James “Jim” Hartridge Lee, Jr.

James Hartridge Lee, Jr, 71, of Beaumont, passed away at his residence in Fannett, Texas.

James, more well known as “Jim” by friends and family, was born on November 21, 1950, to James Hartridge Lee, Sr. and Marcia Elinor Siegler Lee of Beaumont.  Jim was the oldest of the siblings, who he always cared for growing up. He grew up learning to hunt and fish with his father. There was always a great admiration for the outdoors within him.

After high school, Jim went on to graduate from Lamar University with bachelor’s in criminal justice.

In October of 1973, he went on to work at the Jefferson County Sheriff´s office. After fourteen months of working in the jail, he secured a spot on the road, where he eventually became a Lieutenant in the Patrol Division.

Soon after, he joined the Marine Corps as an officer and took on many roles including intelligence and military police.

After seven years in the Marine Corps, Jim left and took on several jobs, including polygraph examiner, Deputy Sheriff in Wyoming, and served as an Executive protection officer for Global Protective Services.

After meeting his wife Imelda, he moved back to Beaumont. Where he was asked to come back to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. During his last twenty years with the department, he served the Patrol Division as well as the Fugitive warrant division.

Jim was a loving husband, amazing father, and good friend to all who knew him. He loved to cook, hunt, fish, and travel.

Survivors include his wife, Imelda Lee; son James Lee III of Beaumont; siblings, Robert Lee of Bastrop; John Lee of Axtell; Mark Lee Bastrop; Marshall Lee of Beaumont; Marriane Lee of Axtell; Patsy Thompson of Virginia Beach; Nancy Frost of Anchorage; Elizabeth McClaine of Odessa’ and his wife’s Delgado family, father and mother-in-law, and brothers and sisters in- law.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions for Mr. Lee may be made to Olive Tree Ministries, PO Box 1452, Maple Grove, Minnesota 55311; 100 Club of Southeast Texas, PO Box 3405, Beaumont, Texas 77704 or Jefferson County Sheriff’s Association of Deputies and Corrections Officers, P.O. Box 130005, Beaumont, Texas 77726.

A funeral service for Mr. Lee will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 15, 2022, at First Baptist Church, 25304 Hwy 124, Hamshire, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

The Celebration of Life Service will be broadcast live on the “First Baptist Hamshire” Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/First-Baptist-Church-Hamshire-101156695454853