LINDSAY, JON STEPHEN (1935 ~ 2026). The following is an obituary for former Texas Senator and Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay. The obituary was provided by Klein Funeral Home of Tomball. 

Jon Stephen Lindsay passed away quietly and peacefully on January 7, 2026.  A longtime public servant and influential figure in Texas politics, he is remembered for more than two decades of leadership in Harris County and for his later service in the Texas Legislature.

Jon was born in Denver, Colorado on December 4, 1935.  His family moved to New Mexico when Jon was still a child.  He attended New Mexico A&M University (now New Mexico State University) to study civil engineering.  While at university, he met Tonita (Tony) Lee Davis and married her in 1958.  He then entered the Air Force in 1959.  They had three children.  Son Steve was born in 1959 in Hobbs, NM before they moved to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for a short time.  They then moved to Waco, TX for Jon’s three years in the Air Force.  Son L. Jon was born in Waco, TX in 1962.  They moved to Houston, TX in 1962, where Jon eventually established the Lindsay Construction Company.  Son Larry was born in Houston, TX in 1965.

Jon then decided to enter politics, and in 1974, he was elected Harris County Judge (the chief executive officer of the county), becoming the first Republican to win a countywide office in Harris County. He served in that role from 1975 to 1995, making him the longest-serving County Judge in the county’s history.

As County Judge, Jon oversaw a period of significant growth and transformation. He played a central role in expanding county infrastructure, including public hospitals, criminal justice facilities, flood control efforts, and other essential services. He is particularly noted for his leadership in the creation and development of the Harris County Toll Road Authority, which became a model for regionally funded transportation and reshaped mobility in the Houston area.  For this achievement, Jon was named Engineer of the Year in 1986 by the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.

After leaving the County Judge’s office, Jon was elected to the Texas Senate, representing District 7 from 1997 to 2007. During his tenure, he focused on issues related to infrastructure, transportation, and local government, drawing on his extensive experience in county administration.  In 1999, he authored and championed a bill to create the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, which helped to protect groundwater and reduce subsidence.

Following his retirement from elective office, Jon remained engaged in civic and community affairs, contributing to nonprofit organizations and regional initiatives. He served as the president of the North Houston Association, a non-profit chamber of commerce focusing on regional business development, from 1996 to 2020.

In his retirement he enjoyed hosting Sunday school class parties, taking the occasional road trip to his home state of New Mexico, playing with his labrador retriever, feeding the wild deer on his property, riding his bike, and having a glass of red wine (or two) with his friends.

He is survived by his sons Steve, L. Jon and Larry, his daughter-in-law Lisa Lindsay, his grandchildren Blake Lindsay and Eileen Lindsay, his sister Carolie Wakefield, his brother-in-law Bil Wakefield, his sister-in-law Kathy Aikey, and his brother-in-law Jim Aikey.  Jon was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Tony Lindsay, his brother Robert Lindsay, and his sister-in-law Ruth Lindsay.  

A memorial service will be held at Klein United Methodist Church, 5920 FM 2920, Spring, TX, at 11am on Monday, January 19, 2026, with visitation at 10am and a reception following.  Officiating will be Pastor Lawrence Young.  Interment will be in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, TX.