James Leroy Harden Sr.

James LeRoy Harden, Sr. was born on May 30, 1938, to Robert Levi and Lillian Myrtle (Clark) Harden in Watonga, Oklahoma. During his younger years he worked picking cotton and working on the family. After completing high school, he worked at the Ford garage and the Deep Rock gas station in Watonga, Oklahoma, when he met his wife, Virginia Schimmels, of thirty-eight years. After completion of Army boot camp, they were married on June 7, 1959. In April of 1960, he was sent to Vicenza, Italy for two years for the US Army. After discharge, James, Virginia, and their daughter Kathy moved to Del City, Oklahoma, where they had three more children, James Jr., Mark, and Robert. James worked as a self-employed cabinet maker and finish carpenter in the new home construction business for approximately fifty years. He was active in the Boy Scouts as a scout master and also as a little league baseball coach for many years. He loved to fish. He also loved to quail and pheasant hunt with his brothers and friends, and later with his sons and grandsons. Some of his fondest memories were of deer hunting and camping trips with his family, sons, and grandsons. He enjoyed listening to and singing Gospel and Bluegrass music and did so as often as possible with friends and family. James was a member of New Life Baptist Church for over twenty years and enjoyed serving in the food pantry ministry and attending Sunday school and Wednesday night classes.

James was preceded in death by his wife Virginia, daughter Kathy, and son Robert, by his parents, by three sisters, Imagene, Martha Jane, Lula Mae, and one brother Raymond. He is survived by his brother Wesley and sisters Roberta and Francis. He is also survived by his son James, Jr. and wife Renae, his son Mark and wife Michelle, and four grandsons, Jeremy Oliver, Robbie Harden, Jacob Harden, and Joshua Harden. He dearly loved and was proud of all of his family, but especially those four boys.

He entered into his eternal rest while at home on January 1, 2024.

A visitation for James will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, 8805 NE 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73141. A funeral service will occur Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM at New Life Baptist Church, 8900 S Peebly Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 74857. A graveside service will occur at Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery in Harrah, OK directly following the funeral service.