Jim Troxel, age 73, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 9, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
As a young man, Jim set his sights on college but was soon drawn to the mountains of Colorado, where he worked construction and became a ski instructor. These formative years strengthened his work ethic and deepened his lifelong love of the outdoors. He returned to the University of Oklahoma to complete his Bachelor of Science in Geology, carrying fond memories of his time at Field Camp in the Wet Mountains of Colorado.
Jim built a remarkable 40-year career as a petroleum geologist. He began his career in Houston with Texas Oil and Gas Corporation and later continued his exploration work with Amerada Hess Corporation, contributing to significant oil and gas discoveries along the Texas Gulf Coast. In 1997, Jim co-founded Thorp Petroleum Corporation, serving as Vice President of Exploration, and later established Gulf Coast Prospectors.
Jim poured his heart—and his good sense of humor—into being a father, building a bond rooted in time spent together, from campgrounds to soccer fields, ski slopes to racetracks. When his daughter's soccer team needed a volunteer coach, he learned the game so he could spend more time with her. He took great pride in building the foundation that led her to earn a soccer scholarship at Texas State University.
Jim was passionate about his second home in Rockport, where he spent countless weekends boating, fishing, and enjoying time with family and friends. He loved the slow, peaceful pace of the coast and often said, "It's a beautiful day in Rockport." A lifelong car enthusiast, he was a member of the Porsche Club of America, serving on the Board of Directors and as Club Race Chairman for the Lone Star Region. He was a natural driver, quickly moving from hobby driving into becoming an instructor, owning a dedicated race car, and winning club races. Some of his daughter's favorite memories are from their racing weekends in College Station, where she proudly served as his "pit crew," taping his headlights before race day and napping in the back of the car between runs. He was a longtime member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church of Houston and remained a loyal Sooner football fan throughout his years, following every season with enthusiasm.
Jim lived life with style and joy. Known affectionately to many as "Jimmy Love," he was a born storyteller who could hold a room with his humor, timing, and easy charm. He was sensitive and thoughtful, with an eye for beauty—from the natural world that defined his career to the artistry found in fine craftsmanship. His curiosity extended well beyond his work; he loved understanding the world, exploring new places, and seeing the geology and landscapes around him with an inquisitive mind. Time outdoors restored him—whether he was skiing down a mountain, wandering a trail, or successfully popping up on a wakeboard for the first time at age 63. He embraced life fully and imperfectly, meeting the harder moments with a searching spirit and a willingness to begin again.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Don Cook, and his brother, Bruce Troxel. He is survived by his daughter, Kristi Troxel of San Marcos, Texas, and his sister, Janis Young of Norman, Oklahoma, along with extended family and many dear friends.
Loved ones will gather privately to remember Jim. We invite you to remember him in the ways he would have liked best—in a good story, a shared laugh, or the places he loved most.
As a young man, Jim set his sights on college but was soon drawn to the mountains of Colorado, where he worked construction and became a ski instructor. These formative years strengthened his work ethic and deepened his lifelong love of the outdoors. He returned to the University of Oklahoma to complete his Bachelor of Science in Geology, carrying fond memories of his time at Field Camp in the Wet Mountains of Colorado.
Jim built a remarkable 40-year career as a petroleum geologist. He began his career in Houston with Texas Oil and Gas Corporation and later continued his exploration work with Amerada Hess Corporation, contributing to significant oil and gas discoveries along the Texas Gulf Coast. In 1997, Jim co-founded Thorp Petroleum Corporation, serving as Vice President of Exploration, and later established Gulf Coast Prospectors.
Jim poured his heart—and his good sense of humor—into being a father, building a bond rooted in time spent together, from campgrounds to soccer fields, ski slopes to racetracks. When his daughter's soccer team needed a volunteer coach, he learned the game so he could spend more time with her. He took great pride in building the foundation that led her to earn a soccer scholarship at Texas State University.
Jim was passionate about his second home in Rockport, where he spent countless weekends boating, fishing, and enjoying time with family and friends. He loved the slow, peaceful pace of the coast and often said, "It's a beautiful day in Rockport." A lifelong car enthusiast, he was a member of the Porsche Club of America, serving on the Board of Directors and as Club Race Chairman for the Lone Star Region. He was a natural driver, quickly moving from hobby driving into becoming an instructor, owning a dedicated race car, and winning club races. Some of his daughter's favorite memories are from their racing weekends in College Station, where she proudly served as his "pit crew," taping his headlights before race day and napping in the back of the car between runs. He was a longtime member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church of Houston and remained a loyal Sooner football fan throughout his years, following every season with enthusiasm.
Jim lived life with style and joy. Known affectionately to many as "Jimmy Love," he was a born storyteller who could hold a room with his humor, timing, and easy charm. He was sensitive and thoughtful, with an eye for beauty—from the natural world that defined his career to the artistry found in fine craftsmanship. His curiosity extended well beyond his work; he loved understanding the world, exploring new places, and seeing the geology and landscapes around him with an inquisitive mind. Time outdoors restored him—whether he was skiing down a mountain, wandering a trail, or successfully popping up on a wakeboard for the first time at age 63. He embraced life fully and imperfectly, meeting the harder moments with a searching spirit and a willingness to begin again.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Don Cook, and his brother, Bruce Troxel. He is survived by his daughter, Kristi Troxel of San Marcos, Texas, and his sister, Janis Young of Norman, Oklahoma, along with extended family and many dear friends.
Loved ones will gather privately to remember Jim. We invite you to remember him in the ways he would have liked best—in a good story, a shared laugh, or the places he loved most.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jim Troxel, please visit our flower store.
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