James Dudley Hyde

James Dudley Hyde passed away peacefully at home on February 20, 2025, after an extended illness. He was born on May 20, 1944, in Oklahoma City to Homer Hyde and Winonah Hyde. His father later married Lou Hyde, to whom he remained married until his death.

Dudley had deep roots in Oklahoma. He attended Cleveland Elementary School, Taft Middle School, and Northwest Classen High School before graduating from the University of Oklahoma, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Army ROTC program. While at OU, Dudley met Sue Ann White. They married after his first semester of law school at Southern Methodist University. Their honeymoon in Tucson marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the American Southwest.

After law school, Dudley was commissioned as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and assigned to Panama, where he served as defense counsel for U.S. soldiers. Their daughter, Corey, was born during their time there, and Dudley perfected his own memorable version of ceviche. Following his military service, he earned a Master of Laws in corporate tax law from George Washington University.

In September 1974, Dudley joined the McAfee & Taft law firm, and he and Sue Ann returned to Oklahoma City. Their son, Devon, was born the following year.

Dudley loved helping people. His legal practice often involved creatively structuring compensation arrangements that served both employers and employees. He was an exceptional facilitator — thoughtful, steady, and fair. His commitment to community was equally strong. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 193 for ten years and as Board President of both the Public School Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.

He loved the outdoors and was a dedicated runner, completing the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the Dallas Marathon, among many others. In Oklahoma City, he helped found the Red Bud Classic and the OU Arts Classic. He was a steadfast member of the Wilshire Running Club, a group of men who ran together six days a week for more than 20 years. He especially loved running with his dogs.

Dudley is survived by his wife, Sue Ann; his daughter, Corey (David Kilmetz); his son, Devon (Betsy); his sister, Marcia (Tom Tammi), and niece, Emma Tammi; his brother, Clark Hyde (Lynette Hyde), formerly married to Betsy Hyde; and nephews, Clark and Robert Hyde.

A service will be held Friday, February 27, at 2:00 p.m. at All Souls Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the families name to the Oklahoma Humane Society or The Nature Conservancy.

He lived with quiet strength, deep curiosity, and enduring love for his family and community.