James E. Carrell

In 1943, the family moved to Baytown where Jim graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1950 at the age of 16. After high school, he attended Lee College and worked for the Baytown Sun as a proofreader and local sportswriter. After one year at Texas A&M College, he joined the U.S. Army in 1952 and served in the occupation of Germany. His artillery battalion deployed atomic cannons on the Czech border. Following his service, he returned to Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Journalism.

He married Peggy Franta Carrell on April 30th, 1960. Jim and Peggy's son, Jay, was born in 1961.

In 1965, he went to work for his father-in-law, Albert Franta, at his car dealership in Highlands. He joined and later became President of the Highlands Rotary Club. Jim became a Rotary District Governor in 1979. He led two Rotary Group Study Exchange teams to India in 1987 and 1995 traveling around the world on both trips. Jim and Peggy worked tirelessly in the early 90's to help set up the curriculum by which Rotary trains its incoming club Presidents for the entire State of Texas. Jim was the Chairman of the program, known as Lone Star PETS in 1992. Later he joined the River Oaks, Heights and Humble Rotary Clubs. He was nominated twice to be a Director of Rotary International. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and was very active in Rotary throughout the world until 2002.

Professionally, in 1986, Jim and Peggy bought the insurance agency his parents founded in Livingston. He and son, Jay, worked together in the agency for the last 29 years.

Great sadness befell the entire family on May 24th, 1996 when wife, Peggy Franta Carrell died suddenly. Jim never gave any thought to remarrying. Peggy was the only true love of his life. In his eyes, no one could ever compare to Peggy.

In December of 2005, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After treatment elsewhere, he went to M.D. Anderson for treatment in February of 2008. Jay had to move in with him full time to care for him starting in April of 2008. He was put in the hospital on May 28th and was not expected to live more than a few months. He had lost 75 pounds in 6 months. Not only did he recover to see his 75th birthday, but went to A&M football practice in August and back to Austin in October to his favorite bar! Over the next few years, he continued to recover. He had a 10% chance to survive another two years. Two years after that, Jim's doctor said his recovery was miraculous.

The years from 2005 to 2014 flew by with Jim's quality of life being very good. Jay was always there to take 24 hour a day care of him as Jim's house and the insurance office are only 15 feet apart.

In April of 2015, Jim had surgery in Houston. His recovery progressed and he steadily got better. Unfortunately, his care was not constant. Sadly, Jim passed away in a Houston hospital an hour before he was to be released to return home to Livingston.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Franta Carrell; his parents, Earsel and Letha Carrell; brother, Raymond Luther Carrell; father-in-law, Albert Franta and sister-in-law, Karen Franta Hawkins.

Jim is survived by his son, Jay Carrell ; beloved mother-in-law, Rosa Lee Franta; sisters-in-law Peggy Campbell Carrell and Rosalyn Franta Boehme; brother-in-law, Pete Hawkins along with nephews , Raymond Carrell Jr., Jarrod Boehme, Bryan Boehme ; and nieces, Martha Carrell, Allison Sampson, Heather Kubiak and Joanna Boehme.

A memorial visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at Navarre Funeral Home in Baytown.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.