James Henry Essman

He was born February 23, 1933, to Walter and Louise Essman of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a graduate of Tulsa Central High School, at the age of 16 years. As a youngster growing up in Tulsa, he loved participating in sporting events and won many honors, especially in swimming and track.

He attended Oklahoma A&M University in Stillwater, Oklahoma for three semesters and then transferred to the University of Tulsa where he completed his degree in Business Administration and obtained a Bachelor of Laws in 1958. He graduated seventh in his law school class. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Delta Theta Phi law fraternity.

While attending law school at night, he worked full-time in the first gas department of Amerada Petroleum Corporation and became the administrative assistant and bailiff to Whit Y. Mauzy, the County Judge of Tulsa County.

In his final year of law school, he accepted a job with Shell Oil Co. on an 18-month training program for attorneys. After passing the Oklahoma Bar Exam, Shell closed its Tulsa office, and transferred him to their Wichita Falls and then later to their Division Office in Midland, Texas. In Midland, he continued to work for Shell as a lease and title analyst and later landman. After 10 years of employment, he resigned from Shell in 1967 to become an independent petroleum landman and primarily worked on drilling deals, the purchase of oil and gas leases as well as investing in minerals and royalties up until shortly before his death.

His favorite pastimes were playing golf and tennis and he especially loved watching his children and later grandchildren participate in all kinds of sports, and he was especially proud of all their accomplishments. Jim loved spending his summers in La Jolla, California. He was a die-hard University of Oklahoma football fan his entire life, taking his children to the annual Texas-OU football game many times throughout their childhood. Jim was well known for his intelligence, humor, kindness, generosity, and the love he had for his family.

He was a long-time member of the Midland YMCA and a past member of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Louise Essman, his grandson Mitchell Brandt, and his brother-in-law Don Herrold.

He is survived by his wife Sandy Pierson of Austin, by his daughters, Linda Louise Brandt and her husband Tom of Midland, Lisa Essman Hardaway of New Braunfels, Angela Essman Spencer, and her husband Greg of Midland, and by his son James W. Essman and his wife Harriet of Midland. He is also survived by seven grandchildren Kirsten Kelley and her husband Andrew of Midland, Natalie Guinn and her husband Tyler of Austin, Michael Spencer, and his wife Hannah, of Austin, Emily Zieschang and her husband Derek of College Station, James P. Essman of Midland, Macy Essman of Midland, and Smith H. Essman of Midland, and by 10 Great-Grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by his sister Mary Louise Herrold of Tulsa and nephews David Herrold, Daniel Herrold, and Mathew Herrold and his wife Jennifer.

Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Spencer, James P. Essman, Smith H. Essman, Tom Brandt, and Greg Spencer.

Honorary pallbearers are Budge McDonnold, Gary Leascher, Ray Stewart, Clay Johnson, Nate Sykes, Craig Duke, Steve Kerr, Henry Shaw, Andrew Jackson, and Bob Wiggins.

Services will be held on August 28, 2023, at 4:00 PM at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with a reception following at the Petroleum Club of Midland. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations, in Jim’s memory, to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center or to a charity of your choice.