Etombe "Tom" William James

Etombe “Tom” William James was born on August 24, 1938 in Cade, Oklahoma to Richard and Mattie (Moffatt) James. Tom passed from this life on Friday, July 28, 2023 at his home in Bennington, Oklahoma at the age of 84 years old. He and his wife, Charlotte James, recently celebrated 61 years of marriage on June 15, 2023.

As a young man Tom enlisted in the Army, serving in the 95th Division, K Company and later joined the Ready Reserves for five and a half years.

Tom worked for twenty-one years for Johns Manville Pipe Company, Denison, Texas. After retirement, he worked for the Choctaw Nation. He loved outdoor activities such as, going coon hunting and coyote hunting with his hounds, and fishing on Muddy Boggy Creek. He was known to tell stories of his hunting dogs and his hunts. Tom grew a big garden and generously fed his family, neighbors, and church family from the fruits of his labor.  Tom was an animal lover and raised chickens. He generously provided everyone with fresh eggs.  He enjoyed going to John Teel auctions and trade days. In his downtime, he enjoyed reading Louis L’Amour westerns . Tom especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed traveling to see them in Montana. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Tom was a proud tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Charlotte James of Bennington, Oklahoma, his daughter Tommie James of Boswell, Oklahoma, and his son Richard Scott James and wife Allison of Billings, Montana. His legacy lives on with his grandchildren including Mattie Tonubbee and husband Zach of Bennington, Oklahoma, as well as David James of Hardin, Montana, Abby James, Austin James, Matthew James of Billings, Montana and Tia Jefferson and husband Leland, of Wister, Oklahoma and his great-grand sons Miles Tonubbee and Jack Tonubbee. Tom is also survived by his brother Benny James and his sister Mickie Duncan.

Preceding him in death are his parents Richard and Mattie James, his daughter Lisa Kay James Weakley, his brothers Hiawatha James, Quanah James, and Quilby James, and his sisters Lahoma James and Nocona Brinkley.

His funeral service will be held at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Old Church Cemetery Pavilion with Cheyenne Stanley officiating.

Those serving as pallbearers are David James, Austin James, Matthew James and Zach Tonubbee. Honorary pallbearers are Lee Ticknor and David Ticknor.

In lieu of flowers and plants please donate to the Old Church Cemetery Association at First United Bank, Bokchito.

Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, 121 North 5th Street, Durant, Oklahoma 74701. www.holmescoffeymurray.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Etombe "Tom" William James, please visit our floral store.