Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries

Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/26/2006: 

Jim K. Best    
1927 - 2006 

Jim K. Best, 78, died Friday, March 24, 2006, in Fort Worth.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Granbury. 
Burial: 4 p.m. in Bonner Cemetery in Fairfield. 
Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. 

Memorials: First Baptist Church building fund or library.

Jim was born Dec. 11, 1927, in Mexia to Charles Randolph and Margaret Best. He 
received a bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University and a master's 
degree in education from Sam Houston State University. He served in the U.S. 
Navy from 1950 to 1954. He married Kitty Bingham on April 14, 1951, in Mexia. 

He taught at Westminster Junior College in Tehuacana and industrial arts at 
Granbury High School for 31 years. He was a life member of the Texas State 
Teacher's Association and president of the Hood County Retired School Personnel 
Association. He was an ordained deacon, serving at First Baptist Church since 
1960 and a Sunday school teacher of children and youth.

He began bus ministry at First Baptist Church in 1975 and served the community 
of Granbury as a member of the Bicentennial Commission, Planning and Zoning 
Commission chairman for 20 years, organized the 4H Horse Riding Club and was 
Scoutmaster of Troop 148. His special interests were horseback riding, 
woodcarving, furniture making, hunting and fishing.

Survivors: Wife of 55 years, Kitty Best; sons and wives, Gary and Kathy Best, 
Rusty and Rhonda Best and Charles and Diane Best; grandchildren, Jennifer 
Williams and husband, Michael, Brian Best and wife, Samantha, Cameron Best, 
Angela Best and Brenda Best; great-grandchildren, Blake Best and Brenna Williams; 
sister, Billie Sue Bassinger; nephews, Randy Best, Rob McDonald, Sam McDonald 
and Ken McDonald; and sister-in-law, Anne McDonald.