John B. French, Sr. died Saturday, June 17, 2006 after a brief illness. Born on December 9, 1925, he was 80 years of age. “Bee” was raised in Beaumont and retired to Nome, Texas and was direct descendant of the early Texas pioneer, John Jay French.
He attended Beaumont High School and then graduated from Lamar State College after service to his country during World War II in the Navy Seabees. He married Emily Joan Olson and had three children. Bee was a retired superintendent of Jefferson County Drainage District No. 6 and a real estate developer. He was an energetic and ambitious gardener, but would leave the garden in a moment for a spontaneous trip to anywhere he and Joan may decide to travel. He liked meeting people and enjoyed the company of someone he hadn’t known before. But most of all Bee enjoyed his country home and tending to the wild and domestic animals that lived on the surrounding land, playing bluegrass music with his brother and cousin, and firmly believed in the benefits of a hard day’s work and a good sense of humor. In the last years, he took satisfaction in watching his family grow with the births of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Bee is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Emily Joan French of Nome; son, John B. French, Jr. and his wife Kay of Devers, Randy French and his wife Pam of Nome; daughter, Sandra Kotz and her husband Stan of Nome; grandchildren, Clint French of China, Amanda Kotz Beavers of Nome, Charlie Kotz of Nome. Lee French, Nina French, Madelyn Kay and Olivia Kay of Nome, Leigh and Chris Davis of Nome, Russell Vickery of Devers; and great grandchildren, Molly Beavers of Nome and Hayden Vickery of Devers. He is also survived by his brother and friend, Homer Lee French of Lumberton; cousins, Lloyd “Shorty” Shell and Burton French of Beaumont; and countless other treasured and life-long friends and family members.
Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at Magnolia Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 19, 2006 at the Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, Bee would be pleased to know donations were made on his behalf to the John J. French Museum, care of the Beaumont Heritage Society, 3025 French Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
