Jim Shilling

Jim Shilling, 89, of Pampa, passed away on March 24, 2025, in Amarillo.

A celebration of life service will be 2:00 PM, Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Pastor Kris Humphrey of Trinity Fellowship Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Thursday at the funeral home.

Jim was born on December 18, 1935, in Graham, to Richard and Josephine Shilling. As a young boy, his family moved to Olney for his father’s work. While in Olney, he attended school and later graduated high school. During high school he would be a standout football player and meet the love of this life, Mary Walsh. Jim and Mary got married on June 26, 1954, in Olney. Following high school, he would enlist in the Naval reserves and enter the workforce.

Jim joined the oil & gas industry helping with his father’s drilling company. Later, Jim would own and operate his own drilling outfit, J.R. Shilling Well Service. The oil field in that area would eventually slow down and thereafter he and Mary moved to Pampa. Jim started working at Baker Packers for a few years before he started his own company once again, Packer Repair Service in 1982. He and Mary would operate their business for several years before he retired and sold it in 2012.

After retirement you could find Jim working in his backyard where he kept an immaculate garden and property. He also loved fishing in Oklahoma, especially Eufaula Lake with his son, John. Jim could be an onery man, but he had an incredible heart for his family, especially his grandchildren. He also was a giving and charitable man who made sure everyone had everything they needed. Jim will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, John Shilling, a brother, Lee Shilling; and a son-in-law, Mark Friend.

Jim is survived by his wife Mary Shilling of the home; two daughters, Angie Friend, and Melissa Watson and husband Trent, all of Pampa; grandchildren, Aaron Cochran and wife Amber of Pampa, Mitch Shilling and wife Jessica of Yukon, Oklahoma, Shauna Harris and husband Jake of Amarillo, Colton Sweatt of Pampa, and Trenton Watson of Amarillo; great-grandchildren, Avery, Addison, Evelyn, Austyn, and Sagan; and other extended family.