James Lee Whatley, 69, of Arkoma, passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023. He was born on February 24, 1954, in Dallas, Texas. He was his own person. A fair, honest, and steadfast man. James was also an avid fisherman. He was a U. S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. James truly loved and took care of the people he cared about. He was preceded in death by his Father, James Edgar Whatley, Mother, Mary Alice Whatley, and granddaughter, Abigail Nielsen.
He is survived by his wife Alice Whatley, of Arkoma; son James Travis Whatley and his wife Andi, of Spiro; step-daughter Sunny Davis of Kansas City; step-son Kyle Edwards of Maryland; brother Randy Whatley of Rudy, AR; sister Donna Kay Conner and her husband Michael, of Roland; and four grandchildren, Piper Nielsen, Carley Whatley, Leia Edwards, and Lydia Edwards.
Memorial Service will be 2:00 pm Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
