Annette M. Havens

My wife was born on October 15, 1942, in Houston, Texas. She was the daughter of Marie Elbert and Clovis Moore. She lived her childhood in Houston. She attended St. Agnes and graduated from Marion High School. She then attended St. Thomas University before entering the business world beginning her career as a secretary/ bookkeeper.

She is predeceased by parents and her brother, Clovis Moore of Houston, her sister Rose Marie Cezar of Houston and her brother Jimmy Moore of Galveston, Texas.

In addition to me she is survived by my son, James Baxter Havens II (Heidi) of Richmond, Texas and my daughter, Teressa Vonne Estes (Chuck) of Livingston, Texas; by four grandchildren, Kerstan Simone Hoover (Derek), Mekayla Marie Havens, James Baxter Havens III and Charlie Ann Fowler, two great grandchildren, Adalyn and Kaiden Hoover along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. My family and I were so blessed to have her play such a loving, caring role in our lives. She was blessed with the unique gift of giving genuine, unconditional love to children not her very own. Her contribution to our family was, and will continue to be, no less than monumental. How can we ever be thankful enough?

She lived most of her life in Houston, Texas. She was a woman of great faith. She was raised and schooled by the Catholic Church. Upon our marriage she joined my family as Methodists. She had the strong, quiet faith of a steadfast Christian. To understand her great faith you simply need to understand, as Billy Graham said, “she was just born a Christian”.

She had a notable professional career. She served as Executive Assistant to the V. P. of Purchasing and Logistics at ARAMCO for many years. She was chosen early in that position to go to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to conduct training. It was rather notable at that time for a young, blonde American woman to be chosen for that responsibility. After ARAMCO she entered the legal field as administrative assistant to one of the prominent oil and gas attorneys in Houston. Eventually she managed and discharged his estate for his family and performed similar estate related duties for other families. After our marriage she became my business confidant and advisor and partner. She was co-founder of our real estate service company and co-founder of our fishing guide service. And in our retirement, we purchased and founded one of the premier ranching operations in the western Texas Hill County. She loved the area and was committed to the preservation of native Texas wildlife.

She was a life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a longtime member of the Lamb Committee. She worked diligently to contribute to the education scholarships which that fine organization provided.

We were adults when we married in 1988. We are one of the world’s great love stories. Think of or read the love sonnets of Elizabeth Barret Browning to see our love story. Together we were whole. We did everything together. We were seldom apart. We loved one another. We cared for one another. We communicated with one another without speaking. We knew one another’s soul. How can a man be so blessed?

My darling I can never thank you enough for all you gave my family and me. I love you more than my life and am committed to you forever.

Your loving husband,

Jim

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkLawndaleFH.com for the Havens family.