Mr. James William "J.W." Tennison

August 20, 1928 - October 17, 2018

Funeral services for Mr. James William "J.W." Tennison, 90, of Henderson, will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Southside Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Maddox and Rev. Mike Ledbetter officiating. Interment will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to service time on Saturday at Southside Baptist Church. Mr.Tennison passed away October 17, 2018, at Christus Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler. He was born August 20, 1928 in Cherokee County to the late James and Grace Wornick Tennison. Mr. Tennison served his country in the United States Army Air Force. He retired from the City of Henderson where he worked as the Water and Sewer Department Superintendent for 28 years. He also worked as the Director of Public Works in Overton for some time. He served as a Rusk County Sheriff Deputy for ten years. He was the President of Rusk County Trailriders, a charter member of the Henderson Rescue Unit, and a volunteer fireman. He was a member of Southside Baptist Church. He had a passion for horses and bird hunting. But his greatest love was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Grace Tennison; daughter, Sherry Switala; brother, Buck Tennison; and sisters, Faye Williams, Vivian Hamilton, Frances Tillison, and Rubie Baxter. Survivors include: his wife, Mary Tennison of Henderson; sons, David Tennison and wife DeAnne of Tyler, Gary Tennison of Henderson; daughter, Diana Burns and husband Phillip of Tyler; brothers, Graham Tennison of New Summerfield, Vester Tennison of Troup; nine grandchildren, Amy Blanton, Taylor Tennison, Casey Wood, Elyse Manor, Emilie Gardiner, Tessa Martinez, Alicia Davis, Dylan Tennison, and Brenli Tennison; and 12 great-grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Pallbearers will be Mark Hunt, Damon Bassett, Jace London, Craig Tennison, Chuck Towe, Brody Blanton, and Dylan Tennison. Honorary pallbearers will be Debs Hunt, Earl Hudson, Jimmy Richardson, George Cooper, Bob Plummer, and Don Cooper. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.