Jean Mills Worsham

He was preceded in death by his dear son, John Murfee Worsham; his treasured brother, J. L. “Bubba” Worsham, Jr.; his parents, Annie Lee Mills Worsham and Jesse Lee Worsham, Sr.; and his uncles and mentors, H. L. Mills, Judge J. W. Mills and Dr. Sam F. Mills. He is survived by his beloved family: his wife of 60 years, Roberta Murfee Worsham; his sons, Robert Mills Worsham, Sr. and wife Roxanne, and James Leslie “Les” Worsham and wife Leslie; his grandchildren, Kathryn Anne Worsham, Jesse Lee Worsham, Robert Mills Worsham, Jr., Samuel Price Worsham and Asha Elizabeth Worsham; his brother, John William Worsham and wife Arline; his nieces, Gail Worsham Pitt, Cynthia Worsham Bowers and Anna Larson Worsham; and by a large and appreciated extended family and many friends.

Jean attended Houston public schools and was a member of the second graduating class at Mirabeau B. Lamar High School. He received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and President of the Chapter. He coached its intramural football team, for which he was given his lifelong nickname of "Coach."

Following college, Jean served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, stationed at bases in the United States, as well as in Okinawa and Japan. Following his discharge, Jean returned to the University of Texas School of Law where he earned his L.L.B. and was elected to Phi Delta Phi, honorary legal fraternity.

Jean returned to Houston and practiced law there for over 50 years. Beginning as an Assistant District Attorney, he was associated with several small law firms before spending 25 years in the Legal Department of Shell Oil Company. He was a member of the Texas Bar Association and of the Houston Bar Association, which honored him for 50 years of practice.

A lifelong Methodist, Jean was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School and served in many capacities, including the Administrative Board. He was a member of the Board of the Methodist Hospital and of Lon Morris Junior College.

Jean's first word appropriately was "ball." His two main avocational interests were tennis and University of Texas Longhorn sports. A 50+ year member of Houston Country Club, he played tennis there and elsewhere for 70 years — into his early 80s. He was devoted to his Alma Mater and was a member of the University of Texas Littlefield Society, Chancellor's Council, President's Associates and Longhorn Foundation. An extremely knowledgeable fan, he avidly followed Longhorn athletics year-round. He was a constant reader, a well informed enthusiast of Big Band music, Dixieland Jazz and other music and was an enthusiastic traveler.

Jean was a fine and honorable man whose word was his bond. He was a loyal friend, devoted family member and an excellent husband, father and grandfather. Perhaps his happiest achievement was being "Danrad" to his five cherished grandchildren.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 18th of August, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 19th of August, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Dr. Tom Pace, Senior Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Hines Baker Room.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, the family requests with gratitude that contributions in Jean’s memory be directed to the Roberta M. and Jean M. Worsham Scholarship Endowment (in Behavioral Sciences), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (UTHSC-GSBS), P.O. Box 20334, Houston, TX 77225-0334 – attn.: Linda Carter.