John Owen Ashford Sr.

John Owen Ashford Sr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 4, 2018. We know he was singing "I'll fly away" all the way there. We can still hear him singing that song in our memories as he always did. We know Dorothy is so glad to have him there and all the people he loved that went ahead of him.

The sea was always a part of his life. John was a member of the Merchant Marines during WWII, being lucky enough to travel around the world three times before the age of 19. He worked as a tug boat pilot at the Houston Ship Channel and the Gulf of Mexico. Then worked hard till retirement as a longshoreman always taking care of his family.

He was always a role model of what a true Christian life looks like. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and will be missed here. He was a part of the original 50 members of Lakewood Church, and helped get it started in "the feed store." He was one of John Osteen's first chosen to be a deacon.

He was always there for his family, and church. John was loved dearly. We can take solace in the fact that he is no longer suffering or in pain.

He is singing in that huge heavenly choir up there and finally meeting Jesus face to face as Jesus is saying to him, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

John was born on February 28, 1928 in Houston, Texas to parents Lucy and George E. Ashford.

John was preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy D. (Bell) Ashford; parents, Lucy (Carley) Ashford and George E. Ashford

Left to cherish his memory are his son John Owen Ashford Jr. and wife Danielle Renee Ashford; daughter Doris Dianne Ashford May and husband Allen Quinn May; five grandchildren: Quinn Richard May, Bret Allen May, Christine Renae Null and husband Joe, Steven Alan Brock and wife Kelly, Samantha Lynn Preston and husband Matt; seven great-grandchildren: Cesar Collazo III, Christian Collazo, Colton Null, Madelyn Brock, Emmalyn Brock, Alexandra Preston, Ronald Preston; as well as numerous friends and other family members.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM; and a funeral service on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 3:00 PM in the Grand Chapel at Brookside Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Brookside Memorial Park and Cemetery, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039.