McWater, James Durante “Jimmy”, 74, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in Norman, Oklahoma. 

He was born January 1, 1939 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to James Wyatt McWater and Mildred Virginia “Bobbie” Croom.   He married Thelma Lucy Taylor in Norman on the 18th of November 1961.  They were married forty-two years until her death in 2003.  He was a graduate of Bokoshe High School in Oklahoma where he was salutatorian of the class of 1956.  He went on from there to graduate from the University of Oklahoma in 1960.  Jimmy was an Industrial Engineer and began working at Tinker Air Force Base after college.  He would work there his entire career.  He was promoted to GS-13 at a very young age.  After arriving in Norman in the fall of 1956 to attend school he lived in Norman his entire life except for a few years recently when he moved to Oklahoma City to be closer to his granddaughter.  He was an avid collector of pre-war toys, metal cap guns, western items and he was an expert on tanks.   He was a regular at garage sales, flea markets and auctions in the Norman and Oklahoma City area.  He was frequently asked to appraise items from estates for auctioneers.  He was for many years a member of The University of Oklahoma chess club and was known for his sharp intellect and his self-reliance. 

He is survived by his son, David Patrick McWater and his wife Laura Hinsberger McWater; his daughter, Mary Celeste Cochran, wife of Charles Christopher Cochran; and one grandchild, Grace McKayla Cochran.  As well as a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and most notably his sister-in-law, Donna Sue Couch and his nephews Donovan and Jacob Jones, all of whom he had a meaningful avuncular relationship with during his life. 

He was preceded in death by his spouse, Thelma Lucy Taylor McWater; his half-brother, Roy Gene McWater; and his half-sister, Sue Jane Kuykendall Hays; as well as his best friends, Frank and Gert Virgilio. 

Donations may be made in Jimmy’s honor to the OU Foundation, Thelma Taylor McWater Scholarship, c/o OU Foundation, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, OK 73019. 

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 19, 2013 in the Chapel of the Havenbrook Funeral Home with interment following in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Wapanucka, Oklahoma. Arrangements for Jimmy and his family were placed in the care of the Vice Family at Havenbrook Funeral Home. 

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com