James Mixson Bateman, 68, of Houston, formerly of Village Mills, died Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at Vitas Innovative Hospice, Shenandoah.

He was born in his grandmother’s house in Kirbyville, Texas, on August 23, 1947. He lived in Austin until ninth grade where he made All-Star Pitcher of the North Austin Lions Little League 1958-1959. His family then moved back to Kirbyville in 1962, where he remained until 1965. James went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad right out of high school and held numerous clerical positions including: Train Order Operator and Telegrapher in Temple, Texas, Extra Board as a Wire Chief and Train Dispatcher in Dark Territory Clovis, New Mexico, Centralized Traffic Control Operator in Alvin, Texas, where he first joined the AA in 1971, Crew Caller in Euless, Texas, Stenographer and numerous clerical positions in Beaumont and Silsbee, Texas. James finally retired as the Way Bill Dispatcher at the Centralized Way Bill Center in Topeka, Kansas, in 1997.

Survivors include his wife, Constance Victoria Critchlow Bateman; sons, Dru Bateman and his wife, April, of Spring, and their children, Braden, Taralyn, Gregory, Benjamin, and Jason; Doug Bateman and his wife, PJ, of Magnolia, and their daughter, Skyla; sisters, Kathy Land and her husband, Jerry, of Plano; Susie Guy and her husband, Mike, of Bryan; and Becky Jacks and her husband, Stanley; of Pineland; and brother, Randy Bateman and his wife, L’Cena, of Sherman.

James is preceded in death by his father, Benjamin Dru (Rowdy) Bateman; mother, Frances Brockman Bateman; and uncle, James Mixson Bateman; along with other aunts and uncles.

A gathering of Mr. Bateman’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7785 Weaver Drive, Beaumont. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m., at Bean Cemetery, Kirbyville.