James Maynard Samis

On February 15, 2021, James Maynard Samis, passed away at the age of 95. Jim was born on June 3, 1925 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was the son of Maynard Louis Samis and Grace DeBolt Samis and younger brother of Peggy Samis Covington. Jim graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1942. He attended college during World War II at Colorado University, The University of Oklahoma and Purdue University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1946. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was a proud Marine serving during both World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of All Souls Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City.Jim married Shirley (Shan) Smith in 1947. They were married for 73 years. They raised six children, Susan Samis Hoffman, Linda Samis James, Michael Stephen Samis, James DeBolt Samis, Robert Smith Samis and Shirley Samis Everest. Jim began his work career at Sorey Hill Sorey in 1946 as an engineer. He later formed his own Architectural & Engineering firm with Bill Howard, Stanley Porch and Frank Lyons. Jim was involved in designing several schools throughout Oklahoma, the Engineering Building at The University of Oklahoma, Quail Creek Country Club and many other buildings throughout the state. In 1972 Jim left his A&E firm to form Thermonetics with Clint Murchison, Jr. Thermonetics developed, built, owned & operated thermal energy plants throughout the southwest. Later in the 1970s, Jim, Clint and Jim's son-in-law, Ron James, began another energy venture that converted cow manure into methane gas. The venture was the largest of its kind in the world and was aptly named Calorific Recovery Anaerobic Process, Inc. or CRAP, Inc. In 1986, Jim retired from Thermonetics and CRAP.During his retirement, Jim and Shan lived part-time in Rancho Mirage, Santa Barbara, and Rancho Santa Fe, California, and Hamilton, Montana and most notably Los Cabos, Mexico. He was President of the Board at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage and was a founder and developer of Querencia Golf Club & Residences in Los Cabos, Mexico. He was an avid golfer and spent thousands of hours enjoying the game and camaraderie it provided. One of his most memorable rounds of golf was with President Gerald Ford at Thunderbird Country Club. He also loved to water ski. His entire family and friends spent many memorable summers together on his boat at Lake Texoma. He was an avid deep-sea fisherman, again owning and captaining his own boat, christened "Ni Modo", Spanish for 'Whatever', in Los Cabos, Mexico.Jim was the kind of friend you enjoyed being around and could always count on. Jim had a lifelong love for model trains. Throughout his life he constructed many different systems depicting many different actual train scenes. His last and most ambitious project was an elaborate system depicting the Rocky Mountains. The system was built in the condominium adjoining his home and was so large that it completely occupied the living room, dining room and went through a wall to a bedroom. The system was capable of running nine separate trains simultaneously. In 2018 Jim donated the trains and the entire system to the Oklahoma Model Railroad Association. Until losing his hearing in 2010, Jim enjoyed music, especially jazz and the Great American Standards. He collected hundreds of jazz albums and spent countless hours listening to and enjoying the music. He played the tenor saxophone in the high school band. His family has been graced to have a wonderful husband and father for such a long time. We spent countless hours together, in places all over the world, enjoying the many blessings bestowed upon the family through Jim's hard work and generosity. We all know that we were loved by our dad.Jim was preceded in death by his son, Mike and his sister Peggy. He is survived by his wife Shan, his remaining five children, Susan Hoffman and her spouse Peter, Linda James and her spouse Ron, daughter-in-law Karen Samis, Jim Samis and his spouse Lynn, Bob Samis and his spouse Mary Kay, Shirley Everest and her spouse Pete. Minco, as he was called, is also survived by his 15 grandchildren and their spouses: Drew & Rachelle Hoffman, Alec & Beth Hoffman, Sarah James Dorr & Dustin Dorr, Laura James Kirkpatrick, Carter Samis Fellers and Fred Fellers, Katharine Samis Regens and Kent Regens, Jimmy and Caroline Samis, Hailey Samis Froberg and Christian Froberg, Abigail Samis, Jack and Simone Samis, Elizabeth Samis, Meagan Samis, Robert and Caitlin Samis, Pete Everest, Lawre Everest Morrow and Cullen Morrow and his 19 great grandchildren, with 2 more currently on the way. The family would like to thank caregivers Veronica Barragan, Obed Barragan, David Barragan, Maye Harris and Crossroads Hospice, especially Jennie Hope.Due to the health and safety concerns associated with the current pandemic, services will be for family only. If anyone wishes to remember Jim with their gifts of affection, please direct such gifts to All Souls' Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73116; Casady School, 9500 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73120; or OU Health, PO Box 248955, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73124.