James Earl Johnson, Sr., 63, of Fannett, died on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. He was born September 19, 1946, in Port Arthur, to the late Jennie Lee Bishop and the late Heith Johnson.  A former resident of Port Acres and life long resident of Fannett, James began working for Texaco, now Motiva Enterprises, forty-two years ago. Most recently, James played a crucial role and had the key responsibility at Motiva Enterprises as a DPR to permit construction work on the CEP Project.

James was proudest of his marriage of forty-four years to the “best, most beautiful wife, mother, and cook in the world”; the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, and his role in the CEP Project at Motiva Enterprises. He worked hard at and prided himself on his biggest passion -- raising the best cattle and horses anybody could find. When asked about how his successes of and those of his family were accomplished, he would simply say, “Hard work and clean livin’.”   

James is survived by his wife, Dolores Ann Higginbotham Johnson, of Fannett; children, Kristi Johnson Henry, M.Ed and her husband Thomas Frank “Tommy” Henry, Jr. of Anahuac, James Earl Johnson, Jr., M.D. and his wife Kimberly Lynn Johnson of Garden Ridge, and Cody Wayne Johnson, Esq. and his wife Tracy Lynn Johnson of Santa Fe; grandchildren, Anne-Marie Lee Henry and James Thomas Aaron Henry of Anahuac, James Earl “Jay” Johnson, III and Mary Bonner Johnson of Spring, and Noah Lafayette Johnson and Joan Carol “Joanie” Johnson of Santa Fe; siblings Margie Jean Johnson Prejean of Anahuac, Eugene Lester Johnson and his wife Billie of Baytown, and Leonard Lee Johnson and his wife Linda of Port Acres.

James is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Albert Dewey Johnson of Port Acres and Edmund Johnson of Port Acres.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2010, at St. Mary Catholic Church, in Fannett with burial to follow at Broussard’s Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A gathering of his family and friends will be Friday, May 28, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m. at Broussard’s.

Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Mary Catholic Church Building Fund, 9894 Gilbert Road, Beaumont, Texas 77705.