James Drillette Schmitt

Jim was born on February 2, 1949 in Louisville, KY to Elizabeth Drillette and Herman Schmitt II. He grew up playing basketball and looking up to his older brother, Herman III (Drei / Smitty). Jim went on to attend college at Vanderbilt University and graduated Cum Laude in 1971 with a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering. He eventually moved to Denver, Colorado where he obtained his MBA in finance from The University of Colorado at Denver in 1979. It was in Denver where he met and married the love of his life, Marilyn Ann Cooper. Jim became a loving father to Marilyn’s two sons, Patrick and Rob. They later welcomed their son, Jason, and their daughter, Courtney, to complete their party of six.

Jim worked in project management in the oil and gas industry for the entirety of his career. In 1987, Jim’s job took the family to Katy, TX. In retirement, Jim and Marilyn moved to their dream home on Lake Conroe where they have been surrounded by friends ever since. Jim spent his free time visiting his children and grandchildren, and traveling the world with Marilyn. Jim and Marilyn were married 44 years.

Jim is survived by his wife Marilyn; son Patrick Leonard of Boulder, CO, his wife, Paige, and their daughters, Avery & Brynn; son Robert Leonard of Dallas, TX, his wife, Marian, and their daughter Harper; son Jason Schmitt of Austin, TX, his wife, Sheila, their daughter Elizabeth (Ellie) and their son, Cooper; daughter Courtney (Schmitt) Kratz of Houston, TX and her husband, Michael Kratz. His bear hugs and dad jokes will be missed by all.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, September 24, at Cashner Funeral Home in Conroe, TX, at 2pm in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Spondylitis Association of America (spondylitis.org) to support further research for Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic condition Jim suffered from for many years.