Roll Call Tribute

Published in Houston Chronicle on September 1, 2013

Jean Durham
Jean Harber "Smokey" Durham, 91, passed away at home on August 23, 2013 in Houston, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Janet Malone Durham, a brother, Jack Durham, sons, Bill Durham and wife Maria Durham, Stephen Durham and wife Ricky Durham, daughters, Jeanenne Durham Perritte and husband Tom Perritte, Suzanne Sanders Trepany and husband Tim Trepany, 6 grandchildren, Bill Durham, Lisa Durham, Lindsey Perritte, Alyssa Perritte, Andrew Durham, Nigel Durham, Charlie Trepany, 3 great grandchildren, Coleman, Connor and Will, sister-in-law, Sue Uthe and brother-in-law, Charlie Malone and many nieces and nephews.
Smokey was born in Abilene, Texas April 7, 1922, and grew up on a ranch in Sterling City. He went to Texas A&M and he served his country proudly in World War II in the Aleutian Islands in the Pacific.
Smokey was very active with his wife in helping the homeless and worked for many years at Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church and Community of the Streets and was a Board Member of Community of the Streets. Smokey was a member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, The Seekers Bible Class, The Lazarus Committee Ushers at St. Martin's, The Petroleum Club, many dance clubs, The Museum of Fine Arts, Veterans of Foreign War. He was a true West Texas gentleman, a loving husband and father and friend to all he came in contact with, humans and animals. Smokey and Jan traveled extensively and you could find them on the dance floor every weekend. He was an avid reader and exercised daily, doing an exercise routine, Yoga and lifting weights. He will be sorely missed.
The family would like to thank Dr. Louis Roddy, Vantage Hospice, especially Pamela Jones, Home Instead Senior Care, and Smokey's dear friends, Rev. Russell Levenson, Jr. of St. Martin's and Rev. Stuart Bates of St. Francis Episcopal Church and Rev. Martin Bastian of St. Martin's, during his final days on earth.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donations to Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church, Community of the Streets, St. Martin's Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice and to be kind to someone less fortunate than you every day.
A celebration honoring Smokey's life will be held Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 2:00 o'clock at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas with a reception immediately following.

Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home
6700 Ferris
Bellaire, TX 77401
(713) 667-6505
Condolences may be offered at 
www.EarthmanBellaire.com