Niles Grant "Pi" Bloxom

1931 - 2013

Niles Grant Bloxom, age 82, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 20, 2013. Family will welcome friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Laurel Land Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Bloxom Tower Fund, Texas Health Resources Foundation, 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Ste 300, Arlington, TX 76011. Niles was born Feb. 8, 1931, to Samuel and Hazel Bloxom. He was third of four sons raised in Houston, Texas during tumultuous years from the Great Depression through World War II. His father, Samuel Bloxom, was train switchman, with lantern, for Southern Pacific Railroad in Englewood Yards. His mother, Hazel Vinnedge, operated Bloxom Cafe for rail workers. During the war, a teenage Pi worked as shift welder, iced down banana rail cars and rode a horse bareback to school. The horse ate grass all day. Pi called him, "Lawnmower." In Fort Worth, Pi married wife of 58 years, Jean Terrill. The family settled in Garden Acres. The couple raised daughters, Lindy and Kelly, and son, Scott. Pi managed drive-in grocery stores for his oldest brothers. He was used car sales manager for Jack Williams Chevrolet for 10 years. Eventually, Pi operated his own business as a Fort Worth car wholesaler for 20 years. He mentored several young men in auto sales, including his son. He also raised and raced quarter horses. Collector of antiques and cowboy memorabilia, Pi created a unique Western town with different storefronts in the family's backyard to showcase his hobby. He relished annual family quail hunts at a brother's ranch in Rankin. Happy Trails, Pi! Survivors: His loving wife of 58 years, Jean; daughters, Lindy Garcia and Kelly Dyson; son, Scott Bloxom; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Russ Bloxom; and many loving family and friends.