On Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, members of the community came together to attend a memorial service in honor of founding board member James E. Ermis.
James was born September 26, 1935 in Beaumont, Texas and passed away peacefully at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston on November 10, 2023 after a lengthy illness. James was preceded in death by his wife of almost 60 years Danna Hopson Ermis, his mother Agnes Miculka Ermis, father Ladimer Edward Ermis and sister Virginia Ermis Harper. James is survived by his niece Linda Ellis, nephew Purvis Harper (Lynn Harper), great nieces Petria Christine Ellis, Shannon Harper Boyer (Danny Boyer), Lauren Harper Lorensen (Adam Lorensen), and great nephews Eric Wayne Ellis and Blake Allen Harper (Ashley Harper), brother-in-law Clyde Hopson, god-daughter Erin Swearingen and many additional family and friends.
James graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont, attended Texas A&M University, and graduated from Lamar University in 1959. After graduation, James worked for Tenneco Oil and then Wing Oil Corporation as its treasurer from 1968-1998. James loved bowling, worked part time at a bowling alley and even considered becoming a professional bowler at one time.
James and Danna lived in Houston in the early years of their marriage and then relocated to Spring, Texas where he remained until the death of his beloved wife Danna. At that time James moved to Kingwood to be close to his sister Virgie Harper, her children, and grandchildren. James was a faithful member of Kingwood Methodist Church and the Apostles Sunday School class.
James and Danna enjoyed many hobbies including jewelry making and ceramics of which family and friends were often the grateful recipients of their creativity. James and Danna also loved traveling and often visited the Texas Hill Country, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma to visit Danna’s family homestead and to Czechoslovakia, James’ family homeland.
James was a founding board member, former treasurer, dedicated volunteer, and enthusiastic advocate for the Czech Center Museum in Houston. James and Danna’s personal collection of Czech porcelain and crystal is on display at the museum. James was extremely proud of his Czech heritage and worked tirelessly to promote the interests and reputation of the Czech Center Museum in the vibrant Houston Museum district.
