Jesse Frank James, Jr.

Jesse Frank James, Jr., age 87, long term citizen of Harrah, OK, residing at the Norman VA center, was born April 1, 1923, in Hennepin, OK. He was the son of Jesse and Della James. He left this life on Thursday, February 24, 2011, in Norman, OK. Jesse was a decorated veteran from WWII. He was a member of the 740th tank battalion and he was injured in the line of duty during the Battle of the Bulge. He was credited as one of the members of the U.S. Army who captured Wernher von Braun, the founder of the ballistic missile from Germany. He has stayed in touch with his best friend in WWII, Raymond Hummingbird, also from Oklahoma. After the war, Jesse was a member of the iron workers union and retired from the union many years later. He mainly lived in Davis, OK, Moore, OK and then the last many years in Harrah, OK. He was a proud member of the Methodist Church in Harrah, OK, until he entered the VA Center in Norman. His hobbies included fishing, reading, traveling the country side with his wife, Marge and spending time with his family. Jesse was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marge, 2 brothers, Floyd and Glen James, stepson, James Keegan and his eldest grandson, Brandon. Survivors include his children, Karen Nichols & husband, Tom, Denise Hagiwara & husband, Katsumi and Patrick James. His step children, Linda Keegan, Nancy Wilcox, & John Keegan. His siblings, Beatrice Allmon, Kathryn Foster, Geneva Herndon, Bill James, Bob James & his wife, Gail, Betty Rose & her husband, Tommy. His grandchildren, Angela, Shelly, Greg, and Jacob. His great-grandchildren, Corey, Madison, Camry, Kassidy, Mari and Mia And many step grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends. Services will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at the Asa Smith Memorial Chapel, Harrah, OK, with Pastor Lew Ayers, Sr. officiating. Interment to follow at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.