James G. Brannon, JD, CPA
James G. (Jim) Brannon, 77, of Pearland, passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2011. A proud native Texan, Jim was born March 9, 1933 in Laredo, Texas, the 4th child of Rev. R. Bruce Brannon and Margaret Sanders Brannon. He graduated from high school in Marshall, Texas in 1948 and received his B.A. from Austin College in 1953. After graduation, Jim joined the U.S. Navy. He was proud to serve his country as an OED officer, where his job as a diver was to disable live underwater mines.
After discharge, Jim moved to Houston, where he would remain for the rest of his life. He was a CPA for more than 50 years, and an attorney for more than 35 years. He first worked for Shell Pipeline Corporation and Texas Eastern Transmission, becoming an expert in tax planning and tax shelters. While working at Texas Eastern, he was Comptroller for the development of One and Two Houston Center in downtown Houston.
In 1974, he graduated from South Texas College of Law. His career took another turn and he worked for Peat Marwick Mitchell in Taxation and then for Underwood-Neuhaus in equity financing.
Jim became an alcoholic during the 1980’s but by the grace of God and with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, he took the last drink of his life on May 4, 1987. One of Jim’s greatest desires was to die sober and he accomplished that, celebrating 23 years of sobriety in 2010. Jim led a Friday Night AA Meeting at the Last Chance Recovery Center for more than twenty years, becoming affectionately known as “Mr. ABC”. He also participated in an AA Prison Ministry and was one of the founding members of the Peer Assistance Committee of the Texas State Society of CPA’s.
He served the Exchange Club of Pearland, the Downtown Exchange Club, Youth and Family Counseling of Brazoria County, CASA and Unity Church of Christianity in various capacities through the years.
For the past two decades, Jim had a private practice as an Attorney/CPA. He started with four clients in 1988 and built a successful practice. Jim loved his work and he never retired. In fact, he was still working on a tax return during the last day of his life. His final act of service to others was to donate his body to the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School.
He had a beautiful basso profundo singing voice, enjoyed singing, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku puzzles, and sailing. He was an ardent Houston Astros fan and followed the Rockets and Texans as well. He voted Republican and was a member of Unity Church.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the nurses and staff at Altus Harbor Hospice, to Dr. Percy Howard, Dr. Timothy Doyle and Dr. Victor Salcedo for their unflagging support during Jim's long and difficult struggle with COPD, and to Karen Kirkgard and Kay Pilgrim for their nurturing spirits.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Marie, of Pearland, and his sister, Evelyn Brannon Gray and her husband Hal of Irvine, California. His children are Jonathan Bartran of Redondo Beach, CA, Claire Lee of St. Louis, MO and Bethany Le Sager of Utrecht, Netherlands. He leaves eight nieces, two nephews and two grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at Unity Church of Christianity, 2929 Unity Drive on Saturday February 19th at 2:00 pm.
