James Everette Johnston

January 16, 1951 – September 26, 2026

James “Jim” Johnston, 75, of Corpus Christi, TX, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, September 26, 2026. Born January 16, 1951, in Cookeville, TN, he was the son of the late Bob and Mattie Rodgers Johnston.

Jim earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Houston, where he met his future wife, Mary Helen. They were married for 47 years. His career began at Houston Lighting & Power Co., where he was a Distribution Engineer. He went on to Sherwin Alumina in Gregory-Portland and then to Celanese in Bishop, where he was a Control System Design Engineer. He retired from Bath Engineering, where he served as Business Director and Principal Engineer in process safety. He was also a past President of the Instrument Society of America.

For more than 20 years, Jim and Mary Helen owned and operated M&J Photography. Together they celebrated many milestones across the Corpus Christi area, photographing weddings, children, families, graduations, schools, and sports programs.

Jim was a lifelong sports fan, and his favorite place to be on a Friday night was the broadcast booth. He was the play-by-play voice of the Flour Bluff Hornets football team for more than ten years, and of Gregory-Portland before that. Among his fondest memories were the Hornets’ deep playoff runs. He was a devoted fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, and when his two sons attended Mary Carroll High School, he was just as dedicated in the stands as a band dad. He also enjoyed building World War II model airplanes and playing golf.

Jim was always involved in his community. He served on the board of KEDT, where he took part in membership pledge drives and the auction, and he supported United Way campaigns. He also served on the board of Padre Little League, where he started the volunteer umpire program. A UIL-certified umpire, he was named Umpire of the Year. He was a member of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Helen Johnston, of Corpus Christi; sons Ryan Johnston and his partner, Kelly Munguia, of Corpus Christi, and Kevin Johnston and his partner, Abby Jost, of Missouri City; grandchildren Natalia and Gregory Munguia Johnston, Vivian Johnston, Emory Jost; sister-in-law Paula Johnston Rizor; nephew Austin Johnston; brother-in-law Juan Diaz; and nephews Jacob, Aric, and Michael Diaz.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Mark Johnston; niece Carmen Lowe; great-niece Alexis Lowe; parents-in-law Cecilio and Consuelo Diaz; grandparents Anna Lee and Everette Rodgers and Floyd Brown; and grandmother Rebecca Johnston.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jim’s name to KEDT. Gifts may be mailed to KEDT, 3205 S. Staples, Corpus Christi, TX 78411, Attn: Mary Ann Buchanan, or made online at kedt.org/donate, where you may note “in memory of James E. Johnston” in the comment field.

Services: Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 3513 Cimarron Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78414. A rosary will follow at 10:30 a.m., with the funeral mass immediately after. A reception and lunch in the parish hall will follow the services.