Therese James

Therese Ann “Tessie” James, 78, died December 31, 2016. She was born October 22, 1938 in Beeville, TX, the second of eight children born to Myrtle Nell McKinney and John Rosebrock. She was a descendant of early Live Oak county settlers.

Tessie was predeceased by her father in 1963, her mother in 2001, and an infant daughter, Mary Therese James, in 1967.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Lamar James of George West; five children and their spouses, Patrick & Kelly James of George West, Guy & Michele James of Schulenburg, John Ed & Michele James of Katy, Tim & Lacey James of New Braunfels, and Laura & Daryl Kutac of Schulenburg; thirteen grandchildren, Whitley James, Shelby James, Leighton James, Freeman James, Kate James, Laura Beth James, Betsy James, Casey James, Stephanie James, Claire James, Carter James, Kullen Kutac, and Kinley Kutac. She is also survived by her seven siblings, Myrtle Nell (Robert) Bocquet of Beeville, Jane Pugh of George West, Johnnye (Jack) Jameyson of Flatonia, Mary Garcia of George West, Dee (Debbie) Rosebrock of George West, Bob (Linda) Rosebrock of Buda, and Jim (Bethany) Rosebrock of Belton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tessie’s early childhood was spent moving around the south Texas oil fields, living in a small travel trailer as her father moved from one job site to the next. They settled back in George West permanently in 1942. She grew up on the family farm and told many stories of picking cotton, tending livestock, hunting and fishing with her father, and watching him process their own meat.

An accomplished homemaking student and avid basketball player, Tessie was a three-time all-district basketball player on teams that advanced to the state tournament three consecutive years during her high school career. She graduated from George West High School in 1957.

She and Dad married on the evening of Tuesday, November 26th, 1957. This date was chosen so that they could honeymoon in College Station and attend the Texas A&M vs t.u. football game two days later on Thanksgiving Day. Although Texas A&M lost that game by a score of 9-7, this would prove to be a prophetic beginning for their marriage, as all five of their children graduated from Texas A&M, four of their grandchildren are A&M graduates, three are enrolled there currently, and the remaining six are all future Aggies.

She once told Dad that all she ever wanted was to be a good wife and a good mother, and she devoted her entire adult life to excelling in this vocation. Her family represented her life’s work, and she was always there to celebrate our accomplishments, to help shoulder the burden of our disappointments, and to encourage us to get up and try again when we stumbled. She and Dad lovingly molded us into adults by instilling core, foundational values, while encouraging each of us to pursue our own interests. She taught us to strive for excellence, to respect our elders, and the importance of a good work ethic. Mom was a constant, positive, and loving force in each of our lives.

She poured endless love and energy into her family, yet still found time to pursue several creative interests over the years, including painting, sewing, and genealogy. An accomplished seamstress even in high school, she would later teach sewing classes, judge youth sewing projects, and craft heirloom baptismal gowns and blankets for her grandchildren. In recent years, her intense focus on documenting the history of both sides of our family left us with a treasure trove of old photos, documents and stories, and a deep appreciation of our ancestry.

Her faith-filled legacy of love and family will live on in our hearts and memories, and she will always be with us in spirit. She was a good and faithful servant, to God and to her family, and she will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Galloway & Sons Chapel in George West. A Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. at St. George Catholic Church. She will lie in state at the family residence after the Rosary. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at St. George Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Gussettville Cemetery.

Pallbearers are her sons, Patrick James, Guy James, John Ed James, and Tim James; her son-in-law, Daryl Kutac, and her oldest grandson, Freeman James. Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons, Kullen Kutac and Carter James, and special friends Sue and John Ed Holland.

Those who wish may make mass memorial contributions in her memory to St. George Catholic Church, P.O. Box 580, George West, TX 78022 or donations to the Gussettville Cemetery, P.O. Box 326, George West, TX 78022.

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