Obituary of James Joseph McConn, Jr.

James Joseph McConn, Jr., age 76, of Houston, Texas entered everlasting life on July 14, 2024, in the presence of his family.

Jim was born in Houston on April 25, 1948, to Jim and Margie McConn. He attended St. Anne's and St. Michael's parochial schools and St. Thomas High School. He was proud to attend the University of Notre Dame, as his father had and his eldest son later would. Graduating in 1970, he then obtained his J.D. from the University of Texas Law School. There, he met his beloved wife, Cathy McLean, who was teaching in Austin. They married in 1972 and moved back to Houston to raise a family. He began practicing law and founded Hays, McConn, Rice, and Pickering, where he practiced dutifully for 33 years. 

Jim was a devout Catholic and an active member of church organizations like Legatus and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The eldest son of a Houston mayor, he was a proud Houstonian who inherited his parents’ charisma and generosity of spirit. He loved sports, especially baseball. He was coached by his father on two national champion little league baseball teams, quarterbacked for the 1965 St. Thomas High School state champion football team, and became an avid golfer. In addition to his loyalty to the Fighting Irish, he closely followed the Houston Astros his entire life, making plentiful memories at Minute Maid Park and reveled in their recent World Series wins. He fervently cultivated interests in politics, Catholic theology, literature, and travel.

Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather (aka “Pops”). He led by example, displaying selflessness, magnanimity, and work ethic. He chose joy every day. His children remember him giving memorable toasts, cheering at countless little league games, assigning silly but endearing nicknames, dominating driveway H-O-R-S-E games, outings to Bookstop and Blockbuster, solving jumble and crossword puzzles, delivering excellent ‘dad jokes’, and mingling at the Lake McQueeney lodge. In his retirement, he began a tradition of monthly one-on-one lunches with his sons and daughters, time which everyone cherished. He had an infectious laugh that is already sorely missed by all who knew him. His legacy endures by all the lives he touched in his 76 rich, full years of life. Jim battled Lewy Body Dementia in his final years, and we pray for the repose of his soul and a restoration to health in his eternal rest and reward. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Cathy. He is also survived by his siblings Kevin (Georgia), Terry (Kim), Melissa Sacra (Mark), and Andy (Beverly) and his children and their spouses: Chris (Lindsay), Amy Rizo-Patron (Raul), Carolyn Valentin (Art), Jimmy (Laura), Erin Modglin (Jason), Andy (Kirby) and Molly Duncan (William). He loved his 19 grandchildren who brought him much joy:  Cecilia, Ana, Sam, Quinn, Evan, Emily, Alexander, Jack, Benjamin, Max, Lucas, Eloise, Charlie, Thomas, Allyn, Riley, Matthew, Phillip, and Eden. His 20th grandchild is due in September. 

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James J. and Marjorie McConn, and his brother, Michael Glenn McConn.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Mr. McConn during a visitation to be held from half-past five o’clock in the evening on Friday, July 19th, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, Texas. A rosary will be prayed at half past six o’clock. 

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, July 20th, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, Texas. Immediately following, all are invited to a reception at the cathedral’s Banquet Hall.

Those wishing to make a donation in Jim's memory may do so at the following:

The Cathedral High School (cathedral-hs.org), the St. John Paul II Foundation (forlifeandfamily.org), and the Houston Coalition for Life (houstoncoalition.com).

For those unable to attend the services in person, virtual attendance may be accessed by a video link that will be made available following the services. 

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolences with his family by selecting the “Upload a Memory” icon below, where you can include a gesture, photo, and more.