James Edward Webster, age 87, of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 2, 2024, after a battle with COVID-19 and pneumonia. He is now walking the streets of gold in heaven with no cane and no bad knee. James was born on April 16, 1937, to Charley Martin and Irene Croy Webster at their home between Stratford and Pauls Valley. After James graduated from Pauls Valley High School in 1956, he went on to the school of hard knocks working as a water tower painter and serving in the Army for two years from 1960-1962. He then went on to work at Kerr-McGee/Williams Wynnewood Refinery from about 1964 to 2003 where he was known as Jamie Webster or the stubborn brick. He was known for playing pranks on co-workers including borrowing fake snakes from his grandson to scare a certain person who was deathly afraid of snakes, real or fake! He met the love of his life, Sharon Whitaker, at the Paoli Post Office in 1964 while cruising around Paoli looking for girls. James and Sharon went on to be married on August 5, 1966. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary just two days after his death. James and Sharon have two children, Mark Edward Webster and Carrie Rena’ Webster Milligan.
To his family, he was known as Jim, to his grandsons and great-grandsons, he was known affectionately as Pop. But, he was most proud to be a child of God. He came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at a revival in Paoli around 1970. He became a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Paoli, Oklahoma on July 21, 1974. During his ministry at Paoli, he enjoyed chauffeuring teenagers and children to many different events and bringing them to church in the church van. He was an active church member who taught a variety of Sunday School classes to many age groups. After being given The Bible in 90 Days for Christmas 2007, he has since read the Bible 64 times and started his 65th reading on July 1st this year.
During his lifetime, James spent his time raising horses, trout fishing, and traveling with his family in his fifth-wheel trailer. He was a member of the Wynnewood Round-Up Club in the 1970s and enjoyed parading his Quarterhorses. As for traveling, many happy days were spent trout fishing in Broken Bow, Blue River, and Falls Creek in Oklahoma. He also fished many rivers in Colorado, New Mexico, and Yellowstone National Park. He even fished for salmon in Alaska.
James was preceded in death by his baby sister Martha Wanese, his father Charles Martin Webster, his older brother LaVoy Croy, his mother Irene Croy Webster, and his younger brother Donnie Webster. He is survived by his wife Sharon Webster, his son Mark Webster, and his wife Amy J. Anderson, his daughter Carrie Webster Milligan and her husband Tim Milligan, his grandson Justus Davenport, and his wife Jenna Davenport, grandson Max Milligan, great-grandsons Gideon James Davenport and Atlas Duane Davenport, a sister Molly Webster Qualls and her husband Jerry Qualls and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Paoli, Oklahoma, the church that felt like a second home to James and his family.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 10:30 am at Paoli First Baptist Church officiated by Bro. Tim Duncan. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the family’s guestbook at www.stufflebeanfuneralhome.com.
