James grew up a plow boy in Marquez, Texas where he ran through the country side with his brothers and cousins. The family moved to Houston when he was 13 and that is where he met his lifelong sweet heart and soul mate Shelia Herridge. It was once said that Shelia laid down in the street in front of his house to keep him from leaving one day. I guess it worked because they have been married for 53 enjoyable years. He attended Reagan High School in Houston where he played football and once scored five touch downs in one game. After high school he went to work for Houston Natural Gas and enjoyed a 47 year career with the company known today as Center Point Energy.

James was the ultimate family man who enjoyed spending time with his kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. He came from a family of eight siblings and a strong willed mother where tradition was deep rooted. The Calhoun family has many family traditions such as reunions, Calhoun Christmas, family beach vacation and the best of all, at least for the men, the annual fishing trip that was started by his Uncle George and has continued on for three generations.

We will miss him greatly and are comforted to know that he is in heaven watching over each of us and continuing on with all of the Calhoun family traditions.