John D. Cabaniss

John D. Cabaniss October 3, 1919 - March 6, 2009 John D. Cabaniss, 89, long-time Waco attorney and Justice of the Peace, closed his law office for the last time on Friday, March 6, 2009, at Providence Hospital. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, at Waco Memorial Park with Rev. Dr. Jimmie Johnson officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. John, as he was known to all but a few, was born October 3, 1919 in Bell County, Texas to William Lycentus and Allie Herrington Cabaniss. He graduated from Moody High School in 1938, and joined the Army. He got out just before Pearl Harbor and attended the University of Texas and Baylor University. He graduated from Baylor Law School in 1949, along with a group of men that remained life-long friends, especially Bill Logue. After a couple of stabs at medical school, and working as a motion picture projectionist, John settled down to practice law. He was appointed Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, Place 1 in McLennan County in 1959, succeeding his friend Vic Hall. He served as J.P. for 42 years, marrying over 5000 couples by his guess. His courthouse days were among his most treasured memories and the people that worked in and around the courthouse were his extended family. Joe Johnson shared many a story and a laugh with John over the years. John loved the law, especially family law, and felt that his service to his clients was more than simply doing a case for a fee. On May 10, 1961, John married Dorothy, and he raised her two sons, Charlie and Mark, as if they were his own. He believed in the value of education, and always said that they could do anything they wanted, as long as they took an M.D. or a J.D. first. They did. Along the way, Dorothy also went back to school, earning a B.A. and a Masters of Social Work. John cared deeply about his family that survivehis wife, Dorothy; two stepsons, Charles R. Jaynes, Jr., M.D., and his wife, Debbie of Victoria, Texas; and Mark T. Jaynes, and his wife, Marla, of Hewitt. The grandchildren are Jason Jaynes, Haley Thorpe, Ryan Jaynes, Britney Cross, Brady Castille, Lauren, Garrett and Katelyn Jaynes; eight great grandchildren and numerous cousins in McLennan and Bell counties. John was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Waco. All will remember the poetry he quoted and the great stories he told. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.