Nortex Electronics

In Memory of Lewis E. Cearly Jr., Proprietor

Lewis Cearley, 84, passed away Friday, Oct. 5, 2007, at a local hospital.
Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Gordon Callaway, Ed Forrester, Bob Martin, Ken McAllister, Mike Stroud, Jimmy Waters. Honorary pallbearers: Bob Carr, Bryan Goulette, Perry Hale, Steve Haney, Jerry McKinney, Robert Plum, Pete Pratt, Mark Rosso.

Lewis was born July 21, 1923, to Lewis E. Cearley and Ina Carson Cearley in Childress. His family moved to Fort Worth in 1936. He graduated from Tech High School and joined the Navy in 1942. He served on the aircraft carrier, Tulagi, in the South Pacific, participating in three invasions, plus always dodging the kamikaze. Lewis enjoyed participating in squadron reunions.

Lewis developed an intense interest in electronics at an early age; for example, he wired an entire house when he was 14. He started the Cearley Co. on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1954. In 1976, he established Nortex Electronics on West Vickery Boulevard, passing out advice, spare parts and good cheer until a month before his death.

Lewis and Joy Cearley were married in 1967, putting an end to his happy bachelor days. They celebrated their 40th anniversary on Aug. 12, 2007. His stepson, John Watson, died in 2001.

Survivors: Wife, Joy; sister, Sylvia Cearley of Fort Worth; stepdaughter, Kay Haddaway and husband, Richard of Santa Fe; stepdaughter-in-law, Brenda Watson of College Station; stepgrandsons, James Haddaway and wife, Shannon of Fort Worth, Keith Watson of College Station; stepgranddaughter, Dr. Kimberly Hill and husband, Jeff of Georgetown; and stepgreat-grandchildren, George Haddaway, Vivian Haddaway, Ethan Hill and Avery Hill.

Published in the Star-Telegram on 10/7/2007.

Lewis was a great friend to many electroncs and photography enthusiasts and is sorely missed. His humor, his many WWII stories about Navy ship and aircraft electronics will always be remembered. Lewis was my very good friend. Although Lewis and his wonderful surplus store are no longer here, those of us who were his friends and customers for so many years will always kindly cherish his memory and the memories of our times in the place he created for us.

Nortex Electronics was a man's electronics store, a place of ceramic insulators and high power vacuum tubes, of test equipment, manuals, high voltage capacitors, and plate transformers. A perfect place in a not so perfect world. And Lewis Cearly, he was the man. -Patrick Jankowiak

"Below: unofficial pictorial report of the store, February 2006. -Remember it as it was."

What is seen in these images is a memory. The building has been sold.

Nortex Electronics is closed.
See contact information below.

There is still a large (ten thousands) stock of new, and used vacuum tubes to be sold lots. Inquiries should be directed to the contact below:
Contact: Jimmy Waters

Nortex's 2002 web page
Not before shown, somewhat hurried video walk-through of the "other building". AVI format, 40MB file size. This 10 minute video shows the building next door, which was not part of the showroom and which visitors could also go shopping inside. It was packed full of merchandise. It was not unusual for people to spend 4-5 hours inside.

NOTICE! These are just fun random pictures of cool stuff! Click here for the offical online store. (updates to come later from CJ Waters Enterprises.)

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