James A. DeLee

James Alva DeLee Sr. was born August 7, 1933 in Port Arthur to the late A.A. quotGusquot DeLee and Nell James.A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur with Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory as Celebrant and Rev. J.C. Coon homilist, with interment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches under the ion of Melancon39s Funeral Home in Nederland. A gathering of the family and friends will be from 5 to 8 PM Tuesday with a Christian Vigil to be held at 7 PM at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy Avenue in Nederland.James was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. In 1955 he completed his Civil Engineering Degree from Texas AM, also Married Gladyne Deanie Boultinghouse and had five children, James Alva DeLee, Jr. of San Diego, California Teri Wilson and her husband Dave of Port Neches Debbie Nicholson and her husband Greig of Groves Richard DeLee of Port Arthur and Becca Oberg and her husband Kevin of Port Arthur. Also surviving are his seven grandchildren, Amy and Kelsey DeLee, Ashley DeLege William, Jade Matejka, Matthew Papania, Brett Nicholson, and Beau DeLee his sisters Sharon Loeb of New Orleans, Louisiana, Kathy McNair of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Jacque Craft of Lansing, Michigan and brothers Jesse DeLee of Boerne, Texas and Mike DeLee of Port Arthur, Texas.James served two years active duty in the Army Corps of Engineers before returning home to work in the local refineries in Port Arthur. Jim was a Licensed Surveyor and Registered Engineer in Texas and Louisiana. He was the last selftaught Lawyer in the State of Texas and was Board Certified in Criminal and Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He was the first recipient of the Frank Scurlock Pro Bono Award presented by the Jefferson County Bar Association and also received the Jefferson County 39Sir Thomas Moore Award39 for Outstanding Catholic Attorney in 2009. James joined the Texas National Guard moving through the ranks to retire as Colonel and Commander of the 36th Airborne Brigade. James served his community as President of the Salvation Army of South County, past President of Port Arthur Founders Lions Club, served five years as chairman of Catholic Charities and was an original board member of Garth House. James was a member of the Nederland Knights of Columbus where he served two years as Grand Knight, four years as District Deputy and also Faithful Navigator with the Fourth Degree. Converted to Catholicism in 1980, he joined St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Nederland where he faithfully served in choir, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Parish Council and A.C.T.S. Retreat. James was called for the diaconate and was ordained in February 2006 as a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church assigned to St. James parish in Port Arthur. Memorial contributions can be made to the St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur or to the Catholic Clerical Student Fund Sponsored by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women: 2529 Grand Blvd., Port Neches, TX 77651.