Dr. James Lee Sturrock's Obituary
James Lee Sturrock was born behind the piano in his grandmother’s house in Kirbyville, TX on
October 31, 1933, to Jasper Levi Sturrock and Esther Evelyn Roberts Sturrock. He passed
away August 4, 2022, at his home in Longview, TX.
They lived in several central and South Texas towns when he was a baby. When he was 4
years old his mother and father divorced, and he went to Kirbyville to live with his maternal
grandmother while his mother went to Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos,
TX.
He started school when he was five years old and was the smallest kid in school. That same
year he went to live with his mother in Waelder, TX where she was the new Home Economics
teacher. That summer, his mother married Ralph Broome and they moved to Beckville where
she was the new Home Economics teacher. He graduated from Beckville High School in 1950
after playing saxophone for two years and then football for two years.
In the summer of 1950, he went to North Texas State Teachers College and later to Panola
College and Baylor University earning a BA in History and Economics. He was a Junior
Draftsman at Thiokol before being drafted into the Army and went to Schweinfurt, Germany.
When he was released from active duty he went to work as an Electrical Draftsman for Texas
Eastman Company in Longview.
While there, he went on a blind date with Shirley Jeanne Branson and shortly after they got
married at First Methodist Church in Longview. They had two children, Jeffrey Sturrock and
Emalyn Lovitt. Jim and Jeanne were married for 62 years before she preceded him in death.
Jim always wanted to be a Boy Scout when young and was influential in Boy Scouts later in life.
He became the SM of Troop 261 at the 1st Methodist Church in Longview. He served in that
capacity for about four years and then took the older boys and formed Explorer Post 261. With
those two groups, he led weeklong trips to El Rancho Cima near San Marcos and took canoe
trips to Boundary Waters in Canada and mountain hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New
Mexico. Later he organized Explorer Post 621 for boys and girls at Texas Eastman where they
worked on photographic projects.
Jim later went to SMU where he earned an MBA and then to Denton at NTSU where he earned
his PhD. He retired from Texas Eastman Co. January 29, 1992, and became an Assistant
Professor of Management at East Texas Baptist University where he retired in 2000 as a
Professor.
He was a Deacon and later Deacon Emeritus and taught a Sunday School class for 60+
couples for 14 years at Oakland Heights Baptist Church. He and Jeanne were always active in
church activities. He and Jeanne were world travelers later in their marriage and avid
genealogy buffs.
In retirement he learned the fine art of taking a nap several times a day and loved to drive
around town endlessly. He also loved to visit his farm north of Carthage where he grew pine
trees for market.
He is preceded in death by his wife (Jeanne), his mother, father and stepfather. He is survived
by his children Jeff Sturrock (Kathy), Emalyn Lovitt (Les); his grandchildren Erin McClintick
(Robert), Emily Sturrock, Dylan Lovitt, Reezin Lovitt; his great grandchildren Gabby, Charlie and
Clay McClintick and special friends John Davis and Alyssa Pettigrew; his sister-in-law Kay
Christiansen and his half siblings Mary, Bill and Peggy.
The family would like to express thanks to Lisa Davis for her care of Jim in the last few years.
The family would also like to give a special heartfelt thanks and love to Monica Davis for all her
loving care over the years for both Jeanne and Jim.
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations in his memory to The Parkinson’s Foundation or
Heart’s Way Hospice of Longview, TX.
What’s your fondest memory of James?
What’s a lesson you learned from James?
Share a story where James' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with James you’ll never forget.
How did James make you smile?
