James Christopher Hess

James Christopher “Jamie” Hess, passed peacefully at home on the morning of December 9, 2017. Jamie was a longtime resident of Wichita, Kansas.  Up until the time of his death, Jamie worked as a petroleum geologist for Hess Oil Company, maintaining a branch office for the company that was started by his grandfather, George R. Hess. Jamie was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church of Wichita, the Kansas Geological Society, and the Petroleum Club of Wichita. Jamie was born on May 18, 1961 in McPherson, Kansas to James Henry and Connie (Eller) Hess and graduated from McPherson High School in 1979. Jamie attended Casper College in Casper, Wyoming where he earned an Associate’s Degree; he then attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Geology. He began his career in the oil business in North Dakota, working as a geologist and production manager for Pintail Petroleum. Jamie later joined Hess Oil Company, the family business.  As a young man, Jamie held licenses to pilot small aircraft and helicopters. He loved the outdoors and was most comfortable and at his happiest in the water. At age 2, Jamie could jump off a diving board and swim unassisted to the side of the pool. Jamie later became certified as a SCUBA diver and was able to free dive to 40 feet. As a father, Jamie taught his sons how to swim, fish, and hunt. With family, he spent countless hours at their Marion Reservoir Lake home, enjoying boating, water sports, and jet skiing. Jamie was a fun-loving, thoughtful, and giving father, son, brother, friend, and a Good Samaritan; for those who knew him, he will be greatly missed. Jamie was preceded in death by his father, James Hess. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Willsie) Hess of Wichita; his two sons, Scott Christopher of Yukon, Oklahoma, and David James of Bridgman, Michigan; his mother, Connie Hess of McPherson, Kansas; and his sister, Kim McCalmon and her husband, Jeff of Overland Park, Kansas. Viewing will take place at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary (6555 East Central) on Wednesday from 5 - 9 PM & Thursday from 9 AM - 9 PM.  The funeral will be at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church (1550 N. Chapel Hill St) on Friday, December 15 at 3 PM, with Reverend Jeff Gannon officiating. Viewing will also be held at the church prior to the funeral service. Inurnment will take place at McPherson Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.