James Craig Laughry, also known as Jim and Jamey to his family and friends, was born in Midland, Texas on November 6, 1953 to Arthur Lee and Clo Ellen Laughry. Jim passed away after a long battle with cancer on August 23, 2012 at the age of 58. He is survived by; his father Arthur; his wife of 23 years Shirley Laughry; son, Nelson Laughry; daughter Cheryl and her husband Greg Essex; his step-daughter Sinda and her husband Al Mullins; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Bisacky; brothers, David Laughry and wife Michelle, Richard Laughry; sister, Janet and husband Mark Parrett; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In school, Jim Laughry was an exceptional athlete and excelled in wrestling, football and the field events, discus and shot put. He graduated from the prestigious Colorado School of Mines under a full athletic scholarship, and later a full academic scholarship.
Jim had a fruitful career that spanned 33 years in the petroleum industry, working as an exploration geophysicist and a specialist in seismic interpretation software. In his professional life, he made many significant discoveries in the Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado oil and gas fields. He lived in Tulsa, Houston and Lafayette but also spent 4 years working abroad in Syria and Nigeria. Jim was a lifetime member of the Society for Exploration Geophysics.
Jim was a shy, quiet scholar who enjoyed reading in the evening and researching a myriad of topics including: biofuels, geo-engineering, stock market investment strategies, and human behavioral evolution. He also enjoyed historical fiction and biographies. Jim was a highly principled man that often worried about the human condition. He volunteered his time as a youth mentor for the Eugene Fields School until May 2012. In recent years, Jim became interested in wood working and created many heirloom toys as gifts for the children in his life.
Jim's battle with cancer lasted 4 years, with many successes and some defeats. He was deeply loved and respected and will be forever missed.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 27, 2012 at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500.