John Lee Girard

John Lee Girard, age 74, affectionately known as "Big John," left this world on February 23, 2015 surrounded by his family and loved ones after a valiant battle with illness. Big John was born January 3, 1941 in West, Texas to John Frank Girard and Lillian Lennart. Big John began his working career at CenTex Feed in West, Texas and from there worked as a machinist at James Connally Air Force Base in Lacy Lakeview, Texas. Big John moved to Angleton, Texas where U. S. Contractors and Brown & Root in Freeport, Texas employed him. While working for U.S. Contractors, he touched the lives of countless young men with whom he worked. His incredible work ethic impressed innumerable people and earned him the respect of numerous employers and employees throughout his career. During his life, he spent many years participating in the Brazoria County Fair Association trail rides and events. Big John instilled in his children a love of horses and animals, took pride in them showing horses locally, and spent time with them through many camping and boating trips. Big John will always be remembered as a "gentle giant" with a heart of gold and a dry sense of humor. He was a man of his word; if he told you he would do something, he would always follow through. His family, children, friends, grandchildren, and great-children loved and respected him. He will be missed dearly. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Annette Armstrong Mitchell Girard, along with his children: Michele Girard Yule of Austin, Texas, Michael Lee Girard of Austin, Texas, and step-son Darin Mitchell of Lake Jackson, Texas; daughters-in-law, Kristen Girard and Donna Mitchell; grandchildren: Cory McPartland, Kace Layton, Kinsey Layton, Kaili Mitchell, Ryan Mitchell, Geoffrey Yule, Micaela Yule, and Mila Girard; great-grandchildren: Kyla McPartland, Jace McPartland, James Kelley, Kiera Kelley, and Auvriella McPartland; sisters-in-law Patsy Armstrong Faulkner of Lake Jackson, Texas and Nelda Armstrong Hartley of Tupelo, Mississippi, and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his father and mother, his grandparents and uncle who raised him, his sisters Lillian Jane Girard and Marie Girard Ball, and stepdaughter Rhonda Layton. Funeral services will be held on February 28, 2015, at Saint Anthony de Padua Catholic Church , Danbury, Texas at 10:00am. Serving as pallbearers will be Kace Layton, Cory McPartland, Johnny Fleming, Tyrus Jeffers, Don Schultz and Bubba Griffin . Burial and a gravesite memorial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery in West, Texas on March 1, 2015 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association @alz.org/care/. Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of John Lee Girard, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Service Information Saturday, February 28th, 2015 10:00am