Jess Navarre

Jess Navarre, 76, of Baytown was born January 1, 1932 on the Townsend Dairy in Port Arthur and went to be with his Lord Sunday, July 13, 2008 after loosing the battle but winning the war against Alzheimer's disease. He and his family moved to Baytown in 1967 when he founded Baytown Ambulance Service and owned and operated it until 1994. During this period, he ushered in the modern era of EMS for the city of Baytown and the surrounding area and was responsible for bringing the first paramedics and the first Mobile Intensive Care Units to Baytown. In November of 1984, he and his wife Clara purchased Paul U. Lee Funeral Home, now Navarre Funeral Home and Cremation Services. He was a graduate of Commonwealth College of Sciences (now Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston) and was honored this year for being a licensed funeral director for 50 years in the state of Texas. Jess was a member of Memorial Baptist Church, Baytown Optimist Club, Baytown Rotary Club, Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge #321, Baytown Shrine Club, and was a proud Navy veteran of the Korean conflict, having served on the USS Lyman K. Swenson. Several years ago, he had his own early morning radio show on KBUK. He served on the Lee College board of regents from 1996 until 2004 and was a finalist for the Baytown Citizen of the Year award in 2000. He was so proud of his naval service and his Cajun heritage and was especially proud of his family and took great pride and joy in his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who adored him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Sr. and Beulah Navarre and his brother, Howard Navarre Jr. and is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, whom he honored until his death, Clara Navarre of Baytown; sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Donna Navarre of Dayton and Chris and Dee Anne Navarre of Baytown; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and David Jirrels of Baytown; grandchildren, Michael and Jami Navarre and Lauren Navarre, Callie, Madison and Braden Navarre, and Andrew, Timothy and Daniel Jirrels and Matt and Emilie Jirrels; great granddaughters, Kaylee and Addyson Navarre; sister-in-law, Eva Dale Navarre and aunts, Edith Badon and Eula Landry, all of Groves; and several cousins and a host of friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.

His family will receive friends Tuesday at Navarre Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Baptist Church, 600 W. Sterling Ave., Baytown, TX 77520 with Rev. Brad Hoffmann, Rev. Tommy Clements and Rev. Danny Biddy officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedar Bayou Masonic Cemetery.

In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter, 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-2008, www.alz.org and/or the Arabia Shrine Hospital Benefit, Shriners Hospitals for Children, P. O. Box 20625, Houston, TX 77225-0625, www.shrinershq.org.

Jess Navarre, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many was an ""old school"" funeral director of the highest caliber and an exceptional man of character (who, as most folks know, was himself a character). His keen sense of humor and wit was surpassed only by his devotion to his chosen profession and compassion for the families of whom he always said that he was ""privileged"" to serve.

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

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook, Baytown, Texas, (281) 422-8111.