Obituary for James “Jim” Lessert

James Jay Lessert

February 10, 1942 – August 23, 2021

Ponca City lost a lifelong citizen, James (Jim) Jay Lessert, age 79, when he joined His Heavenly Father, on August 23, 2021, surrounded by his family. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Carolyn Renfro Event Center in Ponca City with Ed Bolay officiating. Jim will be laid to rest at Washunga Cemetery in Newkirk following the service. Viewing will be held at Trout Funeral Home on Thursday, September 2, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Born on February 10, 1942 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, he is the son of Clement S. and Kathryn C. Lessert. His childhood in Ponca City led him to be a loyal lifelong resident. He married the love of his life, Dottie Munday on January 24, 1984 in Miami, Oklahoma.

Jim was a loyal Conoco employee for 33 years before retiring in 1999, however, Jim never really retired as he always kept busy. His journey continued when him and Dottie combined their love of food, cooking, parties and friends, buying the beloved Pauline’s Supper Club Restaurant and operating it for many years.

Jim was a current member of the KGI Board and also served as Kaw Nation Tribal Council Vice Chairman from 2012-2016.

On any given day, you could typically find Jim in his trademark t-shirt and overalls, baseball cap, pair of boots and his signature ornery grin, which he wore daily. The way he lived his life working outside and farming, proved that he found beauty in the simple things – a field of hay, watching a good horse work, or even helping his wife work the garden. Jim was a cowboy at heart, loving and working his farm until the end.

He adored his wife, children and granddaughter most of all, but Jim also loved and was loved by countless “adopted” children and grandchildren. Teaching about country life, riding horses, roping and rodeoing was Jim’s most cherished pastime. He’s been around the world and back taking trailers of horses and his protégé cowboys and cowgirls to their rodeos, always speaking his well-known words of wisdom. These now adults, spanning from Ponca to Louisiana to South Africa, all credit him as being essential to who they are today.

Jim was a friend to many and a stranger to no one, especially around Ponca City! He did what many will only ever dream about. He lived a free, country life, married the woman of his dreams, and was loved dearly by so many.

Survivors include: his wife, Dottie Lessert; son, Mike Munday and his wife, Janice; daughter, LaDonna Buntt and her husband, Mike; brothers, Sammy Lessert, Pat & Ruth Lessert, and Frank & Linda Lessert; sister’s-in-law, Donna Lessert; granddaughter, Skyler Taylor and her husband, Kyle; great granddaughter, Eleanor Faye Taylor; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Upon his passing, Jim was reunited in Heaven with his father, Clement Lessert; mother, Kathryn (Kat) Lessert; sister, Mary Kathryn Lessert; brother, Michael Lessert; and son, Derrick (Dirk) Lessert. and Sisters in-law Debbie and Rogena Lessert.

Casket bearers include Tyler Mayse, Matt Shultz, Timmy Sayles, Dan Colvin, Cameron Irons, and Chris Mckenzie. Honorary Casketbearers are Berry Keeler, Mike Wilson, Jimbo Graves, Brady Irons, George Johnson, and Doug Clark.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Jim Lessert Memorial Scholarship . Contact Brian Rowe at (580)-362-2578.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of Jim at www.troutfuneralhome.com

Source: Trout Funeral Home