James Ranton

James Douglas Ranton was born on September 25, 1933 to Bob William Ranton and Clara Brazier Ranton in Palmer, Texas. James grew up on a farm in the Ike community. He attended and graduated from Waxahachie Public Schools in 1952. He attended the University of Texas-Arlington and Navarro College. He spent his career working in downtown Dallas as a system analyst for Southwestern Life Insurance, Tennico, and ICH Insurance Companies. Upon retirement in 1992, he devoted most of his time to the farm and thoroughly enjoyed that time in his life. James was married to JoAnn Samuels Ranton in 1963 and they lived on a farm in the Sardis community for many years. During that same year, James and seven other men organized the Sardis-Lone Elm Water Supply Corporation. He served as a director of the corporation for 20 years, serving a term as president of the board of directors. Since 1991 James has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church. He attended Sardis United Methodist Church for 35 years prior to that. He served as a leader for the Methodist Youth Fellowship for a number of years, as well as chairman of the administrative board while at Sardis UMC. He served as chairman of the building and grounds committee at First United Methodist Church, as well as a member of the missions committee. During this time the committee decided to serve the community with an annual Christmas lunch. Several of the committee members felt this should be a service to indigent people but Ranton convinced the other members that there was a need to serve people who would be alone on Christmas Day. This program is still a vital mission of First United Methodist Church. He also served as an usher and greeter for the early morning service. He was a member of the Covenant Class and made coffee each Sunday morning for the past 21 years. At the untimely death of his son, Jason Ranton, James wanted to pursue a dream that Jason had for a new pipe organ for First United Methodist Church. Upon approval by the administrative board for this project, the Rantons donated Jason's estate for an auction sale for this cause. The church members proceeded in giving funds and memorials to the organ fund and the organ was built by Wicks Pipe Organ Co. of Highland, III and installed in the sanctuary in 2003. It is still a vital part of the music program. James served on the Waxahachie Planning and Zoning Committee from 1997 to 2008 and served a term as chairman of the committee. Surviving is his wife, JoAnn Samuels Ranton; sister, Bobbie Kitchens of Houston; brother, Gerald Ranton of Cleburne; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Clara Ranton; infant daughter, Jennifer Ann Ranton; son, Jason Douglas Ranton; brother, Lewis Ranton; sisters, Gwendolyn Carnes and Joyce Eckeberger; father and mother-in-law, Joe C. and Effie Bearden Samuels. Services to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 2:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Waxahachie. James will be laid to rest in the Sardis Cemetery which overlooks his farm. Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 6-8 pm at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie.

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