James (Jim) Grennan, born on Sunday, March 19, 1933 passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Jim graduated from Bradford Senior High School in June, 1951 and enlisted in the US Navy on July 16, 1951. Contrary to much advice, he was a volunteer. He volunteered to type longhand notes and avoided most of the Navy's Boot Camp training. After Yeoman School in Norfolk, VA., he was assigned to the staff of an Admiral at the Naval Air Station in Millington, TN. After typing and retyping letters created by naval officers, he volunteered to take shorthand for the Admiral's Legal Staff Officer.
With his Royal Portable Typewriter always nearby, he never learned 8 hours of High School shorthand as he could type faster than that required for shorthand. After taking his first unsubscribable dictation, he announced that he was a bit rusty but could easily take dictation on a typewriter. And so he did and was rewarded with a trip to the US Naval School of Justice, Newport, RI. Upon completing that course he was selected to attend the first Stenomask School. Upon his return to the base at Millington, TN. he was the only military person reporting to General Court Martials.
When assigned to reporting a General Court Martial at the US Naval Air Station, Norman, OK. he met the love of his life, Pat Ridgway. They were married on July 17, 1954 in Okemah, OK. He never forgot their anniversary as it was the same month and day that one year later he was awarded his Honorable Discharge. Thereafter he attended the University of Tulsa and earned his BA and LLB degrees. The LLB is now the Juris Doctor Degree.
After several years of employment with the Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, and with a law firm, he opened his own law office here in Oklahoma City in 1979. A solo practitioner with but one wonderful secretary, Linda Holland. He and his wife spent many weeks traveling about our world. On their 50th anniversary cruise his wife took ill, and illness that took her life on October 26, 2011.
A wonderful life here on earth to which it can be said, Jim did it his way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Grace Grennan; and sister, Jean Grennan Herbert.
He is survived by his two sons, Mark Grennan and wife Linda and Jon Grennan; grandson, Nathan of Redwood City, CA and granddaughter Traci of Oklahoma City; siblings, Robert Grennan, and sister Betty Grennan Wight.
The family would like to say a special thank you to Harmony Home care and Frontier Hospice for their wonderful care of Jim recently. Both teams have been such a blessing to Jim and the rest of the family.
In honor of Jim, please make donations to Hearts For Hearing at www.heartsforhearing.org/donate or Wild Heart Ranch at 918-342-9453 or paypal.me/wildheart
A memorial service will be held 1pm Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at Bill Merritt Funeral Chapel.
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