James "Conrad" Hart

James Conrad Hart, of Chandler, OK, was born on March 19, 1932, in Chandler to Earl and Gladys (Conrad) Hart. He passed from this life at the age of 91 on January 14, 2024, in Edmond, OK. Conrad lived almost all his life in Chandler, graduating from Chandler High School with the Class of 1950. He then attended Oklahoma A&M College, where he was president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and several campus organizations, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1954. Following graduation, Conrad returned to Chandler where he married Ruth Ann Thompson, his sweetheart from a young age, on September 5, 1954. He worked briefly with his father at Earl Hart Chevrolet before being assigned to Eglin Air Force Base in Ft. Walton Beach, FL in 1955, carrying a lieutenant’s rank. Conrad returned to Chandler and his work at Earl Hart Chevrolet in 1957. During this time, he continued his service in the Air Force Reserve for several years, finally retiring with a captain’s rank. Following his father’s death in 1961, Conrad served as the Chevrolet dealer in Chandler for the next 38 years. Upon retiring, Conrad spent the next several years displaying the love of a man for his wife as he served as Ruth Ann’s primary caregiver through the last stages of Alzheimer’s disease. His insistence on handling her care personally through several long and difficult years showed us his character, love and compassion as nothing else could have done.

Conrad was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Chandler. He was christened as an infant near the altar at the front of the sanctuary a few months before Amelia Earhart began her flight across the Atlantic, and he served the church actively until the week of his death. He loved his church, its pastors, and its people, many of whom he considered to be as close as family. He was devoted to his daily morning coffee group, which was somehow allowed by the local banks of Chandler to meet on their premises every morning for decades. Whether he had known you his entire life or met you that morning, Conrad wanted to talk to you and get to know you. He truly never met a stranger.

Conrad was recognized as Chandler High School’s Alumnus of the Year in 1993. He served as president of many civic organizations in Chandler at one time or another. In his unique and recognizable style of humor, he loved saying that the reasons he was selected for those civic offices were that he was young, and he was there. He also served as a past chairman of the Oklahoma Chevrolet Dealer Organization.

Preceding Conrad in death were his wife Ruth Ann, son Randy Hart of Edmond, OK, parents Earl and Gladys Hart of Chandler, brother Edward Hart and his wife Barbara of Ponca City, OK. Surviving Conrad are his sons Mark Hart and his wife Susan of Chandler, David Hart and his wife Jean of Edmond, James Hart and his wife Lisa of Chandler, John Hart and his wife Stacy of Chandler, and 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Conrad is also survived by his brother Bob Hart and his wife Candace of Pottsboro, TX, and many other relatives and friends.

Conrad loved his community and his church, he dearly loved his friends, and he adored his wife and family. He served, mentored, and cared for them all until the moment God called him home.

In lieu of flowers, Conrad would have felt honored by the prospect of donations in his memory either to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation or the Chandler First United Methodist Church.