James W. Roberts

JAMES WILLIAM ROBERTS was born in Holdenville, OK, on April 29, 1920, and died June 3, 2010. He was the youngest child of Charles F. and Gertrude (Mathis) Roberts, who, with his brothers, Vernon E. and Frank M. Roberts, preceded him in death. He and Lois Burrell Heathman were married December 27, 1946, and had two children, Jerri Ann, who is married to Terry Dillon of Edmond, and Ellen Lee, who is married to Joel DeFehr, of Oklahoma City. He is survived by his wife, daughters, and four grandchildren: Teranne Keogh of Melbourne, Australia, Greg DePlois and Tim DeFehr of Oklahoma City, and Leslie Brown of Fort Worth; three step-grandchildren: Tracy Bowron of Munich, Germany, Brian Dillon of Dallas, and Patrick Dillon of St. Louis; six great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews who were very special to him. He graduated from Holdenville High School in 1938 and attended one year at the local business school. His studied at the University of Oklahoma were interrupted by four years of military service, two years of which were spent in India during WWII. He graduated from OU in 1949 with a BA and an LLB degree; the latter was later superseded by a JD degree. After working three years for the State Supreme Court, he became associated with the Oklahoma City law firm of Kerr, Davis, Roberts, Irving and Burbage. In 1966 he joined the Law Department of Kerr-McGee Corporation, retiring in 1985 as Division Counsel of the Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division. He was a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, legal fraternity Phi Delta Phi, and a Mason. He is listed in Strathmore’s Who’s Who. His family and church were his main interests. He was a member of Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City for sixty years, where he served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and on various committees. He and Lois joined Spring Creek Baptist Church in 2007. Upon retirement, he and Lois traveled extensively, having visited every continent except South America. He loved history, gardening, and painting, but one of his greatest enjoyments was traveling with his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday, June 6, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. A Memorial service will be held on Sunday as well, 3:00 p.m. at Spring Creek Baptist Church, 11701 North MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, with a graveside services on Monday, June 7, 2:00 p.m., at Memorial Park Cemetery