Jim Bob Brown

Jim Bob Brown, 87, of Canyon, Texas passed away July 29, 2026. Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at First Methodist Church in Canyon with Rev. Matt Wolfington officiating. A private graveside service will be held at Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon.

Jim Bob was born August 1, 1938, in Dalhart, Texas, the only child of Kinsey and Mae Brown. He grew up in Dalhart and graduated from Dalhart High School. He attended West Texas State University for two years then was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Criminal Investigation Division in Korea.

Jim Bob graduated from West Texas State University in 1966 with a degree in accounting, and then he received a juris doctorate from the University of Houston Law School in 1969. He started his law practice in Canyon in September 1969 and also taught business law classes at WT. He practiced mostly trial law for over 50 years, serving clients in Canyon, Amarillo and across the Panhandle. He was a very successful and well-respected attorney who was dedicated to making sure all of his clients received a fair trial.

Jim Bob married Sharon in June 1969, and they started their life together as a family with three six-year-olds – Sharon’s twin boys, Steve and Ron, and Jim Bob’s daughter Julie, who visited Canyon during the summers.

Jim Bob and Sharon were married for 57 happy years. He cared deeply about his family and loved living in Canyon. He also loved spending time with his kids and grandkids in Red River, New Mexico, where he and Sharon had a second home. His other loves were raising cattle, chickens, and cats, following the WTA&M men’s and women’s basketball teams, and riding motorcycles. He rode motorcycles in New Mexico and all around the western United States. He was a Mason for most of his adult life, and a member of First Methodist Church in Canyon and the Pathfinders Sunday School class. A favorite memory is when the whole family gathered for Jim Bob’s 80th birthday at the lake and declared August 1st as "Jim Bob Brown Day". He taught his family many things, not the least of which was to have a firm handshake.

Jim Bob is survived by his loving wife, Sharon; his three children, Steve Hoyl of Dallas, Ron Hoyl and wife, Kristi of Dallas, and Julie Plummer of Scottsdale, Arizona; daughter-in-law, Susan Hoyl of Amarillo; seven grandchildren – Caleb Nyberg of Los Angeles, CA, Caroline Nyberg and fiancée, Derek Koppari of Scottsdale, AZ, Alex Hoyl and wife, Kellen of Mason, TX, Luke Hoyl and wife, Lexi of Rockwall, TX, Sydney Hoyl of New York City, Hayden Hoyl and fiancée, Alexa Garay of Portland, OR, and Hillary Hoyl Larsen and husband, Jake of Fort Worth; and two great grandchildren, McKay Larsen and Wally Larsen of Fort Worth.

Jim Bob will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former clients. Those who knew and loved him will keep his memory forever in their hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to the West Texas A&M University basketball teams, P.O. Box 60766, Canyon, TX 79016, or Friends of Canyon Animal Control, 1105 9th Ave, Canyon, TX 79015.