Jef was a sixth generation Beaumonter, born November 13, 1922 to Ruth Pope Russell and Jef Chaison Russell in Springfield, Missouri. Jef and his family soon moved back to Texas and lived in Silsbee where his father was the office manager for his father-in-law, Dr. Esca Dearwood Pope. He then moved with his family to Beaumont where his father worked for the family companies, Jef Chaison Townsite Company and The Texas Riceland Company. Jef attended South Park Elementary School for the first grade and finished elementary school at Averil Elementary School. He then attended Dick Dowling Junior High and Beaumont High School graduating in 1940. After spending his freshman year at Lamar Junior College he attended the University of Texas and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order.
During World War II he joined the Army Air Corps and became a B-24 bomber pilot. He returned to the University of Texas after the war and meet the love of his life Billie Wynne Sain {Bill} from Alice, Texas. They were married in Alice on November 16, 1946, and moved to Beaumont where Jef went to work as a home builder for the Jef Chaison Townsite Company. 23 years and 700 houses later, he left the family company to become Senior Vice President and board member at Beaumont State Bank; he later became President and was an active board member for many years after his retirement. Jef enjoyed hunting and fishing on the family rice farm and family ranch in South Texas. He and Bill traveled extensively all over the world.
Jef is survived by his sons, Jef Chaison Russell III of Fort Worth and John Emerson Russell of Houston and his wife Lynn Fawcett Russell of Houston; grandchildren include Jef IV of Fort Worth, Kelly Russell McWherter and her husband Blake of Houston, Molly, Robert and William Russell of Houston; and great-granddaughter, Katherine Grace McWherter of Houston..
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 21, 2008, at St. Stephen Episcopal Church, with a reception to follow at Broce Hall. A private interment will be in Woodville, Texas at Magnolia Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jef’s name to St.Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706-7801
