Mr James Kevin Ashby

Funeral services for Mr. James Kevin Ashby, 60, of Lake Jackson, Texas will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the Hawthorn Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. The visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday night at Hawthorn Funeral Home. James Kevin Ashby was born on September 13, 1963, in Carthage, Texas. He passed away on December 26, 2023, at the age of 60. He was the youngest of three children and the only son born to James and Louise Ashby. He was proud to say that he went to Carthage schools from 1st grade through 12th, graduating in 1982. Making lifelong friends along the way, he was active in choir, band, and sports- his favorite sport being Carthage football. He attended Panola College and then earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University, being the loudest and the proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1986. While at Texas A&M, he was involved in the Baptist Student Union as well as a dedicated member of the Texas A&M University Singing Cadets. He pursued a career as a maintenance, mechanical, and reliability engineer, moving from Katy to Beaumont, to Longview, to Lake Jackson. After meeting at church in Kingwood, he married his beloved wife, Betty Ann (Reid) Ashby in 1988. The couple just celebrated 35 years together this past October. He was an active member of Baptist churches for many years singing in choirs, teaching Sunday school, being a care group leader, as well as most recently serving as a deacon at First Baptist Church Lake Jackson. In addition to this, he spent the entirety of his adulthood actively supporting Carthage and Texas A&M football. Preceding him in death are his parents James and Louise Ashby and sisters Sharon Ashby Davis and Karon Ashby O’Neal. Survivors include his wife of 35 years Betty Ann Ashby of Lake Jackson, son Kyle Ashby and wife Alex Ashby of Beaumont, daughter Katy Ashby of Lake Jackson, and granddaughter Eleanor Ashby (daughter of Kyle and Alex Ashby). Also surviving him are his father-in-law Robert Reid of New Caney, sisters-in-law Suzanne Jeffcoat and husband Delbert Jeffcoat of Cold Springs, and Patricia Partridge and husband Wiley Partridge of Cleveland, brothers-in-law Bob Reid and wife Kim Reid of the Woodlands, and Bill O’Neal of Carthage. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. If desired, donations in Kevin’s memory may be directed to your local church.

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Mr James Kevin Ashby

September 13, 1963 - December 26, 2023