James Franklin Weaver

Jim Weaver was born on February 13, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Roleene and Alfred Weaver.He grew up in Seagoville, TX, and graduated from Seagoville High School in 1959.When he was a junior in high school, Jim served as organist of his church, the First Methodist Church in Seagoville.He loved music and was a member of the Seagoville High School Dragon Band.Jim was first chair (E-Flat Clarinet) in the All State Band in 1959. Jim’s love of music took him to North Texas State College in Denton, where he majored in music and was in the North Texas Eagle Marching Band.During his college years he was church organist at Lancaster Avenue Methodist Church in Dallas.He later changed his major to speech and became very interested in debate.Jim graduated from North Texas State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech. For his graduate studies, Jim received his Master’s Degree in Radio and Television from Syracuse University.He then went to Michigan State University in East Lansing for his Ph. D. in Speech Communication in 1967.His first job was teaching Public Speaking at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.He taught at ISU for twenty-five years, serving as Debate Coach and Chair of the Speech and Drama Department. His retirement jobs included hotel management and working in the Sears Call Center.He also was a loan officer for Citi Bank in Des Moines. Jim was always an active member of the Methodist Church, and when he moved from Iowa to Rockwall, he quickly found the First United Methodist Church.He took great pride in teaching Covenant Classes, the Trinity Sunday School Class, and being a member of the Friday Book Club.Jim was also a proud Democrat.He loved his church and made many friends through his various classes and committees. Jim will be deeply missed by his family:his sister and her husband Esta Anne and Dennis Hart of Mesquite; his niece Amianne and her husband Jason Bailey and their daughters Landry, Peyton, and Barbie of Forney; his niece Katy and her husband Jeff Fleener and their sons Ty and Chase of San Antonio. In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to the First United Methodist Church, 1200 E.Yellowjacket Lane, Rockwall, Texas. Graveside Service 10:00AM Friday August 7, 2015 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Seagoville, TX.