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James Ralls Presson, 85, died at his home in Norman on November 20, 2015.
He was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on November 3, 1930, to Henry and Sara Presson, the youngest of nine children. His parents ran a small general store in Eufaula, as well as a small farm near Canadian. When Jim was 11, his father passed away, and his mother moved the family to Norman so her older children could attend the University of Oklahoma. Jim would spend the next 74 years living in Norman, in the only home he ever owned. During World War II, Jim worked for Norman grocery stores delivering groceries to Norman residents by bicycle and store trucks. In the summers he and his brothers hitch-hiked to the Pacific Northwest and worked for the United States Forest Service, building roads and manning fire lookout towers. This experience instilled in Jim a lifelong love and passion for the mountains of the western United States, where he took his family every summer for camping and fishing vacations. Jim graduated from Norman High School in 1948. He soon thereafter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Korean War, returning to Norman after his discharge. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a degree in electrical engineering. While in college, he met Alice Carol McCasland, a nursing student from Atoka, and they married in April 1955. Jim was employed at Tinker Air Force Base in the civil engineering department until his retirement.
Jim and Alice were married almost 55 years, with Alice passing away in March, 2010. They had four children, Steve and daughter-in-law Jean Giles, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Jim and daughter-in-law Amanda Sun, of Gig Harbor, Washington; Donna Morris of Norman; and David and daughter-in-law Jodi Maxson of Alameda, California. Jim is also survived by grandchildren Joseph, Michael, Christina, Anna, Jacob, Elan, William, and Alex, and great-granddaughter Brooklyn, as well as many nieces and nephews.
His parents, siblings, and one granddaughter predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Jim’s name be made to the City of Norman earmarked for the Norman Dog Park, or to an animal rescue charity of the donor’s choice.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, December 5, at 11:00 a.m., at the IOOF cemetery.
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