J i m Wakeman was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on November 26, 1932, to Grant and Hattie Wakeman. Jim was raised there and graduated high school in May of 1950. The Korean War began in June so Jim and 7 friends joined the U.S. Navy. Jim came home on leave and married Melba Deane Ware. The two of them had 3 daughters, Linda Anderson, Debbie Naglee, and Jody Dunn. (Deanie) as Jim referred to her passed away on April 4, 2015, at which time they lacked 13 days being married 64 years. Jim’s life was pretty well spent in public service—4 years in the Navy, 20 years with the Oklahoma City Fire Dept. and 20 years on the Logan County Sheriff’s Dept. His real love was running heavy equipment and doing dirt work. Jim did that on his days off from the Fire Dept. Jim was a reserve deputy for 9 years until he sold his equipment and went fulltime with the Sheriff’s Dept. After retiring from the Sheriff’s Dept., Jim went back into construction with Buckley Construction in Guthrie. Jim worked for Earl and Frank Bross for seven years and then Sutton Tractor for another 7 years till 2010. Deanie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Jim cared for her for 4 and half years until she passed away.
A minister friend introduced Jim to a lady named Janie Albertson and they were married in 2016. Jim and Janie were married and made their home here in Edmond. Jim and Janie attended Waterloo Church of the Nazarene and (Jim’s words) loved their church family. Jim passed away on October 7, 2021. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Deane and survived by daughters Linda, Debbie, husband Pete, and Jody, along with 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and his wife Janie. And Janie’s children, Julie Howard, Jenna Howard, Jeff Howard, wife Kelsey, Johanna Wilson, husband Michael, Jessica Klein, husband James, along with 8 grandchildren.
Jim will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Memorial Service: Wednesday, Oct.27, 2021 @ 2:00 p.m. , location: Waterloo Church of the Nazarene, 457 W. Waterloo, Edmond, OK 73025