He served in the US Army during the Korean War, heading overseas in October 1952. Upon his return, he married Joyce Clyde Halford in 1953. They bought a home in Sayre, Oklahoma in 1954. They had three children: Jimmie “Lee,” Joel, and Gina.

Jim worked for over twenty years at Dodsons Welding in Sayre, Oklahoma. Jim and Joyce moved to Enid, Oklahoma in 1979, where they built their own home. Jim worked for Bill Munn Supply, starting in 1979 until around 1990. In addition, he and Joyce started Jim’s Torch and Regulators in their home garage.

He sold it to his son Lee in the 2000s. He and his family were members of First Baptist Church Sayre. He taught 4th grade boys Sunday School, which included hikes at Haystack Mountain and Jester Caves.

After moving, he became a member of the Drummond First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and taught Sunday School. When the church closed, he and his wife became members of First Baptist Church Enid.

Jim and Joyce did community service work through Modern Woodsman for many years and supported Van’s House and the Salvation Army.

Jim loved fishing, gardening and watching Oklahoma State University and Dallas Cowboys football. He is preceded in death by his parents Elbert and Grace, wife Joyce, son Lee, and brothers Elbert, Daniel, and John Johnson and sisters Caroline Johnson, Mabel Ruth Dunn, Patricia Quillen, and Ola Louise Shaw.

Jim is survived by his son Joel (Tracy) Johnson of Mooreland, Oklahoma, daughter Gina (Ron) Stewart of Elk City, Oklahoma; his granddaughters Amber (Kevin) Washington of Tuttle, Oklahoma, Erica Johnson of Florence, South Carolina, Crystal Stewart of Oklahoma City, Valerie (Johnathan) Fairless of Yukon, Oklahoma, Jennifer (Nick) Bauerly of Sioux City, Iowa; his grandsons Joshua Collison of Omaha, Nebraska and Garrett (Katherine) Baker of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; great grandchildren Noah Heckathorn and Leah Washington of Tuttle, Oklahoma, Henry and Braiden Fairless of Yukon, Oklahoma, Reagan and Colton Lee and Hannah Bauerly of Sioux City, Iowa.

Jim and Joyce were partners in everything, enjoying almost 71 years of marriage. He adored her.

To Jim and Joyce, family was everything. He loved his kids and grandkids and enjoyed teaching them new skills. He is “Uncle Jim” to 31 nieces and nephews. Throughout life, Jim and Joyce made several close friends enjoying playing cards, camping trips and serving at church together.

Fishing trips were a top priority. Many yearly trips occurred, including fishing all night before Mother’s Day with the Halford’s in younger years and Great Salt Plains trips with his kids and grandkids after moving to Enid. Jim grew up farming with horses, alongside his siblings through his childhood, and survived the dust bowl.

Though times were tough, he and his siblings had a lot of fun exploring the caves and swimming in the ponds nearby. He played baseball and basketball all throughout his school years. Jim was a man of great integrity, he made changes to himself to the betterment of himself and to be a leader for his wife and children throughout his life, starting with becoming a Christian. He was a good and faithful servant.

Services were held December 12 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church is Sayre, OK.

Graveside services followed at Lone Oak Cemetery in Sayre. Viewing was at the People’s Cooperative Funeral Home in Lone Wolf, Ok on Wednesday 2-8pm and Thursday at First Baptist Sayre starting at 11:00 am.

Online condolences for James can be made by visiting www. peoplescooperativefuneralhome. com