James Fair

Memorial services for James W. Fair, 84 of Tyler, will be held on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM at Marvin United Methodist Church with Dr. John Robbins and Rev. Allison Thompson officiating. Private entombment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery Mausoleum. Arrangements are under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Fair passed away, Friday, March 20, 2009 at Trinity Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler. He was born December 22, 1924 in Tyler, Texas to R. W. and Mattie Allen Fair. His contributions to the civic life of Tyler began at age 25 as the city’s youngest mayor and spanned five decades. He also served on the city commission. Mr. Fair served three years in the Navy during World War II, including one year in the Pacific Theater. After his military service, he became president of Fair Oil Company in Tyler. He began development of the Hide-A-Way Lake Community, now the city of Hideaway, in 1967. Mr. Fair served as a director of the Peoples National Bank in Tyler, the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Tyler, and the Edna Gladney Home in Fort Worth. He served on the board of the Salvation Army as well as the University of Texas at Tyler Development Council and Marvin United Methodist Church. Mr. Fair was president of the R. W. Fair Foundation and a past president of the Texas Rose Festival Association and United Way and past director of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce as well as past chairman of the Board of Stewards of Glenwood United Methodist Church. He was the 1981 recipient of the T.B. Butler Award, sponsored by the T.B. Butler Publishing Co., for contributions in leadership, service and community improvements. Mr. Fair was appointed a Tyler Junior College trustee in 1982, then elected and served 21 years on the TJC Board of Trustees, resigning in April 2003. Mr. Fair was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Mimi Fair; brother Wilton Fair and sister Martha Fair Dubell. He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 9 years Barbara Fair; sons Wood Fair and wife Cathie of Flint, Texas, Allen Fair and wife Janet of Tyler; Daughters Ginger Fair of Tyler; Lisa King Baker and husband Daryl of Dallas; grandchildren Amy Fair, Perry Fair Flowers and husband Jeff, Jay Fair, Christopher Fair, Cara Fair, Alex Gowin, and Garrett Gowin; and great grandson Haden Flowers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom Gordon, Harold Beaird, Dr. Duane Andrews, Will Knight, Mel Lovelady, John Hills, Bill Hartley, Herb Buie and Calvin Clyde. Visitation is scheduled from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Stewart Family Funeral Home 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, Texas 75703. Memorials in honor of Mr. Fair may be made to St. Paul’s Foundation, 1358 E. Richards St., Tyler, Texas, 75701; TJC Foundation, P.O. Box 9020, Tyler, Texas, 75701; and the Gladney Center for Adoption, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76132-4122. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

James Fair

December 22, 1924 - March 20, 2009