Arlene Catherine Staley

In 1968, Arlene moved to Houston and began her career with Tenneco Oil & Gas. Through steady dedication and hard work, she served as the executive assistant to the president of Tenneco Oil & Gas until retiring in 1984. Her years of service reflected the quiet strength, honesty, and thoughtful care she brought to everything entrusted to her.

On April 25, 1959, Arlene married the love of her life, James Marvin Staley. Together, James and Arlene built a family that remained at the center of her life and purpose. They were blessed with two sons, Jimmy and JR, and Arlene was a devoted and cherished mother whose gentle presence and kind-hearted spirit shaped the home she nurtured.

After retirement, Arlene found deep enjoyment at her beach house in Pirates Beach, Galveston, Texas. She delighted in collecting shells and riding her bike with her family along the shore—simple pleasures that suited her generous nature and the warmth she so freely shared with those closest to her.

Arlene was passionate about the gardens she designed, taking special joy in the moment guests first saw them and were astonished by their beauty. She was also an avid golfer and took great pride in achieving a hole-in-one. Arlene and James played courses throughout the states, with Pebble Beach holding a special place as her favorite. In these pursuits, her resilience and steady spirit shone through—an inspiration expressed not in grand declarations, but in consistent devotion and quiet excellence.

Arlene was a member at the Tennwood & Northgate Country Club and a lifetime member of the Nature Conservancy. Compassionate and selfless, she carried a deep concern for others and was involved in many charities, offering help in ways both seen and unseen.

Arlene’s legacy lives on through those she loved so well. She is survived by her sons, Jimmy and JR; JR’s wife, Pearl; her granddaughters, Page Catherine and Jennifer Renee; and her great-granddaughter, Bayler Arlene, whom she cherished deeply.

All who crossed paths with Arlene left feeling better—a testament to a life marked by gentleness, generosity, and enduring care.