John Harrell Starkey M.D.

OBITUARY
JOHN H. STARKEY
John Harrell Starkey, M.D. was born on October 12, 1930 in McAlister, New Mexico to JV and Lois Snider Starkey. He grew up in eastern New Mexico graduating from Portales High School as an All-State basketball player in 1949. He was also a Boys State representative and an Eagle Scout Order of the Arrow. He went to Baylor University on a basketball scholarship accomplishing all conference honors and graduating Pre Med in 1953. He met the love of his life, L'Nell Walker, his freshman year and they married in 1953, recently celebrating their 72-year anniversary.
John graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 1957 and finished his medical training in Madison, Wisconsin and Galveston, Texas. The growing family moved to Victoria in 1961. He practiced Radiology until 2011 in Victoria and the surrounding areas including DeTar, Citizens Memorial and Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca.
Besides raising five children, he enjoyed golfing, snow skiing, and spending time driving his tractor and tending cattle at the family ranch on the Guadalupe River near Thomaston. He found joy watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren having fun out in the country.
John was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Northside Baptist Church. He also served on the Baylor University Board of Regents from 1987-1995, and the HEAR Foundation. He was a District Chairman for Boy Scouts of America and a supporter of the Salvation Army and Hospice of South Texas.
In addition to his wife L'Nell, he is survived by his five children: Marsella Fults (Tim), Loree Clark (Mike), Taylor Starkey, M.D. (Myra), Melanie Johnston (Dusty), and Mignon Jones (Stuart), along with 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, and two nephews. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Britt Sides, a special friend and ranch companion, who he grew very close to in recent years.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory can be made to the Starkey Family Scholarship fund at Baylor University, South Texas Children's Home, or Hospice of South Texas.