James Elwood Durham of Okeene, Oklahoma

Mr. James Elwood Durham of Okeene died Saturday morning, September 4, from complications of a Parkinson's type disorder at the age of 84. James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou Holloway Durham of Okeene; his son William H. Durham and wife Kathleen of Palo Alto, California; his daughter, Diane Durham Sublett and husband James of Okeene; his sisters Amanda Lee Blender of Bartlesville; Virginia Clark and husband Warren of Enid; and their children Betsy Barnes of Bartlesville and W. Tom Clark of Enid, respectively. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Joey and Drew Durham of Palo Alto, California; and Jeff, Jay, Audrey, and Annie Sublett of Okeene. Other survivors include Pete and Kathy Teel of College Station, Texas, and their daughters Megan and Katie, also of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents O.E. and Maude Durham, brother Joe Durham, son James E. Durham, Jr. and grandson James Dylan Durham.

Born in Okeene in 1920, James graduated from Okeene High School as President and Valedictorian of his 1937 class. He then attended Kemper Military Academy for two years before graduating from the University of Missouri in 1941. Following his MBA from Harvard Business Schook, James enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and worked his way up to Captain of the Quartermaster Corps. His decorations in the Army included the American Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon, and WWII Victory Medal. In 1945 Durham married Mary Lou Holloway, Lieutenant (jg) of the U.S. Navy, in Lawrence, Kansas. The couple took up residence in Okeene shortly after their first son Jimmy was born in 1946. In 1947, James accepted a position with the Standard Oil Company of Ohio ("Sohio") and the family moved to Cleveland. Durham worked twenty years for Sohio, heading the first computer and data processing group in the petroleum industry.

In 1967, the family, including Jimmy, second son Bill and daughter Diane, moved back to Okeene, where James became First Vice President of State Guaranty Bank (SCG). On the death of his father, O.E. Durham, James became President of SGB in 1975, leading the bank to become the first computerized facility of its kind in northwestern Oklahoma. He went on to become President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and eventually of the Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce of Okeene. During Governor George Nigh's first term in office, James served as a Member and eventual Chairman of the Oklahoma State Tourism Commission, coining the name "Red Carpet Country" for the northwestern region of the state. As President of State Guaranty Bank, he made many contributions to Okeene and the surrounding region. A staunch supporter of the Okeene Hospital Foundation and Okeene Schools, Durham's contributions included the athletic facility known as the "Whippet Dawg House." He also established numerous honorary and memorial scholarships at Okeene High and the James E. Durham, Jr., Memorial Scholarship at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University. In 2001, James and his wife Mary Lou were named "Okeene Volunteers of the Year," Durham served as President of State Guaranty Bank from 1975 until succeeded by his son-in-law, Jmes Sublett, in 2004. He was widely known for a big heart, wide smile, harmless pranks and jokes, and his hobby of fixing up classic sports cars. He had special love for his grandchildren, and took great interest in their various sports and activities. He will also be remembered for his fondness of jazz and blues music, including his favorite song, "Let the Good Times Roll."

Following private burial services for the family by Lanman Funeral Home, please join in a commemorative public celebration of his life from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 12, in the lobby of the State Guaranty Bank. Memorial contributions may be made to the Okeene Hospital Foundation, the Okeene School's Athletic Complex, or the James E. Durham, Jr., Memorial Scholarship at OSU.