James Summers

James Milton (Jim) Summers, 85, went to be with our Lord on Thursday, April 9, 2015. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18th at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Drive, Waco. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 - 8 p.m. Friday, April 17th at Grace Gardens.

Jim was born August 11, 1929 to Clyde Celier and Tabor Brock Witherington Summers. Jim graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago, University of Corpus Christi, and A&I University for his undergraduate degrees. He completed his PhD in education from Texas A&M University.

Jim was a high school teacher, assistant principal, Dean of Cont. Ed. at Del Mar College, and McLennan Community College. He later became Asst. Dean of Cont. Ed. at Virginia Tech University, and then moved on to Director of Cont. Medical Education for the Medical Society of Virginia. After a two-year stay as President of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians Education Foundation, he returned to Texas as Corporate Manager of Training and Development for Central Freight Lines. Finally, he and his wife, Nancy opened a business catering to the needs of the chemically sensitive and allergic all over the country.

Jim was in demand as a consultant, trainer, public speaker, certified Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church and as a Sunday school teacher, often traveling to other states for speaking engagements. He had a way of interweaving poignant stories with humorous anecdotes that motivated and entertained his audience, class or congregation.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde Celier Summers, Tabor Brock Witherington Summers; brother, Clyde Lee Summers; son, James (Jimmy) Milton Summers, Jr.

Jim is survived by his wife, Rev. Nancy Louise Tribble Summers; daughter, Leigh Ellen Summers Pelchat; son, Jon Michael Summers; grand-daughter, Audrey Renee Pelchat, other family, loved ones and many friends

In one of his poems Jim wrote, “I grow weak with life’s precious time. To dust I’ll go - to dirt and grime. Hark now, the toll of heaven’s drums: it is time; it is time I come.”