Brother Jim Irwin was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason on February 12, 1955 by Yellowhouse Lodge No. 841 in Lubbock, Texas.  He was passed to Fellowcraft on May 8, 1970 and raised to Master Mason on June 8, 1970.  He affiliated with Cross Plains Lodge No. 627 in June of 1979 where he served in the various offices and was Master of the Lodge in 1985 and 1995.  He is an endowed member of Cross Plains Lodge and served as District Deputy Grand Master in 1997.  He and his wife Frances served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron of the Cross Plains Chapter No. 455, Order of the Eastern Star during three separate years.  He also belonged to the Scottish/York Rite Masons and very active in the Brownwood Shrine.  He was recipient of the Golden Trowel and other Masonic awards.  After the tornado damage to our 1926 vintage building in 1994, Brother Jim was instrumental in obtaining another building.  His willingness to always go more than his share was epitomized when he and Mrs. Irwin moved much of the lodge furniture by placing it through a window and lowering it to the ground on a rope.

From Brother Irwin's obituary:

James Sanford Irwin, 83, of Kerrville, Texas, formerly of Cross Plains, died Saturday, February 26, 2005 at a hospital in Kerrville, Texas.

Mr. Irwin was born June 19, 1921 in Wichita, Kansas to D.J. and Clara Irwin. He graduated in 1939 from P.S.J.A. High School in Pharr, Texas. He married Mary Frances Rexrode on May 5, 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at Midland/ Odessa Air Base as a Bombardier, and served in the 8th Air Force in England as Squadron Bombardier, and flew numerous missions over Europe including D-Day. He was discharged in 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant. He worked as a salesman in Corpus Christi and Lubbock for Sears Roebuck & Co. He then opened his own furniture and appliance store in 1959. In 1978 he moved to Cross Plains, Texas and had a furniture repair and upholstery shop. He was Municipal Judge for the City of Cross Plains for 10 years. Mr. Irwin was a lifetime member of the Christian Church, a Mason and a Shriner. He was a Past Master of Cross Plains Masonic Lodge #627, A.F.& A.M. a member of Lubbock Scottish Rite, the Suez Shrine, and the Brownwood Order of the Eastern Star. He played in the Brownwood Oriental Band for 25 years.

Survivors include wife, Mary Frances, daughters, Sandra Harmon of Kerrville, Lynn O'Keefe of Arlington, VA, and Jamie Colley of Odessa, TX; brother, David Irwin of Kerrville, 7 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services with Masonic Rites, courtesy of Kerrville Masonic Lodge #697, A.F.& A.M. and Cross Plains Masonic Lodge #627, A.F.& A.M. will be 9:30AM, Thursday, March 3, 2005 at the Kerrville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Arlie Lammers officiating. Interment with military honors will be 1:15PM, Thursday, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. No visitation is scheduled.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607-1460.
Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Kerrville Funeral Home.