HAIGLER-PIERCE FUNERAL HOME, CANTON, OK

PERMISSION GRANTED

 
The funeral service for James Louis “Jim” Westfahl, Jr., 70, of Canton, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at Canton Christian Church with Pastor Justin Brodie officiating. Interment will follow in Cherryvale Cemetery east of Canton under the direction of Haigler-Pierce Funeral Home, Canton.

James Louis Westfahl, Jr. was born to James and Pauline (Roshell) Westfahl on January 29, 1943 in Watonga, OK. After the death of his mother at age 3, he went to live with his grandparents, J.P. and Myrtle Roshell in Oklahoma City. At the age of 7, he was able to return home with his dad when he married Ruth Swengle. He graduated from Canton High School in 1961. James served our country in the U.S. Army reserves for seven years. He graduated from Oklahoma State Technical School in May 1964 with a degree in auto body repair and paint. In April 1965, James married Bobbie Sue Scott. To this union Scott Leroy was born in December 1966 and Shelley Renee in February 1973.

He returned to school in 1969 to obtain his teaching and coaching degree from S.W.O.S.U. where he also received his masters degree. He later received a degree in administration from O.S.U. His first teaching position was in Longdale in 1971. He taught, coached and eventually became principal at Longdale. In 1978, he was hired as Jr. High principal in Weatherford and held that position for 14 years. He then moved to an administrative position in the superintendents office for 2 years. In 1994, Jim was hired in Tipton, OK as Jr./Sr. High principal. He held that position for 3 years before retiring from education in 1997. He returned home to Canton in 2003.

Jim always loved spending time with his family snowskiing, jeeping, camping and fishing. After retirement, he spent 10 years wintering in Arizona and Rockport, TX. He accepted Christ at an early age. He was a devout Christian and served in the capacity of deacon and elder in Weatherford, Fredrick and Canton. On June 8, 2013, Jim went to dwell in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

He was survived by his wife Bobbie; son Scott and wife Becky Westfahl of Luther, OK; daughter Shelley and husband Curt Shepherd of Canton, OK; grandchildren Cody Shepherd of Canton, Justin Westfahl of Luther, Clayton Shepherd of Canton and Makenzie Westfahl of Luther; sister Oneta and husband Jack Hammans of Austin, TX; mother-in-law Doris Scott of Canton; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; He was preceded in death by his mother Pauline; father James; mother Ruth; brother Charles and his grandparents;

Memorial donations can be made to the Canton Christian Church, Faith Hospice of Weatherford or Amyloidosis Research with the funeral home serving as custodian at P.O. Box 36, Canton, OK 73724. Condolences may be made online at www.haiglerpierce.com.