James Warren Keithley Ph.D.

James was born June 25, 1955, in a thunderstorm to his parents Charles Henry Keithley and Jewell Elizabeth (Carter) Keithley in Lamesa, Texas. James graduated from Shawnee High in May 1973, where he was editor of the school newspaper. He married Patricia Ann Henfling on January 4, 1975, at St. Gregory’s Abbey, where they had met in English class. James received an A.S. in May of 1975 from St. Gregory’s College in Shawnee. He then went on to the University of Oklahoma to receive a B.A. in Anthropology in May of 1978. He was awarded an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology in May of 1982. In 1990, James received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, enabling him to become a licensed psychologist.

James developed the St. Joseph’s Family Counseling Program with Catholic Charities in Oklahoma City in 1990. In 1995, James was a leader and organizer of death notifications for the Red Cross, following the April 19 OKC Murrah Building bombing. For a time, James had a private practice in Midwest City and Norman. He helped found the Crisis Intervention Team Training, helping to train police to deal with the mentally ill. For 23 nonconsecutive years he worked with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, retiring as a Clinical Coordinator in July of 2014. Currently, he was Chair and Assistant Professor of the new Master’s Program in Counseling Psychology at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee.

James loved God, his family and friends. He enjoyed making people smile, sharing stories, reading (especially history), teaching, photography, boating, metal detecting, target practice, hunting, and camping. Along with his family, James has been a member of the St. Thomas More University Parish since 1975. James was also a member of the American Psychological Association, the Tri-City Gun Club, and an NRA Benefactor Life Member.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Jewell Keithley, his brothers, Charles and Melvin Keithley; his sister, Theresa (Keithley) Heer; and his brother-in-law, William Mark Henfling.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia of 41 years; his daughter, Melissa Regina Keithley of Norman; his son, Christopher Mark and wife Amanda (Teague) Keithley of Moore; his nephews and niece, Charles Heer, Michael and Jessica Heer, Madonna (Heer) and Brad Bauch; his great nieces and nephews Charlotte, Alexander, Grace, and Henry all of Texas; his father and mother-in-law Harold Anthony and Theresa Patricia (Coleman) Henfling of Oklahoma City; his brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, John and Marie (Garcia) Henfling, and Joseph and Cynthia (Drayer) Henfling; his nieces and nephews, Aaron Henfling, Amanda (Henfling) and Mark Zuverink, Allison Henfling, Kaitlyn (Henfling) and Zachary Ochoa, all of New Mexico.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 28 from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Primrose Funeral Service, 1109 N. Porter Ave. Norman, OK. Rosary/Prayer Service will be held on March 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Primrose Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, March 29, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas More University Parish, 100 S. Stinson Norman, OK. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Oklahoma City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee.

The family appreciates all the love and support of everyone at this most difficult time.

Arrangements entrusted to Primrose Funeral Service, Norman, OK