Oleta James, 90 year old Checotah resident, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2015 in Tulsa.

She was born to James Joe and Zelma (Etchison) Williams on Monday, July 28, 1924 in Onapa, Oklahoma. Oleta grew up in the Fame and Brush Hill area and received her education in Onapa, graduating from Onapa High School in 1941. She married Marvin James on April 18, 1941 in Eufaula and became a homemaker and mother. They owned the Checotah Laundry. Oleta was very active in her children’s activities. She played the piano for the Onapa Baptist Church and later became a member of the First Baptist Church of Checotah in 1964. Oleta was a home health provider for Mrs. Jernigan for many years. She went on many church youth choir trips, was in charge of all funeral meals for several years and wrote letters to the drivers for the truck stop ministry. She was a cafeteria manager and cook for several years at Checotah Public Schools. She loved traveling, enjoyed making fried pies for her husband and boys when they would go hunting. She was an excellent cook, known especially for her pies and every Sunday she always had big family dinners. Oleta was a great caregiver and the finest example of a Christian wife, mother and grandmother. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loved family get togethers.

Oleta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin James; brothers, Leo Williams and Joe Roy Williams and sister, Virgie Martin.

She is lovingly survived by her children, Bob James and his wife Karen, Jolene Adams and her husband Mike, Colene Norwood and her husband John and Neal James and his wife Pam; grandchildren, Leslie Nutt and her husband Brian, Tami Duvall and her husband Sam, Jennifer Norwood, Kara Sezate and her husband Robert, Jarrod James and his wife Sara and John Norwood II. Oleta is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Kadee Marshall and her husband Ben, Ashton Stout and her husband Jeremy, Caleb Nutt and his wife Kelsey, Riley Duvall, Jayden Norwood, Parker Sezate, Hudson Sezate, Bennett Sezate, Kieran James, Grace James and Luke James; great-great-grandchildren, Kynlee and Cayson as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and a lifetime of friends. Stephanie Hurst was a special friend and caregiver.

As you honor the life of Oleta, in lieu of flowers, memorials are to be made in her memory to the Truck Stop Ministry or Funeral food committee of First Baptist Church 210 SW Second Street, Checotah, OK 74426.

Viewing will be from 9AM-7PM on Thursday, March 5, 2015 with family greeting friends from 5-7 PM on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at Garrett Family Funeral Home.

Services celebrating the life of Oleta will be held at 11AM on Friday, March 6, 2015 at First Baptist Church with Reverend Chester Ward and Reverend Jarrod James officiating.

Committal prayers and Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery under the personal direction of John Garrett. Robert Sezate, Sam Duvall, Brian Nutt, Caleb Nutt, Jarrod James John Norwood II, Riley Duvall, Jeremy Stout and Ben Marshall will serve as Casket Bearers. Rusty Martin, Dusty Martin and J. E. Williams will serve as Honorary Casket Bearers.

You may share online condolences with Oleta’s family at www.garrettfamilyfuneralhome.com.

The family of Oleta James entrusted her care, services and burial to John & Kim Garrett of Garrett Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service 311 SW 2nd Checotah, OK 74426 (918) 473-2244.