James Larkin “Jim” Brown, Sr. passed peacefully on January 4, 2009 of congestive heart failure. Jim was born on August 26, 1922 in Port Arthur to James B. Brown and Bertha McCormick Brown. Jim was raised in a Christian home in the Golden Triangle area where he graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1941.
He joined the United States Navy in March, 1942, where he served honorably until discharged in December, 1945. Serving on the USS Mattaponi, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean twenty-eight times, his vessel coming under fire on numerous occasions. It was here that Jim would discover his life’s work with electricity.
After the war, Jim pursued his love of all things electrical, attending Texas A&M University and Lamar State College of Technology. Jim married and was blessed with four children, James, Jr., Bonnie, Rebecca, and Robert. This marriage would last twenty-nine years.
Jim was employed by the Koppers Co. in Port Arthur in various capacities as an Instrument/Electrical engineer, Plant Engineer and Project Manager. This plant was also known by other names over the years, including: Sinclair-Koppers, Arco Polymers, Arco Chemical, etc. After early retirement, he served as a consulting engineer on projects at Quantum, Goodyear and Matrix Engineering. During retirement, Jim pursued his passion of wood working, reading western novels and traveling. “Dad’s Workshop” was always a busy place producing beautiful furniture, bird houses, seasonal ornaments and thousands of toy race cars. He would tell you, he was happiest “making sawdust.”
His parents, James and Bertha Brown preceded him in death. He is survived by his beloved wife of thirty years, Veronica; his children, James, Jr., and his wife Nancy, Bonnie Marrs Smith and her husband Adrian, Rebecca Brown, Robert Brown and his wife Daroma; Veronica’s children, Susan Siddall and her husband Roger, Judy Rogers and her husband Steve; sister, Geneva Hargraves; brothers, Edward Brown and Thomas Brown; eight grandchildren, Scott Marrs, Troy Marrs, Jr., Kimberly Marrs Tharp, Erik Brown, Adam Brown, Andrea Brown, Laycie Brown and Savana Brown; and seven great-grandchildren, Kalyn Marrs, Hannah Marrs, Megan Marrs, Alex Marrs, Morgan Marrs, Gabriel Tharp and Madelin Tharp.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Memory Gardens in Nederland. Adrian Smith, Jack Stout, Adam Brown, Troy Marrs, Jr., Scott Marrs and Teague Tharp will serve as pallbearers. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon prior to the service at the Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s name to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, Virginia 22038 or to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 7015, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
