On February 16, 2014, in Plano, Texas, James Roy Moreland, an 84-year-old Caucasian male, was found deceased alongside his wife, Barbara Faye Moreland, an 80-year-old Caucasian female. James Moreland died from a contact shotgun wound to the chest, while Barbara Moreland's death was ruled a suicide. The manner of James Moreland's death was undetermined.
James Roy Moreland was born on March 8, 1929, in Irving, Texas.
He was the son of William Jefferson Moreland and Dottie Crowley Moreland, and was also considered a son by Don and Pat Christian. After graduating from Irving High School, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, training paratroopers during the Korean Conflict, though he was never deployed. Following his military service, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas. His professional career was spent at Texas Instruments, where he held several patents and was a major contributor to the development of integrated circuitry. He retired in the early 1990s. James was also elected to the Board of Trustees of the Irving Independent School District and was an avid bird hunter, enjoying quail, dove, and turkey hunting with his Brittany Spaniels.
Barbara Faye Cannon Moreland was born on June 24, 1933, in Irving, Texas, to Roy Cannon and Naomi Borah Cannon. She graduated from Irving High School, where she played basketball for the Lady Tigers. Raised on the family farm, which later became part of the DFW airport, she married James in July 1957. Barbara was a stay-at-home mother to their two daughters, Evrin Ford and Debra Lynn Moreland Richard. She was an artist, an outstanding cook, gardener, and a caregiver, earning the nickname "Dead Eye" for her bird hunting skills.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of James and Barbara Moreland remain unclear. James Moreland's death was classified as undetermined, while Barbara Moreland's was ruled a suicide. There were no reports of arrests or suspects related to these incidents.
