James Hestand

James Hestand went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on the afternoon of Sunday, January 1, 2006, after a brief illness. His family hopes you will join them in remembering and celebrating the life he lived. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 6, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. in the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple, Texas, with Rev. Deborah Jones and Rev. Charles Kuhn officiating. Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park in Temple. Family visitation will be Thursday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home from 4-6 p.m. James Cash Hestand was born June 2, 1921, to Robert M. (Doc) Hestand and Annie Cash Hestand of Anson, Texas. He was raised on their farm just outside of Anson and graduated from Anson High School in 1938. After graduation, he worked briefly in the office of the Jones County Agricultural Agent, moving on to work for Montgomery Ward and Company, before entering military service. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on May 19, 1943, and served as a radar officer with the 385th and 493rd Bomb Groups of the 8th Air Force in England. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in January 1946. After military service, Jim returned for a time to Montgomery Ward, later opening a furniture business with a partner back in his home town of Anson. By January 1948, he had begun work as a Chamber of Commerce executive, a career that would ultimately span 43 years and see him serve Chambers of Commerce in Anson, Dumas, Mineral Wells, Pasadena, Breckenridge, and Temple, Texas, as well as a brief stint in Mason City, Iowa. During his career in Chamber of Commerce work, he received numerous awards, including the West Texas Chamber of Commerce's "Manager of the Year" award in 1968 and the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Association "Distinguished Service Award" in1981. James married Jo Hestand of Anson on May 14, 1950 and preceded him in death in October 2, 2005. Their son, Steve, was born July 2, 1953, and preceded them in death on July 4, 1968. Their daughter, Lissann, was born January 17, 1955. She and her husband Joel Wagher survive them. Jim is also survived by his sister, Charlene Rust of Breckenridge, several cousins, numerous nieces and nephews, a host of long-time friends, and a group of newer friends at the Meridian Retirement Community in Temple. Jim was an active member and an elder of the First Christian Church of Breckenridge, Texas, and of the First Christian Church of Temple, Texas. In addition to his elder duties, he served both congregations several times as Chairman of the Board and often filled in as a Sunday morning speaker in the absence of the minister. As you join in remembering and celebrating Jim's life, the family suggests that those who wish to memorialize him do so in accordance with his request by making contributions to Cardiac Research at Scott and White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, Texas 76508.