Elmer Ray Remkes, 97, of Houston passed away on Thursday, the 13th of June 2024. He was born on February 17th, 1927, in Orangefield, Texas, to John Marshall Remkes and Thelma Burgess Remkes. He spent his early childhood in Goose Creek, Texas (now called Baytown). He later moved to Orange, Texas to live with his grandparents and graduated high school at Orange High School. After graduation, he joined the army and received training in the infantry and later in the paratroops. After being discharged from the service he attended Lamar Junior College. He married Corrah Thomson on May 8, 1948, and moved to Houston where he attended University of Houston and earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. They had three children together, Robert Marshall, Patricia Raye, and William Ray.
On graduation in 1950, Elmer worked for Brown and Root in Houston, Texas as a Design Engineer, and Project Manager. In 1971, he joined Santa Fe International headquartered in Orange, California as VP of Engineering Services and moved to nearby Newport Beach, California. In 1977, he joined Crest Engineering as President in Tulsa, Oklahoma and later relocated the home office to Houston, Texas. In 1981, he joined Bechtel International in Houston, and in 1984 moved to Bakersfield, California as President of Bechtel Petroleum Operations. In 1996, he retired from Bechtel and started Offshore International Services which he sold in 2002 and went into full retirement.
Elmer was a longtime member of Second Baptist Church. He served as a deacon and was a longtime member of “Nothing But the Truth” bible study class. He also served as president in 2007 of the Paul Carrington Chapter of the Sons of the American revolution.
Elmer’s wife Corrah developed breast cancer and passed away in June 2006 after 58 years of marriage. In December 2007, he went on a tour of Israel sponsored by Second Baptist Church. There he met Elaine Aguair Figg, a recent widow who he married in August of 2008. Elaine and Elmer have been married for the past 16 years.
Elmer is survived by two of his three children, seven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren from his first wife. His eldest son, Robert Marshall Remkes, passed away in 2003, and is survived by his wife Kathryn Remkes; grandson Robert Marshall Remkes, Jr. and wife Collette Remkes, with great-granddaughter Alexandria Remkes: and grandson Jonathan Remkes and wife Hope. His daughter, Patricia Johnson and husband, Fred Johnson; grandson Chris Johnson and his wife Stephanie Johnson, with great-grandsons Cade, Adam, and Luke. Followed by grandson Stephen Johnson, with great-grandsons Tyler, Dylan, and Ryan. Next his granddaughter Elizabeth Johnson Bell and husband Kevin M. Bell, with great-granddaughters Annelise and Emily Bell along with great-grandsons Matthew and Benjamin Bell. Followed by his granddaughter Melissa Johnson and great-grandson Barret. His next son, William Ray Remkes, and wife Laura Remkes: and granddaughter Christina Bishop with great- grandsons Thomas and Wesley Bishop.
Elmer is also survived by Elaine’s son Wayne Figg with his wife Sarah along with their three children Wayne, Wesley with wife Brooke and Cody and Elaine’s other son Don Figg and wife Ami along with their two children Joshua and Josiah.
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