Bennie Lee Jarratt Jr.

Bennie Lee Jarratt, Jr, 79 of Kingwood Texas, passed away March 10th, 2017. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas on June 9, 1937, firstborn son of Mary Elizabeth and Bennie Lee Jarratt, Sr. He lived in Port Arthur all his life through college years. He was active in church activities at The Methodist Temple and began his working years as a paperboy for the Port Arthur News at age 11. He achieved the highest rank of Chevalier in the Masonic youth Order of DeMolay. His interest in math led him to enroll in Mechanical Engineering at Lamar College of Technology in Beaumont, Texas. While at Lamar, Bennie was active in college life, pledging Sigma Phi Epsilon. He served as Vice-President of SPE and President of the Senior Class at Lamar, and was honored as Big Man on Campus for his campus civic contributions. Bennie met Irma Williams in the spring of 1958 and the two were married in July 1959. Bennie graduated in August of 1959 and began his career with the General Electric Company in the training program for Technical Marketing. Over the next 27 years, Bennie served in Technical Marketing, Industrial Sales, Business Development and Management assignments of increasing responsibility, becoming an authority on underground electrical distribution. Following his retirement from GE, Bennie served in Strategic Management and Outside Sales roles with Master Electric, Kenmore Electric, and Lighting Associates, before fully retiring in 2015. He was widely respected for his technical competence, focus on organizational excellence and delivering value to customers. Wherever the family moved, all were involved in local church and civic organization activities. While in North Carolina, Bennie served as Lay Leader in the Conover United Methodist Church, taught Sunday School, was a Junior Achievement Volunteer and was chairman of the committee to raise funds to build the new YMCA facility in Catawba County. Following the move to Kingwood, the Jarratts became involved in Kingwood United Methodist Church, where Bennie made significant contributions as Financial Chairman during a building program, Administrative Board Chairman and Chairman of Pastor/Parish Relations, as well as participating in Bible Classes, youth activities and choir. Avid tennis players, Bennie and Irma participated in men’s and mixed doubles USTA tennis, playing on numerous teams, three of which have advanced to the national tournament. Over their years together, they enjoyed travel and fun activities with their children and their spouses, and eight grandchildren. Bennie is survived by his best friend and wife Irma, sister Betty Rosenbaum, brother Byron Jarratt, son David and wife Rebekah, daughter Stacy, son Mark and wife Kirsten, and grandchildren, Brandon, Michael and Emily Jarratt, Amy and Alex Stonecypher, Benjamin, Frank Thomas and Charlie Jarratt, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. In all areas of his life, Bennie was a man of geninely recognizable character, integrity and kindness.