James Tibbits

James Edward (“Jim”) Tibbits was born on 9/1/1925 at Davidson, Arkansas, to Erman and Rosy Tibbits.  He was the third of ten children and learned early in life about the virtues of hard work and responsibility.  Jim served in the Army during WWII as a medic on a hospital train.  After his discharge, he married Jolora Price on 7/19/1946 and began his long and successful career as a carpenter.  The young couple lived first in Denver, Colorado, and later moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where their only child, Dennis, was born in 1953.  Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Evansville, Arkansas, where Jim continued his career as a builder, working on a large diversity of construction projects ranging from university dormitories and hospitals to a huge number of residential dwellings throughout Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma.  The family moved to Stilwell, Oklahoma in 1969, where they lived until Jolora’s death in 1992.  In 1993, Jim married the second love of his life, Faye Aiden, and moved to Westville, Oklahoma where he lived the remainder of his life.  Jim enjoyed traveling, and had seen virtually the entire continental United States, and briefly visited Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean islands.  He loved Las Vegas, and prided himself as a skilled poker player.  Jim passed away peacefully on 12/30/2021 at the age of 96 years, 3 months, and 30 days.

Jim was preceded in death by his first love, Jolora; his parents, Erman and Rosy Tibbits; four brothers: Andy, Joe, William (“Doc”), and Jack; and two sisters: Jessie and Nora (“Nonie”).  He is survived by his wife Faye, of the home; his son, Dennis of Stilwell;  his sister Ann Fascetti and husband Larry of Middletown, New Jersey;  sister Betty Coots of Shelton, Washington;  sister Minnie Carlson of Olympia, Washington;  sister-in-law Ina Jackson of Dallas, Texas;  sister-in-law Linda Bauer-Lohmeier and husband Steve of Morton, Illinois;  brother-in-law Noble Lee West of Stilwell;  and a host of step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Jim was a kind-hearted, wise, and gentle soul, and he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.  As per his wishes, he will be cremated and his cremains interred in Stilwell City Cemetery.

Services are pending