James Earl Stark, 74, of Merit, died Monday, December 14, 2020 at his home. Graveside services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, December 18, 2020 at Merit Cemetery under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. J. M. Beshirs will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the funeral home.
Mr. Stark was born in Tivoli, Texas on September 6, 1946. He was the son of Earnest Stark and Joyce Mabel Hickman Stark. He married Sheila Fay Campbell on November 1, 1965 in Rockwall. He was the owner of Stark’s Roofing.
Survivors include his wife Sheila Fay Stark; sons, James Stark, John Stark and partner, Danielle and Jeremy Stark and partner, Katie; daughters, Billye Penney and partner, Dean and Connie Bragg and partner, Jeff; son-in-law, James Cruise; brothers, Joe Stark and Jim Stark; grandchildren, Jennifer, Tabatha, Jikki, Brandon, Ashley, Mathew, Justen, Jarett, Holly, Bradly, Kimberly, Baily, Ross, Brooke, Kasey, Tim, Nathan, Elizabeth Paige, Morgan and Paige C.; great-grandchildren, Angelica, Eric, Connor, Tristian, Mercedes, Jayden, Huntlee, Easton, Atley and Rowdy; and great-great-grandchildren, Annika and Dezmond. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Alberta Cruise; brothers, Elmer Stark and Jack Stark; and sisters, Alice Beshirs and Nora Walker.
Pallbearers will be Tim Hartline, Nathan Bragg, Justen Stark, Jarett Stark, Bradly Cruise, Baily Cruise, Brandon Wilburn and Eric Trujillo. Honorary pallbearer will be Connor Maynard.
We are requesting that you limit the size of the gathering during the viewing due to concerns regarding the current health crisis. Please feel free to come and pay your respects but limit your contact with others as per recommended guidelines from the CDC. Masks are required and remember your social distancing.