James L. (Jim) Wise passed from this life on January 8, 2009 at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Claremore, OK. Jim was born June 17, 1914 in Braman, OK to James L. Wise, Sr. and Margaret Matilda Wise. He graduated from Braman High School in 1932 and the University Junior College (now Northern Oklahoma Junior College) at Tonkawa, OK in 1934. He later attended Oklahoma A and M in Stillwater. On August 9, 1936, Jim was united in marriage with Hazel A. Hubbard of Drumright, OK. He was employed by Safeway Stores from 1935 until 1942, thr ee of those years as Manager of the Safeway store in Hominy, OK. Jim enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as an A and P Instructor at Shaw Field in South Carolina until 1945. Jim and Hazel moved to Muskogee, OK in 1946. He was self-employed until 1950, at which time he was employed as a Salesman for Greer Packing Company, which later became Santa Fe Packing Company. In 1970 Jim and Hazel moved to Drumright, OK where he worked as manager of C and H Grocery, which later became Hutchison’s Discount Foods. In 1984 Jim and Hazel returned to Muskogee where he was employed part-time with Johnson Foods. He enjoyed fishing and working in his flower beds. He was an active member of Honor Heights United Methodist Church.Jim was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Pauline Pugh of Sarasota, FL, Kathryn Westphal of Petit Jean Mountain, AR, and brother, Paul C. Wise of Stillwater, OK. His wife, Hazel, died in 1992. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, W. P. “Mike” and Shirley Wise of Ft. Gibson, OK; grandson and wife, Jarrod and Sheli Wise of Tulsa, OK; great grandson and great granddaughter, Andrew and Jenna Wise; and several nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be held at Honor Heights united Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 with Reverend Bennie Waller and Reverend Barbara Brown officiating. Phil Bush, Jesse Dearman, ArrCee Mabe, Wayne McManus, Harold Parsons and Dan Scott will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cem etery in Drumright, OK. Arrangements are under the direction of Lescher-Millsap Funeral Home.
