MIDLAND - Arthur James (Jimmy) Stallings died on Sept. 1, 2023, at the age of 95. He was born June 27, 1928, to Odessa and Arthur J. Stallings at home in the Lomax Community of Howard County.
He was raised in Lomax, the farming community named after his maternal grandparents. He attended the Lomax two room schoolhouse in his primary days and later Stanton High School. He started college at Texas Technological College and graduated from McMurry College in 1950.
He met Louise Graham from Merkel, at church in Stanton after she had moved there with her mother. He knew he had met the love of his life! They were married on July 1, 1950, and settled in the country community of Lomax to farm and raise a family. After the three children came along, Jimmy and Louise moved to “town” as he had started his business career in the insurance and tax service business in Stanton, December 1958. The Stallings Insurance Agency later merged with Eiland Insurance Agency in 1969, becoming Eiland-Stallings Insurance.
He was approved to practice before the Internal Revenue Service in 1972 as an Enrolled Agent and in 1973, the agency became Eiland & Associates Insurance, at which time Jimmy began to devote his full time to the accounting practice, along with the help of his wife.
Changes continued to take place through the years with the addition of Jimmy and Louise’s son Steve in 1978, and their two daughters, Twila and Susan, were part of the family business for a few years in the early ‘80s. Financial Planning was added to the practice in 1985. Steve Herm joined the practice in 1986 and the firm was reorganized as Stallings & Herm, P.C. as we know it today.
Jimmy was a man who exemplified the traits that the bible teaches us about serving and helping those we meet and to treat them in a way that we would want to be treated. Whether it was helping a family member, a business client, someone less fortunate, or a stranger, each was treated with respect and genuine concern. His service has directly benefited Martin County in the past, is currently a benefit to Martin County, and will benefit Martin County for future years.
He was active in Stanton and Martin County for 55 plus years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He served on the Stanton ISD School Board, the Stanton City Council, and the Buffalo Booster Club. He was very active in the Martin County Little League program, serving as Commissioner and as the coach of the hugely successful Red Caps for many years.
He was also involved in efforts to build the George Shelburne Little League Park and the Tommy Walker Field. He supported his children in all their school activities, not least of which was their sports activities. His love for sports ran deep and he found tremendous joy watching their ballgames, track meets, cross country meets, cheerleading and band events. Later, when the three grandsons became active in school activities, you could always count on seeing Jimmy and Louise in the stands, the gyms, or the auditorium, showing their support, both at home and in faraway places.
His other areas of service are numerous: Permian Basin Area Foundation – Served on the Board of Governors, several committees and offices, a lifetime member of the Advisory Governors Committee Midland Memorial Hospital Foundation – Honorary Board of Governors West Texas Aphasia Center – Board of Directors and other offices Martin County Community Fund – Advisory Committee Chairman Stanton Noon Lions Club – Long term member First United Methodist Church/Stanton – Longtime member, Sunday school teacher, and served on various committees throughout the church McMurry University – Served on the Board of Trustees and received the Outstanding Alumni Award in Business in 2018 St. Luke’s United Methodist Church/Midland – Member since 2011 and served as Sunday School teacher Jimmy was also an active board member of the Bob Deavenport Memorial Food Pantry for Martin County, which was renamed in memory of his longtime friend.
He humbly accepted the Martin County Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year award in 2006 and the Martin County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award in 2023.
Jimmy and Louise loved to travel and even though they were both working full time at the office year-round, they made time for family vacations. Each summer they loaded up the station wagon and took off for two weeks, driving to various areas of the United States: New York, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake City, Colorado, California, and New Mexico to name a few. And in 1968 the family attended the World’s Fair in San Antonio. Jimmy would have the route mapped out showing where they would stay and for how long in each area. As the kids grew up and they became empty nesters, they enjoyed seeing other parts of the US and the world: Boston, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and The Holy Land, and they were in London in 1997 when Princess Diana’s funeral took place. They also took many trips for insurance and tax seminars and would extend their stay and explore whatever area they were in.
His life can be described as loving and caring, unselfish, generous, unconditional service, charitable, hardworking, and a genuine concern for others. He loved his Lord, his family, his church, and his community. He had a gentle way about him and was loved by everyone who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his wife Louise Graham Stallings, his parents Arthur J. and Odessa Stallings, his sister Evelyn Stallings Adkins, and his brother Louis Stallings. He is survived by his son Stephen Stallings and wife Kathy, his two daughters Twila Stallings, and Susan Brown and husband Mike, all of Midland. He is also survived by grandsons, Jeremy Stallings (Rebekah), Jerrod Stallings (Annie), and Timothy Brown, and five great-grandchildren, Tayler Stallings, Kaden Stallings, Chase Stallings, Mabrey Stallings, and Scarlett Stallings.
The family received friends on Sept. 6, 2023 at the Branch at Nalley-Pickle & Welch. Funeral services will be September 7, at 12p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3011 W. Kansas Ave., Midland.
Interment will follow at 3 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Stanton.
Pallbearers are Guy McCrary, Jeremy Louder, Gib Wheeler, Steve Herm, Bud Glaspie, and Kyle Kendall. Honorary pallbearers are Bud Lindsey, Spencer Blocker, Corky Blocker, Elaine Eiland, Francis Biggs, Jeanene Wheeler, and Marilynn Wheeler.
The family suggests memorials be made to: The Permian Basin Area Foundation in the name of the Jimmy and Louise Stallings Fund, 3312 Andrews Hwy Midland, TX 79703.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.