James “Jim” Leon Towle
1954-2026
Marcia; and numerous nieces, nephews, greatnieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Maxine Towle and his father-inlaw, Lawrence Biggs.
Jim’s life was built around the people he loved, the work he was proud of, and the memories he made along the way. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, loyalty, family, friendship, and love. Though his time with us ended far too suddenly, the love he gave and the memories he created will live on in the hearts of his family and all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Funeral services for Jim will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, August 13, 2026 at First Southern Baptist Church located at 202 East Noble Avenue in Guthrie. Interment will be held at Summit View Cemetery following the service. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 102 East Noble Avenue, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and administration at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital.
The family asks that memorial donations in the honor of Jim be made to: Oklahoma Heart Hospital Research Foundation (OHHRF) 4200 W. Memorial Rd, Suite 510, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.
James “Jim” Leon Towle, 71, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on August 6, 2026. Jim was born on December 10, 1954, in Guthrie, Oklahoma, to James and Maxine Towle. He grew up in Guthrie and graduated from Guthrie High School in 1973.
It was at First Southern Baptist Church in Guthrie, while working together in the toddler nursery, that Jim met the love of his life, Evelyn Biggs. Their relationship quickly blossomed, and on August 4, 1973, Jim and Evelyn began what would become 53 years of marriage filled with love, family, laughter, and countless memories.
In 1974, Jim began his lifelong career with Dolese Bros. Co. He started by driving a dump truck and, after turning 21, began driving a mixer truck at the Guthrie Batch Plant. From the very beginning, Jim was determined to build a career. One of the first questions he asked was, “What do I need to do to move up in the company?” That determination and work ethic remained with him throughout his career.
Jim’s work with Dolese took the family to several Oklahoma communities, including Guthrie, Stillwater, back to Guthrie, Sulphur, Weatherford, back to Sulphur, and eventually Moore, where he retired after an incredible 41 years of service.
On December 26, 1975, Jim and Evelyn welcomed their daughter, Shannon, and on May 15, 1979, their daughter, Jamie, was born. Family was the most important part of Jim’s life, and the love he had for them was Jim was a loyal and loving husband, father, Pa, brother, and friend. He had a genuine kindness that made people feel welcome. He greeted people with a hug or a handshake or sometimes both and truly never met a stranger. Wherever Jim went, he seemed to make a new friend. When he returned from a trip, everyone could count on hearing all about the people he had met and seeing pictures from the entire adventure.
Jim also had a way of staying connected to the people he loved, even when they weren’t together. He was known for sending Instagram reels to family and friends, usually accompanied by the message, “I knew you would like this one.” Those little messages were just another way Jim showed people that he was thinking about them.
Above all, Jim loved his family. His 53 years with Evelyn, his daughters, his son in laws that were more like sons, his grandchildren, his siblings, and the many family members and friends he held close were the greatest parts of his life. His sudden passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness for those who knew and loved him, but his stories, laughter, hugs, handshakes, and countless memories will remain with them forever.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Evelyn Towle of Oklahoma City; daughters, Shannon Martin and husband Jimmy of Edmond,Oklahoma and Jamie Winters and husband JJ of Mustang, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Logan, Teagan, Jace, and Kinley; sister, Sheryl Miles and husband Don; brother, Gaylan Towle and wife evident in everything he did.
As a young man, Jim enjoyed raising and showing pigs as a member of FFA. He was a member of ROCT, enjoyed trips to Falls Creek, and loved helping his dad on the farm. While dating, when the Towle’s would go on family vacation, Jim would ask Evelyn to feed the pigs. She was definitely not the “country” girl, but loved Jim enough that she could never tell him no.
As the years went by, Jim’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. He loved family vacations, days spent at the lake, cruises, watching his grandchildren participate in school activities and sporting events, Dodger baseball, OU sports, and tailgating before OU football games. He treasured the countless ordinary moments just as much as the big ones.
Then came one of the greatest titles of his life: Pa.
Jim loved his grandchildren with a love like no other. He made it a priority to be there for their school programs, football games, baseball games, golf tournaments, band concerts, and marching band competitions, and so many other special moments. He loved doing fun things with Logan, Teagan, Jace, and Kinley. His grandchildren knew without a doubt how proud their Pa was of them.
Published in the Guthrie News Leader - August 12, 2026