Jimmy Meredith Ritchie

November 7, 1947 - December 12, 2020

Mr. Jimmy Meredith Ritchie went to his heavenly home on December 12, 2020. Services will be held on December 16, 2020 at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with Reverend Kim Beckham officiating. Burial will be at Whitehouse Cemetery. Jimmy was born November 7, 1947 to James Ritchie and Jackie Armstrong Rawlins. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 49+ years, Debra Clark Ritchie, and son, Micheal Ritchie. He is survived by two children, Christy Herring of Tyler and Bobby Smotherman and wife, Dana of Winona; brother, Rick Ritchie of San Antonio; six grandchildren, Cayley Hendrick, Colton Hendrick, Chandler Herring, Mackenna Thorn, Lindsey Smotherman and Easton Smotherman. He also has one great-grandson, Cayson Moody; a niece, D-Ann Black of Troup; and one great-niece, Madison Whitton of Troup. Jimmy leaves behind two sisters-in-law, Mary Baldree and husband, Bill, of Tyler, Dana Nichols and husband, Alan, of Tyler, and one brother-in-law, Jeff Clark and Donna Tharpe of Whitehouse; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, he served in the United States Army from August 1967 until March 1970, serving in Vietnam. Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, Jimmy received an Associate’s Degree from Tyler Junior College. Jimmy was active in coaching sports during the years that his children played and carried that love of sports into retirement when he became a referee for volleyball and soccer games. After retiring from the United States Postal Service in 2005, after more than 30 years of service, he went to work at Caldwell Zoo because he enjoyed being around people and loved to be of service to them. He attended every game possible when his children and grandchildren were involved. Jimmy was active in church for most of his life, and was an ordained deacon. He was a member of Central Baptist Church of Tyler. Serving as pallbearers are: Corey Shaw, Bobby Smotherman, Orry Jones, Bill Baldree, Chris McGill, Larry Wheeler, Johnny Vess, Joe Wynne and Alan Nichols. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Philadelphia Blessing Food Pantry in Whitehouse, Texas, c/o Tyler Metro Church, P.O. Box 131510, Tyler, Texas, 75713.