Billy James Johnson

BILLY JAMES (BJ) JOHNSON, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, and friend, has left this world to make his own observations about love and life, and also the challenges that make us what we are and what we have been.

By God’s abundant grace, BJ went to the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, November, 13, 2011. The first son of William and Annie Johnson, BJ was born on April 1, 1932, in Marlin, Texas. He graduated from Jefferson Davis High School, in Houston, and then from The University of Houston in 1955, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology. Upon graduation, BJ went to work for the Humble Oil and Refining Co. (Exxon) and was assigned to the East Texas office in Tyler. The next 13 years BJ had assignments in Eugene, Oregon, Chico and Los Angeles California, Kingsville, Texas, Mari, Pakistan, and then ended up in Houston at the Division Headquarters. Two Years later he co-founded Delta Resources, Inc. to discover and develop the oilfields in South Texas and the Gulf Coast area. In 1973, Petroleum Unlimited was created and he became the President and CEO.

He was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Sugar Creek Country Club, and in college, served as a President of the Usonians, a campus fraternity at U of H. One of his greatest passions was fishing, and he enjoyed sail fishing in Mexico, salmon fishing in Alaska, and bay fishing on the Texas and Louisiana gulf coasts.

BJ is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Margaret Haggard; and brother, Guy Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Judy Meyer Johnson; daughters, Jessica Johnson, and Julie Ray and her husband Sean; two grandsons, Jackson Hunter Ray and Hudson Charles Ray; brother-in-law, Alton Meyer and his wife Sara; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, November 17, 2011, at the Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit). Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, November 18, 2011, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 5315 Main St., Houston. Graveside Services will follow at 4:00 PM, at West Side Cemetery, in Yorktown, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Houston Gulf Coast Chapter, or to the American Cancer Society, Houston Chapter.