James B. Dutton

James Belmont Dutton, 94, went home to be with Jesus on March 17, 2011. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. He was the longest serving active reserve deputy for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. Jim completed background checks and interviews of reserve deputy applicants and performed other administrative tasks relating to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division. He was the first responder to the Murrah Building bombing and was honored for his courageous work. He served in the Army for three years, fought in World War II and fought at the Battle of the Bulge. Jim also served as the music director at Downtown Baptist Church for 74 years and worked at the State Fair of Oklahoma for 60 years.

James and his wife, Mona Mae, celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on February 27, 2011. Jim always called Mona his “beautiful bride” and their unconditional love for each other was an inspiration to their entire family. Jim trusted God with every decision in his life. Even at 14 years old, he was praying that God would allow him to marry Mona, so he built an altar and would kneel and pray every day after school for God’s wisdom and direction. Jim loved to sing and would frequently sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “Harvest Moon” to his wife.

Jim was always helping others and he would never sit down if someone else was working. He believed that you should always leave any place in better condition than you found it. Jim was known as the man that distributed State Fair coloring books every fall. He loved desserts and would top any type of food with jelly. He was able to travel extensively all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii and also Israel and Europe. He was recently honored by being chosen to participate in the Oklahoma Honor Flights, which flew him to Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial.

Jim was preceded in death by his son, Jimmy Dutton. He is survived by his “beautiful bride” Mona Dutton, his son Robert Dutton and wife Judy and his daughter Joanne McCullah and husband Gene. His grandchildren include Jim Dutton and wife Founda, John Dutton and wife LaDonna, Chris Cox and wife Karen, Tina Moore and husband Greg, Shayla Blomstrom, Stacy Camp and husband Jim, and Christa Pratt and husband Jason. His great grandchildren include Kristi Howell, Alan Dutton, Victoria Dutton, Christopher Dutton, Scott Cox, Stephanie Austin, Alicia Cox, Kayla Cox, Paul Cox, Chloe Moore, Nealon Moore, Mycalyn Blomstrom, Melea Blomstrom, Haley Camp, Callie Camp, Gabriel Camp, Danae Pratt and Leacie Mae Pratt. His great great grandchildren include Mylee Howell, Kaylee Howell, Christopher Cox and Liberty Austin.

Arrangements under the direction of Guardian Funeral Homes West Chapel, Oklahoma City, OK.