James Harper Greene

BIG SPRING DAILY HERALD
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1963

JIMMIE GREENE, 79, SUCCUMBS SATURDAY

J. H. (Jimmie) Greene, 79, dean of Chamber of Commerce work in West Texas and the foremost community builder in Big Spring for more than a score of years, died here Saturday.
He had entered the hospital November 27, after suffering a heart attack, but Friday he was feeling so much better he was due to return to his home at 427 Dallas. During the afternoon, however, he sustained another attack, followed by a severe on in the evening. Death came at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
He was born August 17, 1884 at Post Oak, Georgia in the shadow of the Chickamauga battleground. His mother was a Harper, of Harper's Ferry fame. When he was two, his father died and his mother moved to Stephens, Arkansas, where he worked at any job available, including helper at sawmills. While in high school, he spent his summers with the U. S. Geodetic Survey as a surveyor in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and California.
Mr. Greene first came to Texas on a visit in 1900. In search of health in 1905, for he was frail, he came with his brother-in-law, J. B. Morgan, to Abilene with some cattle, but they lost everything they had.
Needing a job, he moved on to Colorado City long enough to get well acquainted, then headed westward to homestead a claim in Plateau, near Van Horn. There he also served as a deputy sheriff and one time had occasion to use his shooting irons.
Returning to Colorado City, he went to work for McClure, Basden & Company and eventually bought it. What was more important, he was married on December 2, 1909 to Miss. Nell Ruddick, daughter of a pioneer couple, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Ruddick.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and burial will be in the family plot in the Colorado City Cemetery at 4 p.m. Dr. P. D. O'Brien, Houston, his pastor at Colorado City and Big Spring will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Robert F. Polk. Nalley-Pickle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Greene is survived by his widow, Mrs. Nell R. Greene; one daughter, Mrs. Joe Pond; and one son, William Greene, both of Big Spring. He also heaves four granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.
Son of James Hiram and Georgia Alice Harper Greene.