James Millard Lucas, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather was received into heaven in the early hours of February 15, 2019. He was born August 15,1931 in Wichita, Kansas to Dr. J Wesley and Dorothy Lucas.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Charles Lucas. James is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret, daughter Jamie Swearingen, husband Jerry, son James M. Lucas, wife Diana, grandchildren Lindsey Gerasimowicz, husband Justin, James Lucas, wife Molly, Adam Lucas, wife Marie, Jeffrey Swearingen, great-grandchild Kailey Gerasimowicz, sister Donna Stovall and nieces and nephews scattered around Texas and California.
James received a BS degree in Agriculture Economics from Kansas State University where he was a member of the Men’s Golf Team. After graduation he moved to the Rio Grand Valley and worked for a year for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Weslaco, Texas. He decided he wanted to stay in the Valley and become a farmer, so he went home and married the love of his life, Margaret and began farming cotton and grain sorghum in Willacy County, Texas. Without any prior knowledge of how to farm, but with the help of good friends and research he would successfully spend the next 42 years doing what he loved until retiring in 1997.
James was very active in his community and church. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lyford, Texas for 50 years, serving as both president and treasurer of the board. He also served as Boy Scout Master of troop 68 (sponsored by the church) for 2 years. He was a member of the Harlingen, TX Toastmaster Club where he served a term as president. James served on the Lyford CISD school board for 2 years in the 1970’s. He was involved with the High School sports that his kids were active in. He served as president of the L.H.S. Quarterback Club and was instrumental in the recruiting of advertisers to begin sponsor signage in and around the Lyford Football Stadium. This also included painting the signs. He assisted the L.H.S. Golf teams including helping to organize one of the local high school golf tournaments that continues today. James was named Outstanding Conservation Farmer Zone I, Willacy County, TX in 1978.
He served as a member of the Willacy County Drainage District #1 for 30 years including serving as president for his final eight years, retiring in 2012. James was an avid reader and collector of books and antiques, and he enjoyed traveling with Margaret. James loved to play golf especially with his children and grandchildren and he was a longtime member of the Harlingen Country Club. He was very proud of his family and they meant the world to him.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 23rd at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home Chapel, 18000 I-45S, The Woodlands, 77384. Burial will immediately follow after service along with a reception on the Fireside at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staffs at Autumn Grove Cottage at The Woodlands, At Your Side The Woodlands and Altus Hospice-North Houston for all the wonderful care they provided.
For those who desire, memorials may be made to Kansas State University, payable to KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502-3373 and the First United Methodist Church, Lyford, 13258 W. Glen Lofton, Drawer H, Lyford, Texas 78569.
