Memorial Service
Schertz First Baptist Church-
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James Ambros Dean Jr. went to his heavenly home January 1, 2016. He was 92 and had led a wonderful life but battled Alzheimer's disease the past year. Over the past few years his family had seen signs of Alzheimer's. As long as he was in familiar surroundings there was little indication he was losing his memory. He could remember the time, place, and temperature of the day each child was born. He could also remember minute details about vacations with his family, details of his travels with his Boy Scout troop. Within the past years he began taking photos so he could remember. He loved looking through the family albums. It helped him keep memories alive.
Some knew him as Jim, his siblings called him J.A., and as a child he was known as Jack, he had played Jack be nimble, Jack be quick in grade school. Apparently he didn't talk until he was 5 years of age...but made up for it his whole life! He never met a stranger!
James was born in Willis, TX August 11 th , 1923 to James Ambros and Minnie Carl Dean. James was preceded in death by his wife of almost 45 years, Marjorie Dean, who was the love of his life. He was also preceded by all ten of his siblings.
He is survived by his four sons, James (Jim) and wife Peri, Howard and wife Carol, Thomas and wife Susan, Robin, and two daughters, Melinda King and husband Chris, and Nancy Wierman and husband John. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was raised on a dairy and of course we all heard the stories of milking cows before and after school. Also the stories of them walking through the snow, uphill, barefoot to school.
He graduated high school in Willis, TX then joined the Army. His head was too large to fit in the helmet so they made him a cook and he did know how to cook! After his medical discharge he came home to Willis and then graduated from Sam Houston State receiving his Master's Degree after his sons were born.
James taught schools in Evant, TX and several small towns in Central and East TX. He was the Principal and taught at Goldthwaite Elementary and Mullin schools and retired in the Schertz Cibolo School District. Summers he spent in building construction. He built several homes for his family. It's amazing how he raised six kids on a teacher's salary. He always had two jobs, one teaching and the other remodeling. He knew Marj had her hands full home with six kids and it was unthought-of for her to work outside the home.
He became a deacon at Goldthwaite First Baptist Church and was always active in the church choir. He enjoyed gospel singing and organized singings in communities where he lived. He also was part of a music ministry at Autumn Winds Nursing Home for decades. In recent years he was actually older than most of the residents.
After retirement he and Marjorie were active with Volunteer Christian Builders traveling around the United States building churches, educational buildings or parsonages. Marjorie called Melinda one afternoon to warn her that they might see a story on national news about the VCB group doing a job in Houston. There was a group putting decking on the roof of the church. The decking was loaded onto a front loader then unloaded onto the rafters. James rode the front loader up, but before it was unloaded the coffee break bell was rung. Everyone jumped onto the front loader with James but as they descended, the front loader tipped and the decking and men all fell off. Several men were airlifted and others were taken to the ER in ambulances. Not James, he went to the hospital on his own with hardly a scratch nor a broken bone.
He even fell off a roof once without breaking a bone. In the last year he had fallen more but not a bone broken. His kids attribute no broken bones to his nightly ritual of a bowl of Blue Bell Old Fashioned Vanilla ice cream almost his entire life except for his stint in the Army and the few years they lived in Seattle or Missoula. He attributed his overall health to drinking a glass of orange juice every day of his life. On December 10 th while waiting to receive a CAT scan he held up 4 fingers. Melinda asked him what it meant and he said 4 more days until Blue Bell. Robin was keeping track of it on the calendar and they were doing the countdown.
This past year his son Robin moved in to help with his Dad without a second thought. Robin gave his Dad love and attention which allowed James to remain at home. The family knew it would be difficult for James to move into a nursing home with his failing memory. Even until the last few days James knew his children's names. He might not be able to put his words together to make a sentence but he could clearly say their names. The family would like to thank Robin for his selflessness and his patience with Dad.
They would also like to thank Sheila Wilkinson, his day caregiver. Sheila would assist James at the Schertz Sr. Center or stay with him at home during the day. She provided James with conversation, helped get him to Dr.'s appointments, and made sure he was safe during the day. He might not always remember her name, but he did enjoy her company. She took him to Cracker Barrel last month for some of his favorite dishes. While there he found a couple of CD's of Tennessee Ernie Ford. I'm sure Sheila and Robin have them memorized now. His gospel music gave James calmness the last few days, even when he couldn't get out of bed we could see his mouth trying to move to sing along with Tennessee Ernie.
Someone recently said when James wanted to do something he just did it. Well he was ready to move to heaven to be with his Lord but also with Marjorie. Fortunately, he didn't suffer but went peacefully in his sleep. His family all knew he was ready to go to his heavenly home.
The family would like to thank CIMA Hospice-New Braunfels for making his final days more comfortable.
We would be remiss without thanking our very good friend Charles Stubblefield. He was one of Dad's best friends throughout the years. He has been so helpful and gracious with not only James but also the whole family.
Visitation to be held at 11 a.m. with services at noon on Saturday, January 9 th , 2016 at the First Baptist Church Schertz, 600 Aero Ave., Schertz, TX 78154. Arrangements through Schertz Funeral Home 2217 FM 3009, Schertz, TX 78154. Private burial at a later date in the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.
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