John W. Henderson

He grew up on a farm and ranch near Sweetwater, Texas. In his later years, he entertained his extended family with stories of his mother’s biscuits, his grandfather’s lessons on resting but not getting lazy, and his dad’s hope for him to take over the farm.

But John’s dreams reached far beyond west Texas and the Permian Basin. He decided to attend Texas Tech University to pursue a degree in geology. His studies were interrupted by the post-WWII draft, when the Army called him to serve in Germany.

After his tour of duty, he returned to college and earned a degree in petroleum geology. At his first job with Humble Oil, an executive was overheard warning the other geologists, “You’d better watch this guy. He plowed cotton over one of the largest oil fields in Texas.” He went on to a successful career, exploring for oil internationally, serving a term as Exxon’s district geologist for the King Ranch, and founding Conquest Exploration in the early 1980’s.

He married Edyth Echols in 1952 and they had three children, John William, Jr. (Bill), Mary Alice, and Thomas. They lived in Louisiana, Indonesia, Colorado, and Texas. Edyth passed away in 2001.

John moved to Colorado in 2002 and found love again with Sue Williamson Browning. They married in 2003, and spent the next 20 years acting like newlyweds, traveling, and showing their children what love looks like.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Henderson, his children, Bill, Mary Alice and Thomas, his stepchildren Kristen Browning-Blas and Carter Browning, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Brookwood Community, 1752 FM 1489, Brookshire, TX 77423.