James R. "Chico" Cravens Jr.

Chico was a lifelong Texan. Both sets of his grandparents—James Rains Cravens and Donna Ferguson Cravens, and Joseph Stephen Cullinan and Lucy Halm Cullinan—moved to Texas in the 1800s. Chico attended Deerfield and Lamar High School, then went on to the University of Texas, where he earned a degree in Mathematics and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

In 1960, Chico met the true love of his life, Kay Campbell, and they were married shortly thereafter. They remained a devoted and loving couple for 65 years, until his death. Together they raised two sons, Clay (born 1963) and Will (born 1964), forming a close family bound by Chico’s passion for spending weekends outdoors. They shared countless hours fishing along the Texas coast, sitting in Harvey’s Creek in Colorado County, crawling through the brush in Live Oak County, or simply watching the stars at night—falling asleep to Chico’s stories or the sound of his guitar.

As a young man, Chico worked as a cowboy on the Charlie Goodnight JA Ranch in Palo Duro, an experience he cherished and one that deeply shaped his love of the outdoors. After college, he served two years in the U.S. Army as a radar operator, protecting the West Coast. He then joined the family business, Cravens Dargan & Company, eventually becoming its President. Chico also served as President of several other family companies, including Western General Life Insurance Company, Gulf Coast Investments, and Gulf American Mortgage Bankers. Throughout his insurance and mortgage career, he was known as a loyal and honest leader who treated his employees and their families with the utmost respect.

After retirement, Chico purchased the Circle A Ranch in Goliad and Bee Counties. He spent the remainder of his life as a cattle rancher, devoted wildlife enthusiast, and careful steward of the land he deeply valued. He was a member of the Houston Country Club, Beeville Country Club, Eagle Lake Rod & Gun Club—and, most importantly, Sam’s Club.

Chico possessed a remarkable intellect and a wonderful sense of humor. Combined with his respect for nature he had a love of all things mathematical and scientific. These qualities made him an extraordinary person with which to share life. He could tell captivating jokes and stories, cook everything from gravlax to smothered oxtails, make homemade wine and beer (which Clay and Will’s friends loved to steal), decipher complex legal documents, fix anything mechanical, show kindness to everyone he met, man and animal alike, and play both a beautiful guitar and a squeaky fiddle. He was truly a man of many talents.

He spent countless hours studying plants, birds, animals, insects, and the natural world, becoming a walking encyclopedia. To Chico, everything was new and exciting, and he generously shared that curiosity and joy with friends and family alike. We will deeply miss the wonderful youthful spark in his eye.

Chico is preceded in death by his beloved son, Clay Cravens; his parents, Mary and Rorick Cravens; and his sisters, Nancy Chamberlain and Patsy Cravens. He is survived by his wife, Kay Cravens; his son Will Cravens and his wife Janet, and their children James (Marah), Mary, and Stephen; his daughter-in-law Kelli Cravens (Clay) and their children Campbell (Rachel), Kirby (Haley), and Farise.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Chico from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 15th of January at the Bayou Club of Houston, 8550 Memorial Drive in Houston.

The family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 or by visiting https://preserve.nature.org.

Please visit Chico’s online memorial at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared with his family.