William A. Sears Obituary
Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & CemeteryBill Sears, 89, and husband of Guiann Sears, went home to his Lord on February 1, 2024. He was born to the late William Edward Sears and Rebecca Massey Sears on April 8, 1934 in Somerset, Kentucky.
Bill courageously fought a 16 year battle with cancer. Guiann and his family greatly appreciate and thank Dr. Donna Weber with M.D. Anderson for all that she did to help Bill over the years.
Bill graduated with honors from Somerset High School. He graduated with distinction from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1956. He was inducted into the UK Hall of Distinction in 2013. He served from 1957 to 1960 as a First Lieutenant Pilot in the Air Force. Bill continued his love of flying with his Piper Cherokee 6 airplane.
Bill began his impeccable career, spanning over 40 years, in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Bill's career began at Exxon where he designed a seafloor connection that was subsequently patented. Bill became an Exxon senior drilling engineer and developed a reputation for integrity, efficient operations and outstanding safety – reflected in two Compass Bank National Safety Awards. In 1983, British Petroleum hired Bill to help build an oil business in the Gulf of Mexico. Bill spent the next 12 years building what became at that time the largest oil and gas producer in the Gulf. Bill served as director of operations from 1994 until his retirement from BP in 1997. He then joined the board of directors for Noble Corporation for 10 years which included an interim period as Chairman and CEO.
He was an active part of his community serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Texas Council on Economic Education, Spindletop International, United Way and Jaycees. Bill was a man of faith; he and Guiann were active life-long members of the Methodist Church.
Bill was a sportsman who enjoyed flying, hunting, golfing and fishing. He was an avid supporter of the UK Wildcats football and basketball teams and enjoyed Astros baseball. Bill loved hiking and was on a quest to climb as many Colorado 14er's as possible. Traveling to many places around the world was something Bill and Guiann loved to do together with Italy, Hong Kong and Ireland being their favorites. Being from Kentucky, they also had a lot of fun attending horse races, including the Kentucky Derby.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Guiann, who he has dearly loved since they were high school sweethearts, a true love story. He is also survived by his four daughters, Belinda Lavergne, Sheryl Swiggett, Karen Braley, and Laura Wilcox; two son-in-laws, Monte Wilcox and Gary Lavergne; eight grandchildren, Sarah Ortiz, Natalie Rigney, Marjorie Owens, Jenny Graham, Morgan Wolfe, Billy Swiggett, Monte Wilcox, and Elizabeth Failing; three grandson-in-laws, Kevin Graham, Landon Wolfe, and Chase Failing; ten great grandchildren, William Churchill, Luke Churchill, Avery Graham, Scarlet Ortiz, Landon Graham, Sophie Ortiz, Jordan Graham, Marshall Wolfe, Lane Wolfe, and Emily Failing.
Bill was the pillar of strength for his family. He was a wonderful mentor, role model and support for everyone. Bill's guidance, his words of encouragement, his comfort, his strength, his stories, his smile and his laugh will be greatly missed but forever remembered.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bill's name be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or MDAnderson.org/Gifts. (http://mdanderson.org.) A memorial service for Bill will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384, followed by a reception from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
