James Neal Gann passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026. He is survived by his daughter Denise Gann Strong, son-in-law David Strong, son Dennis Gann, daughter-in-law Leslie Skinner Gann, grandchildren, Lacey Gann Buckley, married to Alex Buckley; Garret Gann, married to Kristin Elliot Gann; Triston Strong, engaged to Madison Fritze; and Chloe Gann, married to Zach Gann. He is survived by great-grandchildren Grace Nelson, Walker Buckley and Paisley Gann. He was preceded in death by his wife Ann Nell Gann and grandson Collin Gann.

James, also known as Jim and Jimmie Gann, was born in Lantana, Texas on October 11, 1934. He is the last of nine children born to Thomas and Alta Gann. In 1953 he graduated high school in Rio Hondo and was the only member of his family to go to college, attending Southwest Texas State Teachers College, now Texas State University, in San Marcos, Texas.

As a junior there, his money ran out and he did not think he could continue his studies, so he left school to return home. The first morning home, he went looking for work but unexpectedly, four community leaders learned of his situation and convinced Jim he should return to college immediately. With their help and his family’s help, Jim returned to school the next day and was able to complete his studies. He graduated in 1957 with a BS degree in Chemistry after being a very active student. He not only served as class president, fraternity president, and dorm president, but was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. He was in the top ten percent of his class and earned a chemistry achievement award as a senior while teaching chemistry labs.

Jim met his sweetheart Ann Nell Burns in college and after graduation they were married on June 7, 1958. Jim was employed as a chemist by Celanese Chemical Company in Bishop, Texas. Daughter Denise Diane was born in 1961 and Jim transferred to a new plant in Bay City, Texas that same year. Son Dennis Neal was born there in 1963.

In 1968 the company moved Jim and his family to Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico to help start a new Celanese plant. Returning to Bay City in 1969, he was promoted to Operations Management. From 1969 to 1985 he served in various management positions in Operations, Technical, Safety, Health, and Environment. Jim retired from Celanese Chemical in 1985.

Taking advantage of his “retirement,” he looked to other interests, including ranching and farming in Matagorda County, oil & gas investments and real estate. When he was sixty years of age he became a pilot, bought an airplane & scouted West Bay fishing holes from the air. Jim worked extensively in his community with the County Fair & Livestock Association and Beach Road Municipal Utility District. He pioneered the use of vacuum to transport waste water in environmentally sensitive areas, led the effort to improve traffic management for vehicles and boats through the Intracoastal Waterway in Matagorda Drainage District #1.

He led the 2000 Census, the Houston-Galveston Area of Council of Governments Committee on Natural Resources, and was the county representative in developing the Lower Colorado River Authority's Nature Park in Matagorda, and served as a charter member of the Lower Colorado River Authority's Clean River Committee.

Jim & Ann Nell recently set up an endowment with Texas State University to help exceptional students with financial challenges and to assist with water research & conservation efforts. Jim’s greatest concern was to preserve access to West Matagorda Bay for Matagorda residents by reopening Parker’s Cut. Jim loved hunting and fishing, especially fishing at Matagorda Bay.

He was a wonderful host for family gatherings at both his ranch outside of Wadsworth and his fishing home on the river in Matagorda. His children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, great nephews and great-great nephews loved spending time with him fishing, hearing his stories, and sharing meals together by the Bay.

Matagorda Cemetery Graveside Service will be Tuesday October 27th at 1pm with a Celebration of Life immediately following at the Storm Shack. Pallbearers are Garret Gann, Triston Strong, Alex Buckley, Sam McCabe, Luke Dornak & Matt McCabe.