James "Jim" Allen DeSilver

Feb. 25, 1937 – Jan. 1, 2023

James Allen (Jim) DeSilver, 85, was born Feb. 25, 1937, to James B. and Edith Allen DeSilver at Shawnee, Okla. He grew up in Chandler, Okla., attending most of his grade school and high school classes there, with the exception of a few years at Sparks, Okla., and Meeker, Okla. He graduated from Chandler High School in 1955.

Jim attended college briefly at Central State College in Edmond and later received credits at Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma. He began working at an early age for his father in a family-owned weekly newspaper in Chandler, where he served as editor. That newspaper was sold in 1959 and his father purchased a newspaper in Wynnewood, Okla., where he again served as editor.

He married Kay Wayland, also from Chandler, in 1957, and they had three children, DeAnn, Debi, and Jay. On March 3, 1972, he married Ruth Meradith Hardy. She had two children, David and Paul, from a previous marriage.

In addition to working as a reporter and editor for over 25 years for multiple newspapers, including The Duncan Banner, The Lawton Constitution, The Tulsa Tribune, and The Daily Oklahoman, he also proudly served with the Oklahoma National Guard and as a police officer in Duncan, Okla. In 1982, he left the news rooms and entered the field of alcoholism and drug treatment. This decision was based on his personal journey and the desire to help others. He worked 11 years for Presbyterian Hospital Chemical Dependency Center and nine years for Valley Hope Association.

Jim served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force for Chemical Dependency Needs in 1997-98. He was honored in 1986 as Oklahoma Counselor of the Year and in 1995 as Oklahoma Drug, Alcohol Counselor Association’s Professional of the Year. He served as president of the association in 1986-87. He also served as President of the Associated Press Oklahoma News Executives in 1977.

He is survived by his three children: DeAnn Gatlin and her husband, Terry, of Lawton; Debi DeSilver, of Rush Springs; and Jay DeSilver and his wife, Lee Ann, of Lawton; six grandchildren: David Mabry, Daniel Mabry, and Doug Mabry; Matt Terry and Jacob Terry; and JW DeSilver; 13 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and his stepson, David Hardy and his wife, Angie, of Norman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 48 years, Ruth; two sisters, Virginia Vandevier and Donna Gilliam; and his stepson, Paul Hardy.