James Cameron Wark

Funeral services for James Cameron “Jim” Wark, 75, will be held Sunday, October 25, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Will Stambaugh officiating. Also participating in the service will be the Honorable Jim McReynolds, former Texas State Representative and lifelong friend, and son–in-law Jason McDaniel. A military burial ceremony will be held at Fielder Memorial Cemetery in Homer, Texas. Jim was born in Lufkin, Texas on August 18, 1940 to Hector and Alice (Hoit) Wark. He passed away peacefully on October 21, 2015 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer caused by exposure to toxins and herbicides (Agent Orange) that were used in Vietnam. Jim’s faith, family and friends were most important during his lifetime. Jim was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Lufkin. He attended Lufkin schools and was a member of the Lufkin High School Class of 1958. During Jim’s childhood he was active in the Boy Scouts of America program. In Junior High School he earned the Boy Scouts God and Country Award and Eagle rank with Palm. After graduating High School, Jim attended Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he earned a Bachelors of Forestry degree. He was a member of the Sylvans (Forestry Club) and a charter member of the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. In July of 1964, Jim began work at Southland Paper Mill in Lufkin, Texas. In December 1965 he was drafted into the armed service but opted to join the United States Army Security Agency which was a four year enlistment. He completed his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and was transferred to Ft. Devens, MA for AIT training as a Personnel Specialist. From Massachusetts he was sent to Ft. Hood in 1967. He left there on a troop train to Oakland Naval Terminal and boarded a troop ship, USS General W.H. Gordon, which took him to DaNang, Vietnam. From there he took an LST to Chu Lai, Vietnam where he was stationed with the 601st Radio Research Detachment, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. In October 1968, Jim was reassigned to Ft. Devens, Massachusetts. This is where he met his wife, Sharon, who processed him into his assigned unit. The two were married in August 1969. After discharge from the Army in December 1969, they moved back to Lufkin, Texas and Jim returned to work at the Paper Mill where he worked for 39 ½ years until it was closed in 2004. Jim became a Union Officer in his Local in 1980. He became Secretary/Treasurer of the Deep East Texas Council of Labor in January of 1964. In March of 2005, Jim was elected Angelina County Democratic Chairman and served in that capacity for 10 ½ years until he resigned in September of 2015. He was elected to represent Senate District 3 as a delegate to the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Democratic National Conventions. Jim was fortunate to become friends with many County, State and Federal politicians, both Democrats and Republicans. Many of whom he stayed in contact with until his death. He worked several Democratic Political Campaigns both as a Labor Representative and as a Democratic County Chairman. He was also elected as Treasurer of the Texas Democratic County Chairs Association in 2008 and resigned in September 2015 because of illness. Jim was also a Board Member of the Texas Workforce Development as a Labor Representative since 2006. Jim was a life member of VFW Post 1836 where he served as Service Officer from 1971 to 1981. He was a life member of the DAV and a life member of the Americal Division Veterans Association. He was Historian and Treasurer of the Lufkin Paper Mill Retirees Group for 8 years. Jim also was a member of the local NAACP and in 2014 he and his wife were presented with the Lufkin Branch NAACP Unity Award for which he was very honored and proud to have been awarded. Jim is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sharon Lanteigne Wark; daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Jason McDaniel of Rosenberg, Texas; daughter and fiance, Susan Michele Wark and Kirk Looney of Lufkin; grandchildren, Jessica Ann McDaniel and fiancé Corey Smith of Sugar Land; Colby Cameron McDaniel of Rosenberg; Sean Tyler Wark and fiancée Sydney Hill; and Shannon Michele Latham, all of Lufkin; great-grandson, Tanner James Wark of Lufkin. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and spouses, Joseph Lanteigne and Jan Godown of Plains, Pennsylvania, Carlton and Barbara Lanteigne of Bedford, NH, and Michael and Karen Lanteigne of Shirley, MA. Jim was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Thomas Alexander Wark. Pallbearers will be Sean Wark, Ernie Sweat, Ardie Dixon, Bobby Chandler, Sr., Pat Tomez, Clifton Layton, Dreyfus Thompson and Tommy Maxie, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be the grandchildren; Don Mulbach, T.J.McComber, John White, Larry Thigpen, Therman Jones, George Natt, brothers and sisters of Labor, Texas AFL-CIO, Texas Democratic Party, Texas Democratic County Chairs Association, and members of Lufkin High School Class of 1958. In lieu of flowers, Jim’s wishes were contributions to be made to: Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 12727, Austin, Texas 78711. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.