James B. Everly

James Burton Everly, 93, passed away at his home in Argent Court while in his sleep on Nov. 7, 2014. Born Aug. 21, 1921 to Virgie and Roy Everly in Ironton, Ohio, he achieved fame in his beloved hometown on the banks of the Ohio River as the MVP of his high school football team in 1941.

Although his call to duty in the U.S. Army cut short his collegiate football career at Bowling Green, he never regretted his sacrifice to fight for his country. Serving in both the South Pacific and China, Burma and India campaigns, he carried the scars of losing 23 men under his command to enemy fire for 70 years.

Marrying Ruth Marie Lehner, whose letters from home throughout those torturous three years spent in the jungles, helped make the malaria he contracted in Burma and the horrors of war somehow bearable. Moving with his wife and two children, Constance Elizabeth and Daniel Eugene, to Houston in 1951 brought him further relief from recurring fevers associated with malaria. After 32 years in Houston, he and Ruth followed their son, Daniel and his wife Skulsri, to Brenham. For the next 27 years he and his family lived on the beautiful bluebonnet covered hills along the banks of Woodard Creek.

At 89, James finally quit working and retired to Argent Court for a well deserved rest. His friends there got to know a man who represented the Archetype of a generation that knew all too well that sacrifice and suffering are necessary ingredients to achieving the security we Americans enjoy.

James is survived by his daughter, son, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and one greatest niece.

Viewing will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 at Brenham Memorial Chapel from 5-8 p.m. with graveside services Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Masonic Cemetery in Chappell Hill at 11 a.m.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer Street, Brenham, Texas 77833. 979-836-3611. Condolences for the family may be left at www.brenhammemorialchapel.com