Graveside services for James Harold "Speedy" McClammy, 95, of Beaumont, Texas, will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. in the Peebles Cemetery in Livingston, Texas with Pastor Kevin Kissel officiating.

James was born July 11, 1925 in Canton, Mississippi, to parents, Frank McClammy and Fay Ina (Blackstock) McClammy, and passed away January 9, 2021 in Beaumont, Texas. The family moved back to East Texas in the early years of his life, and settled in Polk County where his father would work for the Texas Highway Department.

James grew up with many friends in the little community of Leggett, Texas, and it was here that he became part of the United Methodist Church, being baptized in Milton Creek. After moving to Livingston, Texas he went to High School there. He rode a bicycle to school and also delivered the Houston Post and Houston Chronicle newspapers.

In 1943, WWII had developed and he was drafted into the United States Army. He did his basic training at Mineral Wells, Texas and Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was a member of the 501st Airborne Regiment, 101st Division PIRA. Among other medals, he was awarded the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, seeing active combat in Holland. James went back to Holland after WWII was over and visited some of the war torn places where he had been wounded.

James did not graduate with his classmates at Livingston High School as he was drafted into the Army. But he never forgot any of his friends and loved to go back to Polk County to the class reunions and visit with everyone. Polk County was always near and dear to his heart.

After being discharged from the Army, he attended Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, Texas for a short while until he was employed by the Shell Oil Company as an operator for 38 years. He retired from the Oil Fields of Jefferson County in 1986 and he and his family lived in Nederland, Texas for many years.

After retiring from Shell Oil Company, he played golf with a few friends and later gave that up to travel with other friends on their motorcycles. James and his motorcycle were inseparable. He and his friends rode many miles seeing all of the United States. At one time James went alone on his bike to take pictures of all the County Courthouses in the State of Texas. He loved to tell stories of the many trips he made taking pictures and of the trips he made with his friends on their Gold Wing motorcycles.

James met his wife Jean Havard in Lufkin, Texas through mutual friends and they were married in 1951. The Shell Oil Company brought them to Jefferson County. They were married for sixty-nine years, December 22, 2020. James and Jean and their family loved to travel with a travel trailer group until health prevented him from traveling.

James was a member of the Nederland United Methodist Church. He enjoyed Sunday School and the many church friends he knew. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He also loved his ray of sunshine, his pug dog, named Mae-Lei.

He is survived by his wife, Jean of Beaumont; son, Glenn McClammy and wife, Beth of Silsbee; daughter, Phillis and husband Mike Martin of DeRidder, Louisiana; grandchildren, James "Vince" McClammy and Heather, Sarah Brottem and Joey, Cody Plake and Shanna, Colt Plake and Stephanie; great-grandchildren, Luke McClammy, Kalee Chapman, Briana Brottem, Austin Brottem, Connor Brottem, McKinley Plake, Carter Plake, and Collin Plake; and sister-in-law, Wanda Goolsbee of Lufkin; along with numerous other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Frank E. McClammy.