May 1, 1954 – February 1, 2024
SSgt. James William "Jim" Early, Jr. died peacefully in his sleep Thursday morning, February 1, 2024. He passed with his loving wife, Christine, and family by his side at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital.
Jim was born in Houston to parents James and Joann Early Sr. and grew up in Alvin, Texas. He was a 1972 Alvin High School graduate and also attended Lamar University in Beaumont and the University of Houston in Houston Texas.
Jim and Chris met in Augusta, Georgia, where Jim was attending courses at the U. S. Army Signal School at Ft. Gordon as part of his service in the U.S.M.C.
Chris and Jim moved to Houston after he served seven years in the U.S.M.C., and they were married in September 1983.
Jim worked for ExxonMobil under its various names for over 30 years and retired in 2015.
Upon retirement, Jim and Chris became full-time RVers and traveled to many states across the U.S. Starting in 2017, they volunteered as Park Hosts in Estes Park, Colorado in the summer and San Felipe, Texas over the winters.
Jim was preceded in death by both parents Jim Sr. and Joann Early, brother Daniel Early, brother-in-law Robert Simoneaux, and granddaughter Alexandra Perkins. He is survived by wife Christine "Chris" Early, daughter Heather O'Connor, sister Sarah Simoneaux, sister-in-law V. Dale Stearns, son-in-law Brandon Perkins, grandchildren Jeremy, Gabrielle, and Zachry Perkins, and niece Elizabeth Simoneaux.
The military service was at Houston National Cemetery on February 16, 2024. Jim's friends and family got together at Rudy's BBQ in Katy at I-10 and Mason Road that afternoon.
