James Wesley Bryan, Sr.
December 31, 1956 - December 26, 2022
James Wesley Bryan Sr. of Copan died Monday in Copan. The 65 year old retired Army veteran had faithfully served his country for almost all of his adult life.
Jim was born the son of Richard Duane and Gloria Lee (Otto) Bryan on December 31, 1956, in Bartlesville, OK. His father worked for Reda Pump and the family was transferred to Texas for a short while before they were sent to Thermopolis, Wyoming, where he grew up. Jim from a young age was physically strong, and he enjoyed the outdoors with his siblings and dirt bikes. He formed an early passion for motorcycles and enjoyed the freedom of riding ever since.
Jim returned to Copan to live with his grandparents and graduated from Copan High School in 1975. Not long after, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Jim went on to truck driving before enrolling in Diesel Mechanics at the Vo-Tech. He felt the desire to serve his country and re-enlisted in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Sergeant 1st Class and serving with the 82nd Airborne, retiring in 2003. During his last posting in South Carolina, Jim met Diane and fell in love. They were married in 2001, making their home base in South Carolina. Jim went on to serve as a civilian contractor for the military in Hawaii and Afghanistan. Diane preceded him in death in 2013, and shortly after, Jim moved back to Copan to be closer to family. Jim enjoyed life, riding his motorcycle, shooting and fishing. He loved his family and will be dearly missed.
Jim is survived by his sons, Heath (Venessa) Clouse and James Wesley Bryan Jr.; mother Gloria Bryan; siblings, Jolene (Rick) Kertson, Jon (Susan) Bryan, Paul (Terry) Bryan, Lee Ann Lopez, Mark (Francine) Bryan, and Arlea (Doug) Harris; grandchildren, Johnna Gobbi-Clouse, Zoe Clouse, Liam Gobbi and Michael Locke; great granddaughter Angela; and a host of other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, wife and brother Richard Duane Bryan II.
Jim’s family will receive friends on Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. at the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey. Visitation will also be held on Thursday from 10-8 and Friday 9-12.
Services will be held 2 p.m. on Friday, at the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel, with Rev. Willard Lyons officiating. Interment will follow in the Dewey Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
