Jason Patrick James

Jason Patrick James was born August 8, 1972, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He went home to be with the LORD on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024. Because his dad was serving overseas in the military, his mom was transported to the hospital by her neighbor to give birth to Jason. On the way, the neighbor encountered a roadblock and had to drive several miles around it. This delay caused Jason to come into the world on the hospital elevator on the way to the delivery room. The doctor would not sign his birth certificate because he did not witness his birth. 

Jason graduated from Dale High School in 1990. His SAT and ACT test scores were one of the highest in Oklahoma, as he was a Scholar. He was offered a scholarship to any of the Ivy League Schools. Instead, he decided to stay close to home because his mom was sick. He went to East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

Because his mom was sick, he elected not to adventure too far from home for employment. He worked at several places until they changed management. These include but are not limited to RUE 21, Ross Dress for Less, and Lowes. He also worked for 4 years at Stericycle. He was offered a job as head Chef in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, but due to lack of dependable transportation, he turned it down. He was a tireless worker and took the bulk of the workload with anyone that he worked with. His employers would tell his dad they wished they had a lot more employees like him. His work ethic was unquestionable, and he was a rule follower. His dad says that Jason is the type of person he would like to have in a foxhole with him, even though Jason did not have any military experience. He enjoyed life and looked forward to putting in a hard day’s work. Jason loved the outdoors and enjoyed walking and seeing wildlife. He also enjoyed designing and sewing clothing and costumes along with beadwork and crocheting. He was an excellent cook and received many compliments and requests for his Taco Salad. At a church gathering, Bro. Phil commented that it was the best taco salad that he had tasted and asked who made it. This brought a lump to Jason’s throat. 

Jason never played sports again after he stepped in a gopher hole and broke his ankle in the third grade at Altus, Oklahoma. His dad says that he would have been the best ball player in the family if he could have continued in sports. His fluid motion and soft hands made fielding look effortless. One time while in grade school, his class was asked to draw any picture they wanted. Everyone drew something except Jason. When the teacher asked him why his paper was blank, he told her he drew a picture of cows eating grass. The teacher asked him, “Where are the cows and the grass?” Jason replied, “The cows ate the grass, and where there is no grass the cows moved on.” He was made to miss recess for the rest of the day. He learned his lesson well and drew better than all others afterward. 

Jason’s Zodiac sign is a lion, and his favorite song is “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. He has an enormous collection of all types of lions: stuffed, plastic, ceramic, and metal. He really has too many! He also collects stuffed Disney characters. Among them are Pluto, Donald and Daffy Duck, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Goofy. Most of the time he kept his room pretty much in order. He had a plaque next to his room saying, “Because when you stop to look around, Life is pretty amazing!” 

Jason is survived by his dad, Jacob, stepmom, Tammy, and stepbrother, Jesse of the home, brother, Randy and wife Michelle, sister, Elizabeth Rene’e, her daughter, Allyson Paige who attends, in her third year, The University of Oklahoma and is a member of the OU Color Guard with the Marching Band and performs at OU Football games, and son, Racyn who attends Shawnee High School, is an Eagle Scout, and a starter for the Shawnee football team, he will be a Senior, stepsister, Melissa and husband Terry (and children Lainey and Lucca), adopted sister, Kaylee and husband Dan (and children Calliegh and Thatcher Beau) goddaughter, Javen (and children Mason and Brooklyn), nephews, Justin and wife Elizabeth (and children Gregory, Elijah, and Matthew), Jacob Christopher and wife Nicole (and children Emma, Jake Jr, and Weston), nieces, Jami and husband Andy, and Jessica (and children Casey and Briley), aunts, Alma, Lois, Melody, and Margaret, uncle, Warren, cousins, Mary Francis, Diana, Anna, Dawn, Amanda, Charlotte, Cheryl, Regina, Shawna, Shanna, Cindy, Stanton, Billy Don, Ricky, Jeffery Scott, Brian, Scotty, Seleetka, Casey, Matthew, Rick, and many great nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends who are loved and too numerous to mention. 

Jason is a proud member of the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma. He is the great-grandson of original enrollee, Jackson J. James and Lizzie Pope James of McAlester, Oklahoma. 

Memorial Services will be 10:00 am Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Liberty Baptist Church.