Jim Weeks dies in Anchorage

James Dale Weeks, 67, of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away peacefully on Aug. 20 at Providence Hospital with family by his side.

His Celebration of Life will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Marty; his son, Justin; daughter, Cassie; brother, Donald of Basin, Wyo., and sisters, Barbara Osborne of Rawlins, Wyo., Betty Flyr and Donna Wilk of Littleton, Colo.

Jim was born to Margaret and Don Weeks in Rawlins, Wyo., on Aug. 8, 1946. He graduated from Rawlins High School in 1964 and went on to receive a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming in Laramie and then completed an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

His career in the oil and gas industry began in 1969 when he was hired by ARCO in Houston, Texas, as an operations engineer working on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. After transfers to Dallas, Pasadena, and Denver, Alaska came calling in 1983 where he was promoted to operations manager of the Kuparuk River field. After a brief relocation to Houston in 1987, he returned to Alaska in 1988 as an executive, assuming the role of senior vice president of ARCO Alaska, overseeing production at Prudhoe Bay. In 1995, his expertise and reputation led him to Beijing, China, to serve as president and general manager of ARCO China Inc. After a 30-year career with ARCO, Jim retired in 1999, but his passion for crude didn’t stop there. Through UltraStar, an independent energy company, Jim continued his quest for black gold.

Jim’s passion for oil and gas exploration was unparalleled but his friends and family would agree that he also held an equally large passion for laughter. Anyone who met him was sure to witness his contagious smile, hear many of his stories, and one of a kind jokes.

As an avid fisherman, Jim held a special place in his heart for his cabin on the Little Susitna River, affectionately referred to as “The Penal Colony,” where he spent many years with his friends and family. If you were not in the mood for fresh fish straight off his line, he would offer to cook up his famous barbecue ribs, or chili.

Jim, a true Alaskan pioneer and legendary oilman, will be fondly remembered for his extraordinary generosity, large heart and infectious sense of humor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Jim’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

—reprinted from the Anchorage Daily News