John Ernest Bishop Sr.

John Ernest Bishop Sr., or “Bish”, died December 15th, 2023, in the company of his favorite people, wife of 54 years, Janice Louvier Bishop and his youngest son, John Bishop Jr.

He was born in Moselle, Mississippi on May 8th, 1937, to Ernest Lee Bishop and Edna Walters Bishop. He went on to play football at Jones County Junior College, where in 1955 they proudly became the first all-white team in Mississippi to play a racially integrated team at the Junior Rose Bowl, in Compton, California.

He met his wife while working as a distributor for Filter Queen. They later married in 1969 at the Justice of the Peace, which merged their families; his two daughters and her three children. They would then welcome their only child together, John Bishop Jr.

John Sr. had an entrepreneurial spirit which would take him and his family across the Gulf Coast, from Mississippi, to Louisiana and finally Texas. He owned or invested in too many businesses to name, from all different industries, across multiple states, countries, and continents. LubriLon Oil was his longest and most notable achievement and started the development of many other products, such as Slick50, which would be used by several winning race teams and led to his sole sponsorship of the 1979 Lubrilon Long Beach Grand Prix.

His own health issues led him down a wellness path long before wellness was mainstream or trendy. He studied different diets, supplements and alternative products and treatments that are now widely used. He was an avid fisherman, who loved boats and spending time on the water. He was a great lover of food, especially the cuisine of his birthplace and the South. His grandkid’s favorite memories of time spent with their “Grandad”, often involved trips across the country in his beloved Winnebago. He was always learning, listening, and loved talking about new opportunities and ventures.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Edna, as well as his daughter, Debbie Cook, and stepdaughter, Tammy Simmons Necaise. Survived by his wife, Janice, along with his stepsons, Benjamin Franklin Simmons III and Craig Simmons, youngest daughter, Sunderin Arthur, youngest son, John Jr. and his brother, George Edwin Bishop. He was well loved by his numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, business acquaintances, and friends.

His Celebration of Life will be held at the Cypress Creek Christian Church, 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX 77379 on Saturday, January 13, 2023 at 1pm.

In honor of John’s memory and his long-time love of fishing and the Gulf Coast, please consider making contributions to the Coastal Conservation Association of Texas by visiting ccatexas.org/donate