Howard James (Jim) Trout Jr.

Jim Trout set sail for Heaven on March 30, 2016. Born in Lufkin, Texas to Welda (Ted) Poston Trout and Howard James Trout, Jim lived a full life filled with family, adventure, and love. Jim grew up in his beloved hometown of Lufkin, Texas where his time was spent bass fishing, hunting, horseback riding, rodeo-ing, and flying airplanes.

Jim graduated from Texas Tech University and began his career in Pumping Unit and Power Transmission Sales at Lufkin Industries, which took him around the world; from an office in the Empire State Building in New York to Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In 1980, Jim was elected to the Board of Directors of Lufkin Industries and served as the Chairman of the Pension Committee and as a Member of both the Executive Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. As a grandson of W.C. Trout, one of the Founders of Lufkin Industries, Jim took great pride in helping the company grow into a premier, multi-national oil-field services company. Through oil booms and busts, Jim steadfastly maintained his confidence in the value that Lufkin Industries brought to the market and to the community of Lufkin; he never wavered in his support of the management and employees of the company. Jim settled in Houston, Texas in 1973 where he raised his family.

Jim enjoyed life fully and found great happiness on the sea. He began sailing on his first boat, “The Ishwah”, during his time living on the East Coast. His love for the sea only grew stronger when Jim moved to Houston and was able to sail year-round on Galveston Bay. It was there that Jim began sailing competitively in off-shore regattas and winning races to ports-of-call across the Gulf of Mexico. Never one to leave his loved-ones behind, Jim’s sailing crews were comprised of life-long friends and family. Jim introduced all three of his children to sailing while they were still in infant car seats, and watched them grow into his crew as he passed on his knowledge, sense of adventure, and passion for sailing to them. One of the highlights of his life was his months-long “retirement cruise” to the Bahamas on his favorite sailing vessel, “The Indecision” with his entire family together.

Jim is survived by his Wife of 28 years, Carol J. Trout of Houston, Texas; his Son and Daughter-in-Law, Eric and Erin Trout, his Grandson, Jackson Craig Trout, all of Galveston, Texas; his Daughter and Son-in-Law, Emily Trout-Ellenberger and Mark Ellenberger of Houston, Texas, and his “Norwegian Grandsons” Stefan and Christer Ellenberger of Bergen, Norway.

Upon Jim’s passing, he was joyfully reunited in Heaven with the family that preceded him: his Father and Mother, Howard James Trout and Welda (Ted) Poston Trout of Lufkin, Texas, and his eldest Son, Craig Howard Trout of Houston, Texas.

Nothing was more important to Jim than the family and friends with whom he surrounded himself. He loved nothing more than seeing the people around him enjoy life as much as he did. Memories of Jim will forever bring smiles to the faces of the many peoples’ lives he touched. As for his family, he will be treasured as a loving, dedicated son to his mother, a best friend to his son Eric, a hero to his daughter Emily, and the music and color in Carol’s life.

May he rest in love, peace, and fair winds.

Services for Jim will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, April 2, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Brian Wiggins officiating. A private interment will be in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to LifeGift, whose efforts gave Jim 20 more years of a beautiful life without dialysis: LifeGift 2510 Westridge Street, Houston, TX 77054 or www.lifegift.org

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.