Memorials March 2022
Submit a memorial at texasbar.com/memorials or call (512) 427-1830. For information on closing a deceased attorney’s practice, go to www.texasbarcle.com/materials/closingapractice.html.
Sean Michael Crowley
Crowley, 43,
of Houston, died August 19, 2021. He received his law degree from Texas
Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2008.
Crowley joined Thompson Coe in Austin in 2010 and was elected partner in
2016. He was a mentor to others and was respected by colleagues,
clients, and all that encountered him. Crowley’s most important passion
in life was his family. He loved being a dad and was always there for
his kids—attending their games without fail and getting involved in the
kids’ activities in other ways, such as helping with schoolwork,
coaching girls soccer and boys flag football, and even serving as color
commentator for the Travis County swim meets. Crowley is survived by his
wife of 19 years, attorney Alicia; sons, Michael and Collin; daughter,
Ireland; stepmother, attorney Beryl; sister, Lisa; and stepsisters,
Pamela, Jessica, and Leslie.
James R. Permenter
Permenter,
90, of El Paso, died December 22, 2021. He served in the U.S. Air Force
from 1950 to 1951. Permenter received his law degree from the University
of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. He was
an attorney with El Paso Natural Gas Company, later Meridian Oil
Production, from 1957 to 1995. Permenter was a voracious reader. He
enjoyed putting a little action on horse races. Permenter’s yearly
highlight was attending the Gillespie County Fair in Fredericksburg,
where family and friends would join him for his birthday each year. He
is survived by his sons, John, Mike, Robert, Tim, and Rich Permenter,
and Glen Chaves; daughters, Michelle Anderson and Lisa Permenter; 20
grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
Richard Scott Crowther
Crowther,
67, of Giddings, died December 23, 2021. He received his law degree from
Southern Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1979. Crowther was assistant district attorney in the
Galveston County District Attorney’s Office; an attorney and partner in
Mills, Shirley, McMicken & Eckel in Galveston; a partner in Naves
& Crowther in Galveston; a partner in Roberts Markel & Guerry in
Houston; a felony assistant criminal district attorney in the Smith
County District Attorney’s Office in Tyler; and chief felony prosecutor
for the Burnet County District Attorney’s Office of the 33rd and 424th
District Courts in Burnet. He enjoyed World War II history and firearms.
Crowther loved spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by
his son, Nicolas Crowther; daughter, Cassandra Quinn; mother, Nancy
Crowther; brothers, Robert Crowther and Paul Crowther; and two
grandchildren.
John “Jack” Darrell Sargent
Sargent, 91,
of San Antonio, died November 22, 2021. He received his law degree from
the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar
in 1955. Sargent served in the U.S. Army as a medic from 1955 to 1957.
He worked for National Bank of Commerce in San Antonio from 1957 to 1965
and for El Paso National Bank from 1965 to 1978; and was a partner in
Patterson, Sargent, and Glanville in El Paso from 1978 to 1994. Sargent
was known for his integrity, was respected by all, was considerate and a
true gentleman, and had an infectious smile and laugh. He loved cars,
airplanes, travel, RV-ing, and had a memory that amazed everyone.
Sargent placed a high priority on family and church. He is survived by
his wife of 66 years, June Hunt Sargent; sons, Charles Hunt Sargent and
John Darrell Sargent Jr.; daughter, Holly Sargent Youngquist; four
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
William Overton “Bill” Neal IV
Neal, 85,
of Abilene, died December 23, 2021. He received his law degree from the
University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1964. Neal was a briefing attorney for Texas Supreme Court Justice Ruel
Walker from 1964 to 1965, district attorney for the 46th Judicial
District from 1968 to 1976, a general practitioner with emphasis on
criminal defense work at the Law Office of Bill Neal from 1976 to 1992,
and district attorney for the 50th Judicial District of Texas from 1992
to 2004. He graduated first in his class at the University of Texas
School of Law. Neal was named grand chancellor of his law school class
in 1964. He was comment editor of the Texas Law Review in 1964.
Neal was an author, journalist, and historian who wrote several books
covering colorful stories of the history of law and lawlessness on the
West Texas frontier, many of which grew from his time spent researching
old records in the basements of courthouses. He was a rancher and
enjoyed spending time at his ranch south of Quanah, near the Medicine
Mounds where he grew up. Neal is survived by his wife of 25 years, Gayla
Neal; sons, Monte Mark Neal and Max McCaleb Neal; daughter, attorney
Virginia Kay Neal Covarrubia; and stepdaughters, Nicole Todd and Joy
Chhay.TBJ
