James Freeman "Jimmy" Ormand

James (Jimmy) Freeman Ormand was born on September 23, 1946 to Jerry and Dottie Ormand in Kilgore, Texas, and died in Houston, Texas on December 21, 2025. Jimmy grew up in Odessa, Texas, graduating in 1965 from Permian High School, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Jimmy then attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, graduating in 1970. After college, Jimmy moved to Los Angeles, California, where he served in the U.S. Army Reserve for over 3 years.

It was in Los Angeles that Jimmy met and married Debbie Jean Ormand (née LaMere). They were married for 48 years and had three children: Susan, Ashley and Jeff.

In his professional career, Jimmy became an oil and gas professional and investor. After starting in the outdoor advertising business in California with Ryan Outdoor, he was soon drawn to the oilfield service (OFS) industry, which brought him and Debbie to live in Kuwait and London. Later, Jimmy owned and operated an OFS company based in Odessa, Sun Rental Tool, and actively invested in domestic oil and gas mineral properties.

Jimmy and Debbie raised their children in Los Angeles and Dallas but ultimately moved to Houston, following their adult daughters. Jimmy was always exceedingly proud of all of his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted coach for his kids' sports teams, and in recent years, both he and Debbie were very involved in the athletic and other endeavors of his grandchildren, often seen in bleachers, school carpool and chapel to support them. Jimmy always welcomed friends of his children to their home, and many affectionately called him "Poppy" or "Pop", just as his own children did.

Jimmy loved all sports as both an accomplished athlete and a spectator. He had been a competitive baseball and basketball player in Odessa, excelling on school and travel teams from a young age and becoming a well-documented starter for Odessa Permian High School, the school that inspired the best-seller Friday Night Lights. Indeed, Jimmy was often referenced in The Odessa American for his athletic contributions, whether he was "sparking a comeback" or serving as a "hot shooter" for the Panthers basketball team or whipping a "hot bat" on the baseball diamond with his lead off hits and RBIs. Later, he would never turn down a chance to watch professional or college games, and most enjoyed doing so with his brothers, wife or children.

Jimmy was a man of faith, a devout Catholic and a committed member of Alcoholics Anonymous for almost 40 years. He selflessly and silently devoted himself to helping many people of all ages and walks of life achieve and maintain their sobriety.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Debbie, daughter Susan Ormand Berry (and her husband and daughter, Philip and Isabella James), daughter Ashley Ormand Mejia (and her husband and daughters, Andy, Dottie and Poppie) and son Jeff Ormand. Jimmy is also survived by his brothers: Jerry Ormand (and his wife, Terry, and children, Andrew Ormand (and his wife, Anne Ruppel) and Emily Howse (and her husband and daughter, Trey and Olivia Howse), and Ron Ormand (and his wife, Nancy, and children, Courtney Brooks (and her husband and daughter, Austin and Charley Brooks) and Erinn Cegielski (and her husband and son, Sam and Cooper Cegielski). Jimmy is further survived by his nephew David Shughart (and his wife and children, Cindy, Kurt, Kristy and Nikki). Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, and by his sister, Susan Ormand Shughart, and her son, Jason Shughart.

Memorial contributions in memory of Jimmy may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in support of American veterans and first responders at https://dogood.t2t.org/campaign/in-memory-of-james-f-ormand/c756934.

The family of Jimmy Ormand invites friends and community members to a funeral mass on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. To honor final wishes, the interment and reception will be a private family observance.