Harold James “Jim” Prendergast

Harold James “Jim” Prendergast died peacefully on August 23, 2013 at the age of 87.   Preceded in death by his daughter, Margaret Prendergast Thetford, and his grandson, John H. Yochem, III, Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Cummings Prendergast, his sister Mary Kelly, his two daughters Brigid (Steve) Rhyne and Charlotte Yochem, and four grandchildren; Harold P. Yochem, Darren Bunde, Blake Bunde and Shelby Pate.  A member of a pioneer St. Paul, Minnesota family, Jim graduated in 1944 from St. Thomas Military Academy, and then served in the 101^st Airborne Division during WWII.  After receiving his law degree from the University of Houston Law School in the mid-1950s, Jim practiced law for many years with the former Keys, Russell, Watson & Seaman law firm in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he specialized in oil and gas law.  Jim moved to Houston, Texas in the late 1970s where he continued his oil & gas law practice with attorney James Slator, forming the firm of Slator & Prendergast.  After a partial retirement in Laredo, Texas, Jim enjoyed retirement in New Mexico, Arizona and finally Seattle, Washington.  Jim was a thoughtful, considerate, intelligent gentleman who never had an unkind thing to say about anyone.  He will be sorely and genuinely missed.