fairviewshawnee Cemetery

Shawnee, Pottatomie County, Oklahoma

© Shawnee News Star
Submitted by: Sherry Springer

James "Don" Bodard

© Jim Woodruff

December 17, 1919 ~ September 26, 1997

James Don Bodard had said he didn't want a sad funeral; he wanted a celebration of life. And so it was.

More than 1,000 people gathered Monday in Raley Chapel at Oklahoma Baptist University to honor the life of the longtime Oklahoma oilman, banker and philanthropist who died Friday at the age of 77. In accordance with his wishes to "liven it up," friends spoke about the boldness, the earthiness and the humor of the man.

"We are not here to talk about his work and his generosity, because if you're here, you're his friend and you know all that," said Wes Schubert. "We're here to celebrate the life of a guy who was larger than life.

"A truly great man once said 'Wisdom, skill and intelligence is all a man needs to succeed in life.' And then he, Don Bodard, said "But I'd trade them for a lot of luck and a rich wife any day."

Schubert talked about how Bodard wanted people to feel at ease and he had "an office full of stuff," including a shellacked patty of elephant dung, to "break the ice" with customers. He spoke of how Bodard and his wife, Nancy, would tease each other and how the employees had fun around the office.

"I tried several times to thank him for what he had done for me," Schubert said, "but he took a compliment about as well as he took a hit in the face.

"So today I'd like to say thank you for sticking with me years ago when the chips were down. I'd like to thank you for being yourself."

Pausing several times to collect himself, longtime business partner and friend King Kirchner of Tulsa called Bodard "one of the finest men I ever knew" and spoke of their partnership which began 36 years ago at an oil rig auction when Kirchner couldn't get financing for his business and Bodard took him to the banker who had financed his start and co-signed a $140,000 note.

"He was a unique mix of country and sophistication, a man with real presence," Kirchner said. "He had a way about him that was the same whether he was in Gotebo or New York."

Noting that Bodard was known for his acerbic one-liners, Kirchner listed several.

"On seasickness: He was leaning over the rail on one of his trips and someone asked him, 'Weak stomach?'

"No, I can get it out there as far as any of them.'

"On the oil business: 'As soon as I learn it, I think I'll like it.'

"On banking: 'I own a bank but I'm not a banker.'

"On drinking: 'There are two things I can't stand -- a drunk if I'm sober and someone sober if I'm drunk.'

"On an unfortunate associate: 'He's a size 19 neck and a size three hat.'

"On cigars: 'A fire on one end and a fool on the other.'"

Don Grimes said, "I knew Bodard longer than I care to remember, but it was 1991 before I knew he had a first name."

Grimes told the story of their early association when Grimes closed and collected loans for a bank where Bodard borrowed.

"The sign on the door said 'For your convenience, we close at 2.' I never understood that. Bodard didn't either because he always showed up about 3 or 4 in the afternoon," Grimes said.

"One day I told Bodard that I'd burn all his notes for $25. I spent the rest of the day explaining that it was a joke to a supervisor whose sense of humor extended as far as Christmas Eve evictions. Bodard didn't help when he kept asking when I was going to start the fire.

"I was fortunate that he didn't have the $25."

One of Don Bodard's daughters, Donna Adcock, also spoke. She quoted a passage from a book that said the real dignity in dying comes from the honesty and grace of how we live.

The Rev. Arthur Scrutchins of Emmanuel Episcopal Church presented the eulogy that described Bodard's beginning work in the oil fields as a teen-ager and listed numerous gifts to area organizations. He reviewed a "journey of loving, living, sharing and giving."

"But the greatest gift lies in the hearts of those he left behind," he said.

The Rev. Janie Kirt Morris of Emmanuel Episcopal Church read several scriptures beginning with Proverbs 22:9, "Those are blessed who share their bread with the poor."

She led the congregation in reading aloud Psalm 121.

The Rev. David Clewell of St. Paul's United Methodist Church led the opening prayer and Lt. Vic Tidman of the Salvation Army gave the closing prayer.

Other music was provided by Dr. Ron Lewis, organist; Adam Lewis, clarinetist; Dr. William L. Horton, pianist; and Stephanie Scrutchins, flutist.

Burial followed in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Roesch-Walker Funeral Home.