MSG. James Willie McKensie Jr.

James Willie McKensie Jr. was born in Houston, Texas, on April 4, 1956, to Barbara (White) Walker and James McKensie Sr. He was baptized at an early age at Friendship Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Macarthur High School in 1974, and after graduating enlisted in the United States Army. While stationed at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri he met Dawn James, and they married November 4, 1978. During his time in the military their posts took them all over the country, from Pennsylvania to Hawaii, where to this day stories are told of his legendary boogie boarding skills. After 22 years in the United States Army, James retired with the rank of master sergeant. After retirement, James, Dawn, and their three children settled in Spring, Texas, where he then began his second career as a mail carrier in the United States Postal Service. He spent 20 years delivering mail to his valued customers before retiring in December 2018.

During his retirement years, James enjoyed reading, video games, spending time with his grandchildren, and completing missions with his Destiny clan. James and Dawn enjoyed travelling with their lifelong friends made while enrolled in ballroom dancing. James was a life-long comic book collector, a lover of science fiction and fantasy novels, a connoisseur of Turner Classic Movies, and an avid video game player.

James is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dawn James McKensie of Spring, Texas; daughters: Siobhan (Todd) Moore of Hays, Kansas and Janel (Charles) McKensie-Poage of Austin, Texas; son James McKensie of Conroe, Texas; grandchildren: Tristan, Everleigh, and Gwendolyn Moore of Hays, Kansas, and Eleanor, Harrison, and Rory Poage of Austin, Texas; grand-pets: Emma, Socrates, Winston, Lulu, and Reese; sisters: Marilyn (Joseph) Chester of Houston, Texas, Vivian (Rick) Ladet of Houston, Texas, and Jeanetta (Michael) Spencer of Houston, Texas and Patrice (Lionel) Mckensie-Jones of Houston, Texas; brother Johnathan (Venus) Walker of Houston, Texas; step-brother Johnnie (Barbara) Walker Jr. of Houston; step-sister Mildred Marie Phillips; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

James was preceded in death by his parents James McKensie Sr. and Barbara Walker; stepfather Johnnie Walker Sr.; in-laws Virginia and Dalton James; stepsister Johnnie Evelyn Wilmore; and many other cherished relatives.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 29, 2021, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Brookside Funeral Home-Champions. A funeral service will be held Thursday, December 30, 2021, at 10:00 A.M. at Brookside Funeral Home-Champions, interment will follow at 11:15 A.M. at Houston National Cemetery. A reception will be held at Brookside Funeral Home-Champions beginning at 12:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the American Heart Association www.heart.org or the National Kidney Foundation www.kidney.org.