James Curtis “Papa” Foreman, 98, former resident of Orangefield, passed away peacefully Friday, September 25, 2020, at his residence in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 3, 2020, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Burial with military honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Born in Sulphur, Louisiana on August 7, 1922, James was the son of Emedis Foreman and Dolly Belle (Landry) Foreman. His family moved to Orangefield, Texas where he graduated from Orangefield High School. It was there where he met and fell in love with Mary Hutchinson. J. C. and Mary married March 16, 1942. As World War II began, James enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 1942 and fought in Bougainville and the island of Guam. He was shot fighting on Guam and was rescued. He recovered eventually and was awarded the Purple Heart for military bravery and service.

After the war, J. C. graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from Texas A&M University in 1950. He was a proud Marine and Aggie.

J. C. and Mary had four living children, Mike, Melionee, Mark, and Melynda, and a Heavenly baby, Mitchell. James retired from Gulf Oil after 35 years of service. J. C. and Mary spent their retirement years watching grandchildren participate in activities, as well as watching the Aggies, Orangefield Bobcats, and West Orange-Stark Mustangs play! It was not uncommon to see them at a random sporting event just to enjoy the spirit of competition.

James is preceded in death by his wife, Mary “Nanny” Foreman; his parents, Emedis and Dolly Foreman; his son, Mitchell Wayne Foreman; his grandson, Matthew Aaron Collins; his sisters, Bernice Mires and Maureen Webb; and his brother, Curtis Parker.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Pat Foreman of Caldwell; daughter and son-in-law, Melionee and Mike Trevathan of Mont Belvieu; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Vickie Foreman of Waxahachie; and daughter and son-in-law, Melynda and Mark Collins of Mont Belvieu.

He is also survived by his nine grandchildren, Cody Foreman, Shawn Foreman and wife Michelle, Dustin Foreman and wife Terri, Brian Wallace and wife Stephanie, Mindy Dennis and husband Chad, Dugan Trevathan and wife Chrissy, Toby Foreman and wife Crystall, Traci Sanchez and husband Sergio, and Ashlee Collins; as well as his sister-in-law, Jane Parker, and his thirteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons and great-grandsons, Cody, Shawn, Dustin, Toby, Coleman, Patrick, and Brian.

The family wishes to acknowledge the love and care that was provided to Mr. Foreman by his caregivers, Shannon Bolinger, P. A., Maggie Silva, Claudia Reyes, and Belinda Lopez.