Tabitha Hoelscher James

Tabitha Hoelscher James, age 73 of Waco, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at a local hospital.

Visitation: 12PM Wednesday, February 15 at St. Louis Catholic Church

Rosary: 12:30PM Wednesday, February 15 at St. Louis Catholic Church

Mass of Christian Burial: 1PM Wednesday, February 15 at St. Louis Catholic Church with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

She was known by Tabitha in her professional life amongst her peers, but she was known as “Tabby” to her family. She was born March 19, 1949, in Rosebud, the second of nine children, to Mary Margaret Stermer Hoelscher and Leonard Hoelscher of Westphalia.

Her education began at Westphalia Elementary School, and she graduated from Rosebud High School in 1967. Later in life she received her Associates Degree at McLennan Community College in Waco, followed by Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Central Texas in Killeen.

Following her high school graduation, she initially worked at the Rosebud Dress Factory and later at First National Bank in Rosebud. During the week, Tabby lived in a rented room in a Rosebud home and taught CCD at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Rosebud, where she was affectionately known to her students as “Miss Tabby”. She returned to the family home in Westphalia on weekends to help her parents with raising the younger children of the family.

Tabby married Clyde Allen James in the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, on May 31, 1970, with Reverend Gideon Stram officiating. Tabby and Clyde settled in Rosebud for the first years of their marriage and moved to Waco in 1973, where they became members of St. Louis Catholic Church. Their son, Marcus was born in 1975. Tabby worked in the office of St. Louis Catholic Church and also taught CCD under the tutelage of Msgr. Mark Deering. She later worked for Transamerica Insurance, Mason Heating and Air, the City of Waco, Heart of Texas MHMR, and most recently as the Inpatient Admissions Coordinator for DePaul Center until her retirement in March 2018.

She was preceded in death by her son, Marcus James; her parents; and brother, Bede Hoelscher.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Clyde A. James of Waco; six brothers, Crispin Hoelscher and wife Liz of Cedar Park, Reuel Hoelscher and wife Connie of Round Rock, Finian Hoelscher and wife Sharlene of Temple, Lenny Hoelscher and wife Dana of Pettibone, Warren Hoelscher and wife Margie of Hruskaville, and Matthew Hoelscher and wife Debbie of Moffat;  sister, Caroline Hoelscher of Cyclone; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.lakeshorefuneralhome.com.