JAMES LUTHER “CHRIS” CHRISTIAN, JR.
James Luther “Chris” Christian, Jr. died Saturday, June 5, 2004 at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont after a brief illness.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 11, 2004 at 2 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee with interment at Morse Cemetery in Buna, Texas. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
“Luke”, as he was known by family, was born August 26, 1926 at Blox, Jasper County, Texas to James Luther and Edith Elma (Grissom) Christian. He spent the majority of his youth in the Magnolia Springs-Kirbyville area. After graduation from Orange Stark High School on June 1, 1944, he was inducted into the United States Army. He served from February 26, 1945 to January 6, 1947, first with Company D Replacement Battalion ETS and then as Technician 5th Grade with Company B of the 85th Signal Operation Battalion in Occupied Japan and Korea. After discharge from the Army, he went to work for Western Electric where he worked as an equipment installer for thirty-eight years. “Luke” married Janelle Ferguson, daughter of Earlie and Cleo Ferguson of Evadale on August 5, 1953 in Hardin County, Texas. Together they weathered over fifty years of life; the last forty-four years as residents of Silsbee.
He is survived by his wife, Janelle Christian; seven children; one son, James Christian III and wife Penny; daughter, Kay Cartrett and husband, Doyce; daughter, Candy Mazac and husband Steve; daughter, Cyndi Purcell; daughter Jamie(Sherri) Mouton and husband Al; daughter, Patti Moel and husband Scooter; daughter, Amy Worsham and husband Donald; nineteen grandchildren, one great grandchild and one sister Betty Lou Kelley Osborn and husband Pete.
Actively involved in everything his kids did, he supported Little League, bands, choirs and was a season ticket holder for SHS Tigers for many years.
“Luke” has joined his loved ones who preceded him in death: his parents, stepfather Joseph Walton “Hawkey” Kelley; sisters Pauline Christian Prewitt and Barbara Ann Kelley Thompson Neely; and brother, Tommy Gene Christian.
Loved by his family and friends, his big grin and twinkling eyes will be greatly missed.
