James Ronald Landers

James Ronald Landers, 67, passed away to his eternal home on June 29, 2022 in Houston, Texas. He was born at Rollins-Brook Hospital in Lampasas, Texas, on July 23, 1954, to Willis Richard (“Dick”) Landers, Jr., and Anna Lois Berry Landers. He was raised in Lampasas County, spending his childhood enjoying the outdoors. Born into farming and ranching families, he enjoyed spending time with his grandparents on ranches which had been established by his great-great-grandparents in Lampasas and Burnet Counties. He also spent much adventurous time in the summers with his paternal grandparents as they managed Sulphur Springs Fishing Camp on the Colorado River near Bend, Texas.

During his intermediate school years, James succeeded at several Science fair competitions, including winning the local science fair as well as the Overall Special Physics Award at the Regional Science Fair at Baylor University for building an X-ray machine his 8th grade year. He enjoyed tennis and Little League, and continued baseball and football throughout his high school years.

James attended all twelve grades of school in Lampasas, graduating from Lampasas High School in 1972, lettering in both Baseball and Football. After spending his first semester of college in the summer, with the Texas Maritime Academy of Texas A&M University, aboard the Texas Clipper traveling to various ports abroad, he began attending the University of Texas at Austin the following fall, studying Biology. He lived on the top floor of the UT Health Center for the majority of his years at the University, working as an on-call radiology technician. Always enjoying hard work in the outdoors, James continued hauling hay in the summers as he had throughout high school, to earn money for his college expenses. He earned both his undergraduate degree in Biology and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, taking a job in the Financial Services Sector in Houston, Texas in August of 1979, and, soon after, married his high school sweetheart, Paula Cantrell, also from Lampasas. The couple has lived in Houston since their marriage, and are members of Houston’s First Baptist Church. They have two married children, a son, Tyler Cantrell Landers, and wife Mackenzy Liljedahl Landers, and a daughter, Haley Elizabeth Landers White, and husband Christian Blake White. They were blessed with a granddaughter born in February, Aspen Rae White.

James began his career with Kidder Peabody Brokerage Company in 1981, where he continued until it was sold to Paine Webber in 1995. At that time, he joined Alex Brown in their Dallas office, necessitating regular commuting between Dallas and Houston until Alex Brown opened their Houston office in 2001, and all the while never missed a son’s baseball game or a daughter’s ballet recital. James continued with Alex. Brown as it operated under Bankers Trust, and then Deutsche Bank, and ultimately, as it became a division of Raymond James. In his work, he developed a broad familiarity with corporate finance and structuring and became adept at finding creative solutions to complex financial issues. He specialized in asset and liability management and helped to identify and create liquidity events such as the sale of a company, initial public offerings (IPO’s), and other methods of liquidity management. His clients were especially admired and treasured people to him, and truly meant the world to him; he took great pride toward their success in every way. His thorough, analytical approach to growth and wealth preservation was driven by a genuine desire to see their labors protected and rewarded abundantly.

He enjoyed his many years of involvement and judging at the annual Rice University Business Plan Competition, beginning with its founding in the year 2000. He tremendously enjoyed his participation in the MS 150 Bike Rides to Austin. He enjoyed planning and working on various projects in the family yard, from manicuring a sunken side lot into a functional side yard with walkways, rose gardens, and a batting cage for his son, as well as maintaining the various family ranch and farm properties. And he especially enjoyed each of these projects when his kids would work alongside him, as they were able, even from very young ages up through adulthood. James’ most avid interests were keeping up with, supporting, and being involved in the areas of interest and achievement by his children. He was actively involved with his son’s years of select and then high school baseball. James helped each of the many baseball teams, in many ways, often by keeping the stats and helping with the practices and recording the games. Of all the many hundreds of games played, he might have had to miss maybe 3….maybe. He also supported and encouraged and attended his daughter’s many, many theatre performances throughout the Houston area, helping to build sets and working behind the scenes to help in any way he could. His great enjoyment and pride in her work showed as he would attend as many of the performances as time and a daughter would allow a dad to attend.

James was a dedicated son and brother to his parents and siblings, spending many hours on the road traveling to Lampasas to assist his folks with cattle ranching activities, and to be there to oversee their personal health issues as needed. Staying in contact with his siblings was also a high priority to him, and was always available to help solve problems and to share in and enjoy their many life experiences.

James maintained a high level of integrity throughout his work and personal life, leaving a Godly legacy of honor, dignity, and dependability, and of a hard work ethic that will not be without great impact.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Paula Cantrell Landers, of Houston, Texas, son, Tyler Cantrell Landers, and wife Mackenzy, of Houston, Texas, daughter Haley Elizabeth Landers White, and husband, Christian, and granddaughter, Aspen Rae, of Grand Prairie, Texas, brother Glenn Berry Landers, of South Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, sister, Marianne Landers Banks, and husband, Brian, of Lampasas, three nieces: Brianna Marie Banks Barksdale, and husband Steven, of Round Rock, Texas, Marissa Beth Banks Hardin, and husband, Casey, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Aubrey Brooklyn Banks, of Lampasas; two great-nieces: Norah Marie Barksdale and Marlow Jane Barksdale, and one great-nephew Crosby James Barksdale, of Round Rock, Texas.

The family would like to thank everyone who has supported James and our family in prayer over these difficult times. God has been faithful and good to answer many prayers and has been present in so many ways. Also, the family would like to express their appreciation to James’ colleagues, coworkers, and clients at Alex. Brown, Raymond James for their unwavering support and friendship throughout his battle with cancer, and for honoring his desire to continue working to serve his clients, despite the difficulties created by his illness.

A visitation will be held at Klein Funeral Home - Champions;16131 Champions Forest Dr; Klein, Tx 77379 on Wednesday, July 6th, from 5-8 pm.

A visitation will be held in James’ hometown of Lampasas, Tx at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel; 201 East 3rd St; Lampasas, Tx 76550 on Friday, July 8th, from 2-4 pm.

Funeral Services will be Sunday, July 10th at 2 pm at the Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at Naruna Cemetery.

A Memorial Service will be held at Houston's First Baptist Church, Chapel; 7401 Katy Freeway; Houston, Tx 77024 on Wednesday, July 13th at 10:30 am with a reception to follow immediately.

Memorial donations may be made to Hope House Ministries of the Pastoral Ministries Department of Houston’s First Baptist Church. https://rock.hfbc.org/hopehouse. The mailing address is:

Hope House Ministries

Houston’s First Baptist Church

7401 Katy Freeway

Pastoral Care, Suite 603

Houston, Tx 77024