Jimmy David Sims, age 72, of Alex, Oklahoma, died May 7, 2017, at his home surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The son of James Pleasant Sims and Lila (Cole), he was born July 16, 1944 in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

Jim attended and graduated from Blanchard High School in 1962.In 1976, he married Mary Ellen Hiironen in Pasadena, Texas, after their mutual friends set them up on a blind date. To this marriage a daughter, Kimberly, was born in 1978. Jim spent over 43 years working in the oil and gas industry as a pumper and measurement technician mainly in the Goldsby, Chickasha and Chitwood area. He retired to embark on his favorite role, which was as a grandpa.

Throughout his life he enjoyed watching, racing and raising horses, watching stock shows, building and tinkering on his farm, spending time with his family, smoking meat, attending auctions and taking a risk on someone that most people might pass up.

He was most proud of his grandson, Kolton, and enjoyed spending time with him daily after school fishing, working with the horses or just tinkering with projects.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Peggy Martin; an aunt Alice Gillenwaters; uncles, Joe and Carl Sims; nephew Jeremy Tuggle; cousin Johnny Cole.

He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen Sims of the home; daughter Kim Kohler and husband, Heath, and their son, Kolton of Alex; Sister-in-law Paulette Tuggle and husband, Steve of Boquette, Panama; nephew Jason Tuggle of Manvel, Texas; great-niece Haley Tuggle of League City, Texas; great-uncle Jimmy Hiironen and his wife, Sand, of Saint Augustine, Florida; cousins Harold and Donna Gillenwaters of Chickasha, and their son, Greg and his family of Austin, Texas; Mona Mitchell and Virginia Treadway of Blanchard; Charlotte Hackney and Vicky Keeler of Dibble.

Services will be held May 13th at 10 am at Alex Southern Baptist Chapel, Alex, Okla., with Brother Tim Carr officiating. Burial will follow at Alex Cemetery.