Obituary for James Monroe Lynn, Jr.
James Monroe Lynn, Jr., died peacefully on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the age of 93 following a short illness, surrounded by his family. He was born on Thursday, September 12, 1929 to Beulah Edith Lynn (Hicks) and James Monroe Lynn, Sr. in Albany, OK.
James was a gentleman and fiercely loyal to those he loved. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren beyond measure. James, affectionately known as Junior or Monroe, grew up on the family farm in Albany, OK and graduated at the top of his class a year early from Albany High School in 1946. During WWII, he worked for the MKT railroad and after graduation joined the Navy.
On April 4, 1947, James married a Bokchito girl and the love of his life, Mary Joyce Frank. They settled down in a tiny house on the family farm raising corn, cotton, peanuts, and cattle until 1955 when they moved to Sherman, TX for James to join the Sherman Police Department. The happy couple remained in Sherman until 1960 when he moved his growing family back home to Durant to buy the family farm and begin working as an insurance claims adjuster. James loved people, and he enjoyed working in the claims business from 1960 until his retirement in 1992. However, he was never one to “sit around and hold his hands”, and in 1994 changed careers going to work for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission at the Colbert Weigh Station. James retired in 2013 as the oldest active State of Oklahoma employee.
Over the years he was also active in the community. James was a Master Mason and Grand Master of the Durant Masonic Lodge for many years. He was a member of the Hickory Hollow Rod and Gun Club, the NRA, a little league baseball coach and no matter the activity, his children and grandchildren’s biggest fan. He was of the Baptist faith and a longtime member, Sunday School teacher, and deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Durant.
James was a cowboy, rancher, animal lover, holiday dressing taster, gardener, friend, and a doting papa. He took pride in educating all his children and grandchildren. While he enjoyed many things, he was always a rancher at heart who loved his family, his farm, and his cows. He enjoyed working outside and the hard work that came with owning a farm, whether that be building fence, spending hours in the seat of his beloved John Deere tractor or working cattle. James had an amazing memory and told entertaining stories that could go on for days.
Many of these stories were told during long visits by his children and grandchildren whom he instilled his tremendous work ethic, love of animals, and his unwavering faith.
He is proceeded in death by his parents.
James is survived by his wife and best friend of 75 years, Joyce; two children Donna (Keith) and Jimmy (Michelle); two grandchildren Alisha (Shawn) and Jay; three great-grandchildren: Lexton, Liam, and Ava, and other relatives and friends.
A Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Friday, February 24 at Gordon Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma with Bro. Dale Ballard officiating. A burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Durant with Mike Towne, Steve Dow, Anthony Winett, Steve Kelso, Warren Bauck and Kenneth Kechum serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Dunegan and Joe Harp.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com
James was a gentleman and fiercely loyal to those he loved. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren beyond measure. James, affectionately known as Junior or Monroe, grew up on the family farm in Albany, OK and graduated at the top of his class a year early from Albany High School in 1946. During WWII, he worked for the MKT railroad and after graduation joined the Navy.
On April 4, 1947, James married a Bokchito girl and the love of his life, Mary Joyce Frank. They settled down in a tiny house on the family farm raising corn, cotton, peanuts, and cattle until 1955 when they moved to Sherman, TX for James to join the Sherman Police Department. The happy couple remained in Sherman until 1960 when he moved his growing family back home to Durant to buy the family farm and begin working as an insurance claims adjuster. James loved people, and he enjoyed working in the claims business from 1960 until his retirement in 1992. However, he was never one to “sit around and hold his hands”, and in 1994 changed careers going to work for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission at the Colbert Weigh Station. James retired in 2013 as the oldest active State of Oklahoma employee.
Over the years he was also active in the community. James was a Master Mason and Grand Master of the Durant Masonic Lodge for many years. He was a member of the Hickory Hollow Rod and Gun Club, the NRA, a little league baseball coach and no matter the activity, his children and grandchildren’s biggest fan. He was of the Baptist faith and a longtime member, Sunday School teacher, and deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Durant.
James was a cowboy, rancher, animal lover, holiday dressing taster, gardener, friend, and a doting papa. He took pride in educating all his children and grandchildren. While he enjoyed many things, he was always a rancher at heart who loved his family, his farm, and his cows. He enjoyed working outside and the hard work that came with owning a farm, whether that be building fence, spending hours in the seat of his beloved John Deere tractor or working cattle. James had an amazing memory and told entertaining stories that could go on for days.
Many of these stories were told during long visits by his children and grandchildren whom he instilled his tremendous work ethic, love of animals, and his unwavering faith.
He is proceeded in death by his parents.
James is survived by his wife and best friend of 75 years, Joyce; two children Donna (Keith) and Jimmy (Michelle); two grandchildren Alisha (Shawn) and Jay; three great-grandchildren: Lexton, Liam, and Ava, and other relatives and friends.
A Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Friday, February 24 at Gordon Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma with Bro. Dale Ballard officiating. A burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Durant with Mike Towne, Steve Dow, Anthony Winett, Steve Kelso, Warren Bauck and Kenneth Kechum serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Dunegan and Joe Harp.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com