James Lee Deans' Obituary
James “Jim” Lee Deans, 92, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2021 with his wife of 60 years by his side. He was born in San Angelo, Texas on May 30, 1928 to Othar Lee Deans and Grace Margaret Clevenger Deans. He attended Abilene Christian College, earning a degree in Secondary Education in 1949. After two years of teaching in Sonora, Texas, he served in the Air Force from 1951-1955. Following his service, he attended the University of Texas, earning a MS degree in secondary education and a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. He also earned a MS degree in electrical engineering from SMU in 1965. Jim was an accomplished musician, specializing in trombone. At ACC, he was a member of the infamous Nauseating Nine musical comedy group. In the Air Force, he toured and performed with the European Air Force Band.
Upon graduation from the UT in 1958, he moved to El Paso to work in the nation’s missile program at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. In El Paso, he met and married his beloved wife, Mary Ann Bohanon, a student at UTEP. In 1961, Jim accepted a position with Collins Radio Co. and he and Mary Ann moved to Richardson, Texas. While at Collins, he installed communication equipment on the first nuclear powered carrier, the USS ENTERPRISE. Jim was aboard as an honorary crew-member on its maiden voyage. He also worked on communication systems for the first Space Shuttle Program. Jim retired in 1990 after 25 years with Rockwall/Collins. Jim loved teaching, and following his retirement taught engineering at
Brookhaven College.
Once they moved to Richardson in 1961, Jim and Mary Ann joined the Abrams Road Church of Christ, which became the Richardson East Church of Christ. At Richardson East, Jim was the minister of education, a Deacon and served as an Elder for 27 years. In the mid-1970’s, he was instrumental in implementing the church Bus Ministry, which involved knocking on doors in the neighborhood, to recruit kids to collect for church services and activities. At its peak, two large buses were required. This bus ministry led to the development of the youth Bible Hour and the Puppet Ministry. In his later years and well into his 80’s, Jim was actively involved in the Care Corp ministry of the Church, working and stocking the church pantry, counseling those in need and delivering Meals on Wheels.
Jim taught adult classes at church for decades, but he had a special gift for studying with and teaching small groups and individuals. Jim believed that while we all have different spiritual gifts, we each were divinely inspired by God to share the Gospel of Christ to others thru our
words, actions and lives. Evangelism was the central mission of his life and his vision for the Church.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brother AJ and Vivian Deans and brother Bob Deans. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Bohanon Deans, their three children and spouses, Steven and Kimberly Deans, Katherine and Paul Evanson and Gregory and Amy Deans, as well as grandchildren Gillian Deans, Isaac, Forrest, Grace and Jessie Evanson and Kendall, Nathan,
Lynlee and Mitchell Deans. He is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Charlene Deans and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CARE Corps Ministry at the Richardson East Church of Christ, 1504 East Campbell Rd., Richardson, Tx 75081.
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