1947
James
2015
James Christian
November 15, 1947 — June 1, 2015
Okeene-Funeral service for James K. "Chief" Christian will be Friday, June 26, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Okeene High School Auditorium. Graveside service will be at Granite City Cemetery at 3:00 p.m., also on Friday. Viewing will be Thursday 11:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. with family present 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
James was born in Granite, Oklahoma on November 15, 1947 to Frank and Lorene Jones Christian. He grew up in Granite and attended Granite Schools until 1965 when he joined the U. S. Army. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. On August 27, 1966 he married the love of his life, Mary Lou Lamb. They moved to Altus in 1967 where James worked for Coca Cola. While in Altus, he and Mary welcomed a baby girl, Penny, to their family in 1969. In 1970 they moved to Hobart where he began a life-long career in law enforcement. While in Hobart, he rose to the level of Police Chief. In 1976 he enlisted in the U. S. Army Reserves where he served proudly until his retirement in 1998. Some of the awards Christian received during his military career include: Bronze Star, NCO Award, three achievement awards, a Merit Award, commendations from several unit commanders from bases at which Christian taught and a Good Conduct Medal.
In 1979 he came to Okeene as a patrolman under Pete Laubach. On January 1, 1983 he became the Chief of Police in Okeene. He retired from that position in June 1999 and joined the Canton Police Department in July. In December 2001, he was appointed Canton Chief of Police and retired in 2008. He returned to Okeene and resumed the position of Chief of Police until the time of his death. He was a member of Longdale Assembly of God, the American Legion, VFW, the Lion's Club and a volunteer fire fighter.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lorene Christian; a sister, Sandra and a brother, Billy.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mary Lou, a daughter, Penny Meier and a granddaughter, Brooke Schmidt, all of Okeene; three brothers, Leon and wife, Susan of Oklahoma City, Jimmie, Roger and wife, Donna and a sister, Debbie Christian Tidball and husband, Phil, all of Hobart; a host of nieces, nephews and extended family as well as many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the local American Legion through the funeral home.
James was born in Granite, Oklahoma on November 15, 1947 to Frank and Lorene Jones Christian. He grew up in Granite and attended Granite Schools until 1965 when he joined the U. S. Army. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. On August 27, 1966 he married the love of his life, Mary Lou Lamb. They moved to Altus in 1967 where James worked for Coca Cola. While in Altus, he and Mary welcomed a baby girl, Penny, to their family in 1969. In 1970 they moved to Hobart where he began a life-long career in law enforcement. While in Hobart, he rose to the level of Police Chief. In 1976 he enlisted in the U. S. Army Reserves where he served proudly until his retirement in 1998. Some of the awards Christian received during his military career include: Bronze Star, NCO Award, three achievement awards, a Merit Award, commendations from several unit commanders from bases at which Christian taught and a Good Conduct Medal.
In 1979 he came to Okeene as a patrolman under Pete Laubach. On January 1, 1983 he became the Chief of Police in Okeene. He retired from that position in June 1999 and joined the Canton Police Department in July. In December 2001, he was appointed Canton Chief of Police and retired in 2008. He returned to Okeene and resumed the position of Chief of Police until the time of his death. He was a member of Longdale Assembly of God, the American Legion, VFW, the Lion's Club and a volunteer fire fighter.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lorene Christian; a sister, Sandra and a brother, Billy.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mary Lou, a daughter, Penny Meier and a granddaughter, Brooke Schmidt, all of Okeene; three brothers, Leon and wife, Susan of Oklahoma City, Jimmie, Roger and wife, Donna and a sister, Debbie Christian Tidball and husband, Phil, all of Hobart; a host of nieces, nephews and extended family as well as many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the local American Legion through the funeral home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Christian, please visit our flower store.
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