occasionally moving to South Texas whenever their father, Earl—Page | 4

affectionately known as Popi—had to travel for carpentry work. James grew up in the warmth of a massive, tight-knit extended family filled with many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Learning the Land as a Boy

As a young boy, James developed a deep, lifelong passion for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and ranching. Some of his fondest early memories were spent at Cow Creek with his Grandpa Dee and his uncles, Son and Punk, learning the ways of the land and working the family ranch. Page | 5

McAnally Roots, Family Bonds, and the Wider Circle

The Paternal McAnally Line

James’ heritage was equally rooted on his paternal side, coming from another large, prominent local family. His father, Earl (Popi), was the eldest of seven children born to Ephram and Flora Hill McAnally. James grew up knowing the strength of this large family line, which included his father Earl, followed by Robert, John, Myrtle-Faye, Pearl, Leona, and the youngest brother, George. While the exact chronological order of the middle siblings remains a family estimate, the legacy of their tight-knit roots remained a constant source of pride.

Popi, Noni, and the Working Life of Cow Creek

In absolutely everything James did—whether it was traveling down to the Peebles ranch, working the grueling fields of Cow Creek, running raccoon traps, skinning and cutting up deer, sharpening knives, or just belly-aching about the task at hand—Popi was right there leading the charge. Popi was every bit as stubborn as James, constantly working too hard under the blazing Texas sun and running himself tired. Yet, he always made time to care for the boys, driving Shawn, Doug, and Randy around and keeping them supplied with cold Cokes. Doug spent countless hours checking coon traps with Popi, leading to legendary family lore involving the raw sardines used for bait. Popi would regularly fix Doug a sardine on a cracker, while James strictly drew the line, pulling out a miniature Hershey's or Mr. Goodbar instead. James would laugh and say, “That stuff is edible, but it tastes like shit,” while Doug choked down the rest of the cracker. After Popi and Doug polished off a whole can together one afternoon, Noni famously let Popi have it for feeding a young boy bait—though Doug never got sick and actually grew to like them at the time, even if Page | 6

looking at a can of sardines on a coastal fishing trip today brings back a wave of disbelief at what he used to stomach.

Popi and Noni were the absolute bedrock of the family, always there leading the charge for work-related things, and standing side-by-side at every family event. They provided an unwavering wall of support for the ever-growing family, which truly felt complete and bustling once James' eldest son, Shawn, welcomed Hope, the very first grandbaby of James and Sherry. James also held a deep, quiet bond with his uncle, Robert, carrying his memory closely throughout his life after Robert passed away many years ago.

George McAnally and the Hunting Cabin

James' youngest uncle, George, who lived out in Beaumont and Louisiana with his wife, Louise, was also a memorable part of life at Cow Creek. Though George and Popi weren't incredibly close, they always got along well, and George loved to come up to the property to stay with James. Up the hill behind the family's rock house, James, Popi, Doug, Randy, and Shawn had built a unique little brown cabin. It was constructed directly on top of the rim of an old concrete cattle-watering trough—about the size of a large swim spa and a few feet deep—meaning the concrete floor sat lower, requiring steps to walk down into it. It was a rugged, perfect outpost, outfitted with a wood-burning stove, refrigerators, bunk cots, and a long metal cabinet where they kept ammunition reloading equipment and meat grinders. When George would visit, Doug would stay the night in the cabin with him, sometimes joined by Popi. The men would pour some whiskey, swap hunting stories, and wake up at 5:00 AM to hit the woods. James always made sure his uncles got first shot, telling them to kill their own deer while he focused on guiding the boys and teaching them the careful ways of the land. Doug was right there through much of his childhood, Page | 7

cleaning and processing the harvest and soaking up the hunter's life, while Randy shared many of those same outdoor bonds with James during a different season—hunting, fishing, working jobs, and learning practical skills from him as life unfolded. Shawn was part of the family story in his own way as well, and the memories made around that cabin remained an unforgettable, rich way for all three boys to grow up connected to James and Cow Creek.

JoAnn, Norman, and the Snow Family

Central to James’ entire life was the deep, lifelong bond he shared with his beloved sister, JoAnn, and her husband, Norman Snow. Owners of the local feed store in Bertram, Texas, JoAnn and Norman were staples of James’ world. Norman and James shared a profound, lifelong friendship that endured strongly up until James' final days. Norman, a prominent, lifelong cattleman and rancher, spoke the same language of the land as James, raising cows, pigs, and goats for as long as the family can remember. Throughout all of life's challenges, JoAnn was always there, providing steadfast help and support to James and his family, a devotion that was warmly reciprocated whenever possible.

Their children, Lori and Henry Snow, grew up intertwined in every facet of James’ life and work. From working cattle on Cow Creek to enjoying the waters of Hubbard Falls, the Snow family was an irreplaceable piece of James’ daily world. Henry and Lori were right there for the family's finest memories, including the grand family hunting and ranching trips to South Texas. As they grew, Henry excelled out at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, earning a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management and establishing himself as a true professional of the land. Lori built an impressive professional path of her own, rising through the ranks to become the Banking Center Manager at R Bank. Page | 8

Family Bonds Beyond Texas

The reach of James’ warmth and the respect he commanded ultimately crossed international borders. When Doug married his wife, Lucie, James welcomed her Czech family with open arms, earning their deep and lasting respect. During a multi-month stay, Lucie’s sister, Erika, sought to complete her university thesis on the history of Czech immigrants who settled in Texas. Henry Snow stepped up to guide her, using his deep knowledge of the state to help Erika survey and interview families across Texas, leading to a flawless score back at her university in the Czech Republic and a lifelong memory of Texas hospitality. These deep bonds of friendship and family were celebrated through the years during legendary getaways to the family fishing camp in Three Rivers, where James, Jimmy McDaniels, Michael Mimms, Joe Fallwell, and the boys spent priceless days out on the water.

That same generous welcome later extended to Shawn’s marriage to Thais, a Brazilian woman from São Paulo, whose family became another cherished part of the McAnally circle. Over the years, her family came to Texas, and some even made their home here, becoming warmly woven into the rhythm of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the family gatherings that James and Sherry helped hold together. Just as he had embraced Lucie’s Czech family, James helped make room for Thais’ Brazilian family as part of the wider family story, showing again that hospitality, loyalty, and love were never limited by borders. Page | 9

Service, Craftsmanship, Integrity, and Family Legends

Service to Country

In 1967, James answered the call of duty when he was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He shipped out to Vietnam, where he proudly and bravely served his country as a Military Police officer (MP). Upon his honorable return home to Bertram in 1969, James set out to build a lifetime of master craftsmanship. With carpentry and a relentless work ethic already in his blood from his father, Popi, James spent several formative years working for Tracor. There, he received more training in carpentry and ultimately learned welding, metalworking, and numerous areas of advanced construction on his own and through experience. He later entered the Carpenter’s Union training program, working alongside his father for a time before dedicating 49 years of his life to skilled general contracting and master drywall craftsmanship.

A Lifetime of Master Craftsmanship

James never needed a college degree or a fancy title to command a room; he was a born leader. Even on jobs where he wasn't officially the boss, men naturally looked to him and gave him their utmost respect because they knew he possessed the know-how and the grit to get any job done right. Throughout his decades in construction, he built legendary, lifelong brotherhoods with fellow craftsmen like Joe Fallwell and Jimmy McDaniels. These men worked side-by-side with James across countless general contracting projects over the years. They became an absolute fixture in the family's life, becoming like uncles and lifelong friends to James' sons, Doug and Randy, who each spent meaningful time working on job sites with them during different chapters of life. James gave both sons lessons that lasted: Doug carried those lessons Page | 10

from childhood into adulthood, and Randy learned directly beside James on construction projects and ranch work, including time spent helping with fencing and work down around Cotulla. To Joe and Jimmy, Doug and Randy send a special message on behalf of James’ memory: “When are we going fishing, fellows? And where are the fish at?”

Handshake Integrity and Lessons Passed Down

James was a man universally well-respected, built on a foundation of absolute honesty. He operated entirely on his word and a firm handshake, and to James, his word was as good as gold. If he quoted a price for a job, he stuck to it exactly as agreed, even if unexpected challenges arose and he lost money on the project. While it was a trait that worried his family at times, his absolute integrity was never once questioned. He demanded that same flawless quality from anyone who worked alongside him. If a job looked even remotely half-done, James would keep the crew there fixing it all night until it was top-notch, and not a single extra penny would be asked of the customer—failing to do it right or on time was on the craftsman, never the client.

Doug inherited his father's fierce work ethic and took direction perfectly on any project, while Randy also gained from James' patience, guidance, and willingness to teach him construction, fencing, ranch work, and the value of showing up when work needed to be done. During their priceless time together over this past year, James passed down more of the deeper, fine-tuned secrets of his trade to Doug, completing one circle of mentorship, while the lessons Randy received across his own years beside James remained another meaningful part of that same father-and-son legacy. Page | 11

Safety, Precision, and Protective Instinct

James was also a legendary safety stickler, incredibly particular about proper gun handling, job-site caution, and executing every task with meticulous care. However, life on remote job sites occasionally tested even his strict protocols. During a week off from his technology career, Doug joined James and his tenant Darryl—a fearless moonlighting rodeo clown—down at Rick Peebles' "White Kitchen" ranch in Cotulla to help replace a leaking roof. They had spent nights hearing a snake rustling in the ceiling, and early one morning, Darryl actually managed to catch the live rattlesnake with his bare hands.

The White Kitchen Rattlesnake Story

Knowing Doug would soon walk out for his morning smoke, Darryl decided to pull the ultimate daredevil prank, waiting to throw the snake in Doug's direction. As a groggy Doug stepped outside and saw a live rattler flying through the air, panic set in. James, moving with absolute precision, instantly pulled Doug completely out of the way while simultaneously brandishing his over-and-under .22/.410 firearm. With a single, perfectly executed shot, James blew the snake away the second it hit the dirt. While Darryl nearly fell off the roof laughing, James took a dead-serious tone for a few minutes, double-checking that the snake was dead and his son was completely unharmed. Once the dust settled, even James couldn't help but crack up with Darryl over the wild stunt. It was the absolute closest James ever came to a reckless shot, but his flawless execution and protective instinct saved the day and left behind the ultimate family legend. Page | 12

The Peebles Ranch Legacy

A Trusted Beginning in Bertram

James’ reputation for flawless integrity opened doors to deep, lifelong friendships that blurred the lines between business and family. In the late 1980s, when prominent attorney Rick Peebles purchased a ranch in Bertram from Doc Heine—situated just a few miles as the crow flies across the rugged Balcones Canyonlands from Cow Creek—he asked a local townsperson for the name of someone completely trustworthy who knew how to run a ranch and handle construction. James was the man suggested. That single phone call led to a meeting on the highest hill at Doeskin, where James agreed to remodel the ranch house. From that day forward, James cared for that property as if it were his own.

The White Kitchen Ranch in South Texas

In the early 2000s, the partnership expanded when Rick purchased "The White Kitchen," a massive 3,000-acre spread in South Texas adjacent to the old Story Ranch, located deep in the brush country some thirty miles outside of Cotulla. Rick trusted no one else but James to manage the immense property. James traveled down to the remote crossroads of Los Angeles, Texas, to oversee oil field workers, deter poachers, collaborate with wildlife professionals, and remodel the ranch house.

Fifteen Years of Family Tradition

For fifteen beautiful years, this partnership became the foundation of an irreplaceable McAnally family tradition. Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the family gathered at the South Texas ranch. While James labored under the blistering South Texas sun to improve the land, the family hunted Page | 13

dove, quail, wild hogs, javelina, and a historic number of rattlesnakes. Under James' meticulous wildlife management, they thinned the doe population and culled the herd so precisely that by the time the tradition ended, the culls were gone and the ranch was populated by true trophy bucks.

A Heartfelt Thank You to the Peebles Family

The McAnally family remains deeply grateful to Rick Peebles and his family for fifteen unforgettable years of trust, friendship, and shared memories at the ranch. Those seasons gave James and his family time together in a place they loved, from Noni and Popi watching deer from the house to rides across the brush in a pickup truck or buggy. The privilege of helping care for and improve that land remains a proud and cherished part of the family’s story.

A Friendship Honored Across Generations

The profound mutual respect between the two men came full circle upon James’ passing. When Doug reached out to his generation's contact, Rick’s son-in-law Thomas Mayo, to share the news, Rick called Sherry immediately that very day to express his deep sorrow and reflect on what a magnificent friend James had been to him for nearly forty years. James would have been deeply touched by those words, as he held Rick in that exact same high regard. It is this very legacy of respect that drives Doug today to maintain Rick’s Bertram property with the highest standard of care—mowing, repairing, and caretaking with the same fierce pride and honor that his father instilled in him. Page | 14

A Devoted Family Man

Finding Love and Faith with Sherry

In 1977, James met the love of his life, Sherry Hoover, through mutual friends. It was through his relationship with Sherry that he came to know and love the Lord, stepping forward on his own to accept salvation early on when they were just about to be married. It was a moment Sherry deeply cherished.

Building a Family on Beloved Land

Sherry had two young sons, Shawn and Doug Watts, and showing the true depth of his character and the size of his heart, James stepped forward and chose to become their devoted father just three months later. A year after that, James and Sherry welcomed their son, Randy, making their family complete. James and Sherry shared 49 beautiful years of marriage on the beloved family land. Over time, the Turner land almost passed completely out of the family name, a painful thought given how much life, work, and memory had been rooted there. Yet one vital piece remains: James’ sister, JoAnn Snow, still owns forty acres of that old family ground, the same land Doug, Randy, and Shawn worked and hunted while growing up. It lies right next to James’ old property that had the rock house they all lived in for so many years, and she has a bit of creek frontage as well with a shaded area and a coastal field. The family still sometimes gathers there for barbecue much like they did in the old days.

Faith, Marriage, and Fatherhood

James walked out his Christian faith through his actions and the way he led his family. He never wavered in belief, never put the Lord down, and always encouraged his sons to believe, to have faith, and to do what was right. His integrity was mirrored in how he treated his wife. Throughout his life, James Page | 15

never spoke ill of Sherry to his sons. Even in moments of anger or disagreement, he protected her honor and never said anything serious against her, a rare and powerful testament to the true depth of his love for her regardless of what challenges life brought their way. He was a rock for his family, teaching them by example what it meant to be a faithful husband and a loving father.

Final Years of Work, Peace, and Legacy

In his final years, James found immense joy and purpose working side-by-side with Doug and Randy, managing properties, working outdoors, and soaking in the land he spent his life tending. Randy, too, shared a special working bond with James during a different season of life, spending meaningful time beside him hunting, fishing, helping on construction projects, building fence, and learning the kind of practical skills James was always willing to pass down. Facing his illness with the same quiet resilience that carried him through Vietnam and nearly five decades of hard labor, James came to deep peace with his journey, knowing his time was coming before anyone else did. He left this earth ready for his next great journey, leaving behind a legacy of honor, family devotion, and unyielding hard work.

Survivors and Preceding Family

James is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Sherry Hoover McAnally; his sons, Shawn Watts and his wife, Thais, of Cedar Park, Doug Watts and his wife, Lucie, of Lago Vista, and Randy McAnally of Oatmeal, Texas; his grandchildren, Hope Watts and William Douglas Watts; and his great-grandson, Li. He is also survived by his sister, JoAnn Snow and her husband, Norman; his nephew, Page | 16

Henry Snow; his niece, Lori Ringstaff and her husband, B; his great-nephews, Cade Ringstaff and his wife, Kari Beth, of Burnet, and Cash Ringstaff and his fiancée, Madeleine Musick, of Austin; and his cousin, Rick McAnally. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lucille McAnally, and many beloved aunts and uncles from the McAnally and Turner families. Page | 17

Services

Visitation and Memorial Service

Visitation Service: Visitation for James Earl McAnally will be held Monday, June 29, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 E. Polk Street, Burnet, Texas 78611. The visitation is expected to be catered by the funeral home for approximately 25 people.

Memorial Service in the Chapel: The main funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 E. Polk Street, Burnet, Texas 78611. This service will be held indoors in the air-conditioned chapel.

Graveside Burial and Military Honors

Graveside Burial Service: Following the chapel service on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the family and guests will be escorted by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office from the funeral home to Smithwick Cemetery, 100 County Road 344A, Smithwick, Texas, off Highway 1431. The graveside service is expected to begin around 11:00 a.m. The graveside service will be brief and will include Sherry and her sisters singing three short songs, an honor guard flag-folding and presentation, a gun salute, a rendition of Taps, and final goodbyes to one of the best men his family has ever known.

Memorial Luncheon and Celebration of Life

Memorial Luncheon and Celebration of Life: A luncheon and celebration of James’ life will follow the graveside service around noon at the Smithwick Church of Christ Fellowship Hall. The church is located near the cemetery, up the road toward Marble Falls. Anyone who cannot attend the cemetery service may go directly to the church and wait for lunch; this will not be considered Page | 18

rude or inconsiderate. The cemetery service may be hot and may require walking through grass, so guests with mobility concerns are encouraged to use their best judgment.

Pallbearers

Pallbearers: Henry Snow, Shawn Watts, Doug Watts, Randy McAnally, B Ringstaff, Cash Ringstaff, and Cade Ringstaff.