James Richard Groce, 95, of Lake Murvual, formerly of Winnsboro, passed away on Tuesday morning, July 12, 2016, at his residence on Lake Murvaul. He was born in Shreveport on Dec. 31, 1920, to the late Homer Bailey and Iris Knight Groce. Mr. Groce was a 1940 graduate of Winnsboro High School. He married Helen Darline Fry on Jan.10, 1943, in Rockwall. In 1954, they moved to Carthage and were charter members of St. Paul Presbyterian Church. He worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., retiring in 1983. He was a Mason. He was a good friend to many and never met a stranger. His door was always open to company. He spent his earlier years coaching young men in baseball, instilling in them his morals and beliefs in life. He loved his church, the Lord, his family, friends, watching his grandchildren play sports, camping, hunting, and fishing. Pop loved his bride for 73 wonderful years. The Lord opened the gate to a good man. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Robert Gene Groce, George Wiley Groce, and Henry David Groce; and sisters, Daphene Gibson and Johnnie Ruth Groce.

Survivors include his loving wife of 73 years, Helen Groce of Lake Murvaul; daughters, Darline Graves and husband Lynn of Lake Murvaul, Jeannine Milam and husband Danny of Carthage, and Eileen Allred and husband Mike of Shreveport; brother, Claude Thomas Groce of Texarkana; sister, Iris Jane Elrod and husband Richard of Texarkana; grandchildren, Kim Simmons, Lori Loria, Lee Graves, Brad Milam and wife Kerry, Brandon Milam and wife Lesley, Becky Carson and husband Chris, Mitch Allred and wife Kristin, and Kevin Allred; great-grandchildren, Spence and wife Felicia, Haley and husband Reagan, Brooks, Maddie, Rebecca, Natalie, Caelyn, C.J., Wyatt, Reese, Ashtyn, Camryn, LeeAnna, Lainey, and Charliann; and great-great-grandchild, Blakely.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2016, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Freddy Mason officiating. Interment will follow in Restland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the funeral service on Thursday.

Pallbearers are Brad Milam, Brandon Milam, Lee Graves, Mitch Allred, Kevin Allred, Brooks Loria, Spence Simmons, and Reese Milam.

Honorary pallbearers are Bill Steptoe, Ricky Gibson, and James Gibson.

Memorial donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.