James Nathan Holbert, Sr. was born in Houston on September 23, 1936 to Marian Aileen Boylan Holbert and Marvin Lee Holbert.   He passed away at home in Silsbee on February 1, 2015 at the age of 78.

James worked as a chemist in Houston, Texas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, then back to Houston. He started his own company, Custom Solutions (Cusol), in 1977. He moved to Silsbee in 2000 and retired from Cusol in 2005. As a chemist, he had multiple patents. He enjoyed computer programming. He loved building and repairing electronics. He had a huge love for writing poetry and loved sharing his faith with those around him and his friends and family. James had a big servant heart and never met a stranger. He was always willing to help speak the word of God to those around him. He loved Chinese food, especially Egg Foo Young, and Mexican food with tamales being his favorite. He enjoyed talking with people over a meal. He would always think outside the box on projects which is what made him an inspirational person. He was a family man and had a great love for music. He started singing in his church choir when he was a teenager. He was a tenor and appeared in several operas and operettas in Mississippi as well as his two older children, Jeannie and Jack, who sang with him. He was a very organized and frugal individual. He had a huge passion and love of Scientific TV programs, Star Trek and science related shows. He loved spending time with his family and always enjoyed all of their visits. He loved working on word jumbles along with Sudoku puzzles. He had a great sense of humor and was a very witty person to be around. He was always smiling and enjoying helping those around him.

James is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Barbara Jean Holbert; daughter, Jeannie A. Holbert and partner, Judy, of Conroe; sons, James N. Holbert, Jr. and his wife, Julie, of Houston; Mark S. Holbert and his wife, Dionne, of Sugar Land; and Scott A. Holbert and his wife, Susan, of Silsbee. He has been blessed with twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Marvin Lee Holbert, Jr. of Houston; and sister, Janet Marie Holbert Nelson of Livingston.

A gathering of Mr. Holbert’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee.  His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 5, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee, with interment to follow at Old Hardin Cemetery, Kountze.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, General Fund, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee, Texas 77656 or the American Cancer Society, 755 South 11th Street, Suite 212, Beaumont, Texas 77701.

The family would like to thank Dr. F. R. Stovall and staff for their loving care of James for many years, Dr. R. Birdwell and staff during his battle with cancer, and Harbor Hospice for making it possible for his final days at home comfortable with family and friends.