Ray "Jim" James Comeaux

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Jim Comeaux, a loving and devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and friend to all those whose lives he touched. Jim lived a life filled with wonderment about the world around him, and he was beloved by his family and friends. Jim passed peacefully into the loving arms of his Lord on February 25, 2020.

Jim was born on March 27, 1938, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Willis Comeaux and Ann Landry Comeaux. He enjoyed sports and played football in Port Arthur, where he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Jim attended The University of Texas, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and graduated as a Chemical Engineer from Lamar University in Beaumont. One of his proudest academic achievements was national recognition in Washington DC as one of the top four North America Chemical Engineering graduates of 1960. Jim married his high school sweetheart, Judy Urwin, on August 29, 1958. They were married for over 60 years, and they loved every minute of the time that they were together on this earth.

Jim’s most joyful family moments were the births of their two children, Carol Comeaux Carrington and Craig Stephen Comeaux, Sr. Years later, his joy continued with the birth of five grandsons, Clayton Lambert Comeaux, Richard Howland Comeaux, Bennett Searcy Comeaux, James Grant Carrington and Craig Stephen Comeaux, Jr. They meant everything to him, and he delighted in watching them grow up. Jim loved traveling the world with Judy and his family. One of the happiest events in his life occurred in 2008 when the whole family gathered at The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia to celebrate Judy and Jim’s Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Jim retired in 1993 as President and CEO of Arcadian Corporation, an NYSE Fortune 500 Company. His career spanned the globe as he was appointed Vice President of Korea Oil Corporation in Seoul, South Korea, Worldwide Vice President of Chemicals for Gulf Oil in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, three different Vice Presidential positions at Gulf Oil in Houston, Texas, and Sr. Vice President at American Petrofina in Dallas, Texas. Later in life he formed Petrochemical Management, Inc., a consulting firm offering services to the financial and petroleum processing industries.

Jim served as a Director on several public company boards including Ivex Packaging, Rexene, Enchira Biotechnology, Haldia Petrochemicals in India, St. Croix Petrochemicals and Cape Industries. He also served on the boards of several industry associations including as Chairman of The International Petrochemical Conference, The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, The American Chemistry Council, Society of the Plastics Industry and The Fertilizer Institute.

He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and The Dallas Country Club.

Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy Urwin Comeaux of Dallas, Texas, his daughter Carol Carrington and her husband Richard, also of Dallas, his son Craig Comeaux and his wife Catherine of San Antonio Texas, and his beloved grandsons.

A Memorial Service will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church on Friday, March 6, 2020, at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to Catholic Charities Dallas, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.