Obituary of James T. "Tex" Paras

James T. "Tex" Paras, 93, husband of Rose J. (Frasca) Paras of Peabody, died on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. Tex was born in Carroll, Iowa on August 30, 1915 the son of the late Aristotle and Elaine (Ravaris) Paras. He was raised and educated in Peabody and was a lifelong resident of the city. Tex began his working career in 1931 repairing radios on Main St. in Peabody and played with his Tex Paras & Rocky Mountain Rangers Western Band from 1935 – 1940. During WW II, Tex had the complete maintenance control of the electrical engineering department at the GTE Sylvania Loring Avenue plant in Salem. As an electrical contractor, Tex began his own company in 1948, which he named Paras Electric and operated until his retirement in 1984. His son Thomas presently operates the family business. Tex was elected on November 3, 1953 to the Peabody Electric Light Commission and took office on January 4, 1954 establishing an independently elected board for the first time since the Peabody became a city in 1916 and served until 1971 and was reelected in 1974 where he remained until 1985. During his 28-year tenure he proposed and saw to fruition the institution of the Peabody Electric Light bill discount and was also named Mister Electric Light of Peabody from the Northeast Public Power Grid. Tex was a very active member and served as a Director of the Peabody Chamber of Commerce, the Peabody Lions and Kiwanis Clubs and as hobbies he enjoyed fishing and hunting. His family and friends for the many cookouts that he held at his home will remember him. In addition to his wife with whom he shared 69 years of marriage, he is survived by his children and their spouses, Thomas J. and Bernadette Paras of Peabody, and Elaine V. and James Conway of Manchester by the Sea; his grandchildren, James "Jim" of Manchester by the Sea, Tom of Beverly Farms, Chris of Wilmot NH, Aaron of Salisbury, Carolyn of Newburyport and Thomas J. Jr. of Ipswich; 5 great grandchildren, Hunter, Taylor Rose, Paige, Benjamin and Colin, and many nieces and nephews. His siblings John Paras and Olga Spiliotis predeceased him. His funeral will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 9 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. (location) Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Ann Church, 140 Lynn St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Friday, March 27, 2009 from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For directions, online obituary and guest book visit www.ccbfuneral.com