Jim Sams

James Alfred Sams, known as Jim to his friends and Jimmy to his family, passed away on September 19, 2026, at the age of 79. Funeral service will be held Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 10 a.m. in Morrison Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Loving Cemetery.

Jim was born on May 15, 1947, at the hospital in Olney, Texas, to Clarence and Nellie Sams. Family stories tell of his father making the drive to Olney through pouring rain in an Army Jeep for his birth. The family was living in Graham at the time, later moving to Markley when Jim was about five years old and then to Loving when he was around eleven or twelve. He was one of seven children and spent the remainder of his childhood in Loving surrounded by his brothers and sisters.

On May 31, 1980, Jim married his true love, Emily. Together they built a life filled with love, companionship, family, and many memories. Emily held a very special place in Jim's heart, and the love they shared remained an important part of his life and his story.

Jim built a remarkable career in the oil industry and became highly respected for his knowledge and expertise with submersible pumps. His career took him throughout the United States and around the world, including Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and many other places.

His expertise became so valued that when Schlumberger acquired REDA Pump, the family recalls that having Jim remain with the company was considered an important part of the transition. He was entrusted with rewriting the book used to teach others how to work on submersible pumps, a project that took him approximately a year to complete.

Jim was also a problem solver. When pumps operating in extremely sandy conditions were being destroyed in only a matter of weeks, Jim worked alongside engineers to develop a better solution. His knowledge and ideas helped lead to the design of a pump capable of standing up to those harsh conditions. It was the kind of challenge Jim loved – figuring out how something worked, determining why it wasn't working, and finding a way to make it better.

His career took him from places such as Baker, Montana, Oklahoma City, Midland, Texas, and Pearland, Texas, to job sites and assignments around the globe. Wherever he went, Jim made friends and earned the respect of the people he worked alongside.

His travels also gave him some unforgettable experiences. In September 2001, Jim was in Paris and had been scheduled to fly home the day before the September 11 attacks, but his flight was canceled. After learning what had happened back home in America, he often spoke of how blessed he felt and never forgot how differently that trip might have ended.

For all the places Jim saw around the world, the Colorado mountains remained one of his very favorite places. He loved spending a day riding mountain trails in a Jeep with his best friend, Eddie Phillips. He loved the beautiful scenery, the mountains, and especially the crisp, cool Colorado air. Those were some of his happiest times.

Jim was a man who knew what he liked - and anyone who knew him knew he could be a little stubborn about it, too. He was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan and had a lifelong love of cars, especially convertibles. He was also a true animal lover. Every dog fortunate enough to find its way into Jim's home was loved, spoiled, and given a wonderful life.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Petty and her husband, Todd, of Weatherford, Texas; grandson, Tanner Petty of Keller, Texas; granddaughter, Taylor Ucker and her husband, Jeremiah, of Justin, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Kyler, Austyn, and Camden Ucker of Justin, Texas.

He is also survived by his sister, Jolene Rogers of Loving, Texas; brother, Mickey Sams and his wife, Rose, of Frisco, Texas; step son, Daniel Alcorn and wife, Melissa of Weatherford, step daughter, Diane Krause and husband, Alan of Canyon Lake, grandchildren, Caroline (Krause) Reynolds and husband, Chris of Pinehurst, NC, Matt Krause and wife, Jaclyn of Dickinson, great grandchildren, Austin, Connor, Jack, Norie and Skip along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Nellie Sams; his beloved wife and true love, Emily Sams; and his sisters, Martha Jones, Erma Shepard, Pat Keller, and Neoma Pennartz.

Jim's life took him from the small towns of North Texas to places all across the country and around the world. Along the way, he built a career he could be proud of, shared his knowledge with others, solved problems that others could not, made lasting friendships, loved his family, cared deeply for his animals, enjoyed a good car with the top down, cheered on his Cowboys, and never lost his love for the mountains.

To many he was Jim, but to those who knew and loved him from the beginning, he would always be Jimmy. His family will carry his memory with them through the stories he told, the knowledge he passed along, the adventures he experienced, the places he loved, and all the little things that will forever remind them of him.

As his family says goodbye, they find comfort and peace in knowing that Jim knew Jesus and had accepted Him as his Savior. While his presence here will be deeply missed, they are thankful for the assurance that this goodbye is not forever.

May he rest peacefully, reunited with his true love, Emily, and at home with his Savior, surrounded by beautiful mountains, crisp cool air, endless trails - and maybe a convertible with the top down.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home.