Dr. James Michael Behrens passed away peacefully in his sleep January 12, 2019. Born on May 2, 1938, in El Paso at the Masonic Hospital, his parents were Vivian Webb Behrens and Ernest Kendrick Behrens. He grew up in Presidio, Texas, until the end of his sophomore year and moved back to El Paso with his basketball coach to attend Austin High School for his junior and senior year. After high school he attended San Angelo State on a scholarship and finished his pre-med education at Texas Western. He was accepted to Kansas City College of Osteopathy Surgery and graduated in 1966. He completed his internship in Tuscan and returned to El Paso as a family practitioner at Tigua General Hospital where he eventually became a partner. In 1975, he was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, serving over 10 years. He delighted in speaking with prospective medical students about the osteopathic practice of medicine and in supervising existing students in their medical rotations. He was a dedicated and beloved doctor for 30 years. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Idalia, children Kevin (Wendy), Kenney (Katie), Matthew (Sara) and Kendra; eight grandchildren, Kaylee, McKaylla, Brandon, Kyle, Cameron, Katelyn, Daria and Atticus; brother John Behrens, sister Virginia Satterwhite (Bud), sister-in-law Amparo Behrens and many beloved nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, son Mickie Kendrick, his beloved brother Dr. Kenyon R. BehrensRe and mother-in-law Elsa Castillo. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at 10:30 am at Trinity-First United Methodist Church, 801 N. Mesa St., El Paso, TX 79902. The Rev. Scott Meador will officiate. A private family burial will take place at a later date.
