James A. Cryer

James A Cryer, Jr., 88, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Visitation 12-8pm Monday January 30, 2012, Harvest Hills Funeral Home, Hico Texas. Services 10:00am, Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church, Hico, Texas. James was born on July 19, 1923 to Minta and James A. Cryer, Sr.

James was in the Air Force. He served in WWII in the control tower, joined the Reserves and then went back to active duty and served in the Korean War. James and Dorothy moved to Hico in March of 1958 so he could work as a mortician at the Barrow/Rutledge Funeral Home. James was very active in the Hico community. He was the first EMT for Hamilton County, was instrumental in bringing the first dentist to Hico, opened the first convenience store (Scotty's), the first car wash, and the first fast food restaurant (The Dairy Barn). He was a charter member of the Bluebonnet Country Club helping to get the first greens established, a Hico ISD school board member for many years, an administrator at the Hico Hospital for a short time, President of the Civic Club, and President of the PTA. James also helped Lucille Dayton with the Girl Scouts.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy; two children, Catherine Ramsey of Houston and Rusty Cryer and wife Alice of Hico; seven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one great grandchild, two brothers, two sisters, and his parents.