Jim Stiles

March 17, 2008 10:33 am

— Jim Stiles, 86, of Stillwater, died Saturday, March 15, 2008, in Stillwater. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Strode Funeral Home Chapel with Paul Anderson officiating. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
He was born Oct. 29, 1921, in Calhoun, Ga., to Lee Roy Stiles and Mamie Gwinn. He married Louree Belle Staples July 7, 1959, in Illinois. She preceded him in death Dec. 14, 2005.
He attended school in Sugar Valley and graduated from Sugar Valley High School. He began working for Western Electric Company, which later became Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, until he joined the U.S. Navy.
He served in the U.S. Navy for four years before returning to work at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, retiring after 41 years of service to the company.
He had a caring spirit and helped many people, asking nothing in return and never seeking recognition for the things he did. He was also a gifted and talented person and at the young age of nine years old he received honors for writing the lyrics to the song “Popeye the Sailor Man.”
He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting in the plains and fishing for trout in the high mountains of Wyoming.
He returned to Oklahoma to be near his granddaughter who was very special to him and was the light of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and one sister.
He is survived by one son, Russell Thrasher and his wife, Linda, of Stillwater; one granddaughter, Valerie Thrasher of Stillwater; and one great grandson, Christian Forsyth of Stillwater.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.