Bill J. Lindsey

Bill J. Lindsey, 93, gave up his earthly presence at 9:46 p.m. on November 29, 2021, amid the loving comfort of his wife Kay (née Neuffer) and daughter Jennifer McClintock of Oklahoma City. He was trumpeted out to the tunes of Frank Sinatra, whose songs he played at the frequent parties he hosted, and on the weekend mornings he spent poolside at his north Oklahoma City home.

He was born in Shidler, Osage County, Oklahoma, on May 1, 1928, one of nine children and the only boy of Jacob Lane and Marguerite (Stasey) Lindsey, from Chalk Mountain, Texas.

When Bill was an infant, the family moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma, where he spent his childhood until the family relocated to the Oregon coast in 1943. There, he graduated from Medford High School in 1946.

Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as an air traffic controller at the Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada, helping to facilitate the U.S. efforts with WWII de-mobilization and the Berlin Airlift.

With his G.I. bill in hand, he attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 1954.

After college, he worked for three petroleum companies before starting his own independent engineering firm in 1965. It was during that same year he met the love of his life, Kay Neuffer, when the two were set up on a blind date. The couple eloped to Las Vegas, Nevada, after a short three-month courtship. Daughter Jennifer was born in 1967.

Like all oil folks, Bill weathered the highs and lows of his industry. During his career, he built two companies, Lindsey and Miller, Inc., with partner Jim Miller (d. 2009) of Ada, Oklahoma, and Petroleum Management Professionals, Inc. The two were in business together for 35 years and supervised drilling and production of multiple oil and gas well sites throughout Oklahoma for clients from across the U.S. They also promoted and supervised the development of waterfloods that produced several millions of barrels of secondary crude.

In the later part of his career, Bill turned his interests back to the University of Oklahoma, where he served two terms on the Advisory Committee of the OU School of Geology and Engineering, and contributed to the building of the Sarkeys Energy Center. He was also a founding member of the Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City, and was a member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

Throughout the years, he continued to support his beloved Sooners as an ardent fan of OU football, basketball, and men’s and women’s gymnastics. He was a lifelong Sooner Club booster, a member of the OU Tip-In Club, and an honorary member of the Varsity O Club, holding season football tickets for more than 40 years. When trips to Norman became harder to make, he cheered on the Oklahoma City Thunder from center court as a ten-year season ticket holder.

Bill’s passions included food, wine, and travel. The family took multiple trips to San Francisco and Palm Desert, California, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Beaver Creek, Colorado, and enjoyed trips abroad. He was also the consummate host and enjoyed entertaining at the home he shared with Kay, or during out-of-town visits with friends and family. Holiday gatherings were frequently filled with friends and acquaintances from far and near who were always welcomed at his table.

As age and health curtailed further travel, Bill took delight in watching the seasons change from the backyard view outside his home, or taking frequent car trips around Oklahoma City, where he relished seeing the city grow from a small oil patch on the prairie to a bustling, modern metropolis.

He is survived by wife Kay, daughter Jennifer, and the many nieces, nephews, and cousins whose love he has shared over the years. Those who knew him were treated to his wry sense of humor, and conversational quips such as “So glad you got to see me,” “Be good and you will be happy, be bad and you will be sad,” and as his health declined, if asked how he was feeling, “What you see is what you get.”

The family would like to extend its thanks to the warm and caring staff at Legend at Jefferson’s Garden, and Valir Hospice Care, who helped him transition during his final days. Per Bill’s request, no service will be held, but a celebratory cocktail party will be planned for friends and loved ones after the new year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Oklahoma Foundation (oufoundation.org) in support of the OU Gymnastics Program (designation #32536).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Lindsey family.