James Howard Morris, a longtime Sapulpa resident, passed away on Thursday, January 03, 2013 at his home at the age of 74 years.

The son of the late James Rodney Morris and Mary Albina Durkeweicz Morris, James was born on November 19, 1938 in Coalton, Oklahoma. He was raised and educated in Schulter, Oklahoma graduating with the class of 1957. James was one of twenty in his graduating class, ten boys and ten girls, and they have all remained very close since high school.

James was united in marriage to Barbara Wittman on March 29, 1958 in Claremore, Oklahoma and to this marriage four children, Kim, Chris, Greg and Sandy were born.

He enlisted into the United States Air Force in August of 1958 where he served until 1962. While he was stationed in Oregon in the last year of his service, he and Barbara lost their second child, James Christopher.

The couple spent most of their married life living in Sapulpa. James worked for AT&T doing telecommunications work until retiring in 1990. He then began working for John Zink Company where he was a controls engineer. He retired from John Zink in 2002.

James was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn in November of 1974 in Sapulpa and was ordained as a Bishop in 1980. James’ only hobby in life was serving the Lord. If you didn’t find him at church, he could be found visiting the brethren and their families.

He is survived by his wife Barbara of the home; three children, Kim Retherford and her husband Bill of Corinth, Texas' Greg Morris and his wife Debbie of Bixby, Oklahoma; and Sandy Jasper of Cushing; six grandchildren, Stephanie, Justin and his wife Heather, Shannon, Ronnie, Wade, and Sheridan; three great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents and one son, James was preceded in death by his sister Maryann March.

Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of the Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing, Oklahoma and will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 5, 2013 in the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, Sapulpa, Oklahoma with Elder, Brother Dan Davis and Brother Jacob Rule officiating.

Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday in the Parkland Cemetery, Parkland, Oklahoma.