James (Jim) Evans Dickson got his bodily independence on September 16, 1941 (Mexican Independence Day) in Rochester, NY. He was the son of Gertrude Hunt Dickson and Henry Evans Dickson. He was preceded in death by Gertrude and Henry Dickson, his adored and beloved son, James Major Evans Dickson, and his brother, Richard Frederick Dickson.
When Jim was about six, the family moved from New York to Houston. Jim was a 1960 graduate of San Jacinto High School and continued to be a supporter of “The Campus Club” news bulletin. While in high school, he worked at Apple Chevrolet installing Delco radios, when no one else knew how to do that!
Although he never graduated from a university, he racked up 100+ college hours in physics and electronics. While in college, Jim was invited to join the U.S. Army as a private, then graduated from OCS at Fort Sill, OK, as a First Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery.
In 1967, he was transferred to Ft. Bliss in El Paso. He met Margery “Hita” Mayfield on a blind date on May 27, 1967. On July 15, 1967, six weeks later, they married in St. Clements Episcopal Church. Following their wedding, they traveled to Massachusetts, where he was stationed at Nike Village, a Nike missile site just north of Bos- ton. In Feb. 1968, Lt. Dickson was transferred to Korea and became commanding officer of 4th Battalion Herc, 44th Artillery, Foxtrot Battery, aka Camp Intercept Korea.
Upon exiting the U.S. Army in 1969, Hita and Jim established residence in Bellaire, TX. He and his dad, Henry, became partner- salesmen for Oklahoma Furniture Manufacturing in Guthrie, OK. Jim and Henry opened up a Wholesale Furniture Distributor (WFD) warehouse to supplement products that the furniture dealers frequently requested.
Shortly after, Jim and Hita moved to Guthrie, OK, where Jim was asked to become assistant sales manager of Okla. Furn. Mfg. At the same time, his dad and mother continued to operate the warehouse in the Houston area. In 1974, following the deaths of Henry, Jim, and Gertrude moved WFD to the Al-Meda Road location, expanding the distribution business.
The most blessed event happened in 1977 when his son was born. James Major Evans Dickson (Jimmy) arrived on April 30. Again, in 1980, Jim was asked to return to Okla. Furn. Mfg. for two years, as Assistant General Manager to run production of the entire plant. That began the dream for Jim to have his own manufacturing company. Returning to Houston in 1982, he opened Star Products, manufacturing on Ripley Circle in Houston.
Expanding again, he purchased 7015 Grand Blvd. when Star Products and Wholesale Furniture Distributor truly grew. His products were MADE in the USA, with distribution warehouses in Houston, El Paso, Mississippi, San Antonio, Florida, California, and Utah.
Eventually, it became Dickson Furniture Industries, known nationwide. Jim was compassionate, generous, a leader, a mentor, a businessman, a fisherman, and an avid fan of every Sci-Fi Star Trek T.V. show ever produced. In 2017, he became the Treasurer of The Seva Clinic, a charity clinic in Pearland. He also supported Hita’s charity, Christian Helping Hands in Pearland, which she founded in 1984.
Jim is survived by wife, Margery “Hita’ Dickson, nephew, Christopher Henry Dickson and wife, Gloria, niece, Lori Meunier and husband, Ray. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Cynthia Tyrrell and Suzanna Burns, and numerous nieces and nephews, Taylor, Alyssa, and Kait- lyn Kukulinski, Gabriella, and Corbin Dickson. He is adored by special friends Grant Hadley and Wade Kinsey and a host of many across the USA.
Since Jim was an avid Sci-Fi fan, he would have said, “Beam me up, Scottie.” Jim passed away on November 22, 2023, following a very brief illness. He is now fishing with Jimmy, Richard, Hillsman, Henry, Tommy, Herb, and other anglers!
A private burial will be held Friday, December 1, 2023, and a grand Celebration of Life will be held in January 2024, date and location TBD. In lieu of the usual remembrances, please donate to the building fund of the future, the joint home of The Seva Clinic and Christian Helping Hands.
The 12,000-square-foot structure is nearing completion, and Jim truly wanted to see it to the finish. Donations may be mailed to Christian Helping Hands, Inc., P.O. Box 34, Pearland, TX 77588-0034. For more details, visit www.jeterfu- neralhome.com
