Jimmy Wilson was born January 12, 1931 in Bar X Township, Roger Mills County Oklahoma to C.N. (Clarence Noble) and Myrtle Lucille Fimple Wilson.
Jimmy was the youngest of their four children. He lived on the farm home place as a young boy and attended Canadian School and later Liberty Center School. While still in grade school, C.N. started a John Deere franchise and hardware store in Leedey, so the family moved into town.
Concentrating on schoolwork was not at the top of young Jimmy’s list. Hyperactive and fun loving Jimmy would rather be doing something other than school work. He always said that he had two favorite teachers while in grade school and he thought he was their favorite also because each one of them kept him for two years! He said the one thing he learned was that “D” stood for “Dandy” and “F” always meant “Fine!”
As a grown man, any time he was sitting still with napkins, paper and pen around, Jimmy would write “Jimmy Wilson is a good boy!” We assume that was ingrained to his memory from writing it many times while missing recess! In spite of his school years, he became a very successful businessman.
Jimmy was a fast runner, self taught because he was always running from the mischievous trouble which he was usually involved with. In high school he ran track and won many awards.
When Jimmy started his Freshman year at Leedey, he discovered that a pretty little brunette girl had transferred from Moorewood School into Leedey and she immediately caught his eye. They became high school sweethearts and this began a relationship that would last for the next 73 years. On May 18, 1951, Jimmy and Christene secretly got married at her Moorewood home with just a few close relatives and the preacher (Brother Jim Garner) on hand in the early afternoon. After the ceremony they went to Leedey that night and went through their graduation ceremony without telling any of their friends of the marriage because Christene was sure that Jimmy’s friends would put them through a not so pleasant shivaree if they knew they had gotten married. Jimmy and Christene left immediately after the graduation and went on their honeymoon.
In 1953 the drought had made it hard for anyone to make a living so Jimmy and Christene packed up and along with their firstborn ,Joyce, they moved to Cheyenne Wyoming where Jimmy could find work with his two uncles who owned a business there. When the drought was over they returned to Leedey and have remained since.
Jimmy was a farmer, rancher and for a few years was an oil field pumper starting out with Shell Oil Company back in the 70’s. Jimmy was a long time member and attended First Baptist Church in Leedey. In their early retirement, Jimmy and Christene had travel trailers and enjoyed extended stays at Branson, Raton, Ruidoso, New Mexico, and Denver, Colorado.
When Remington Park opened they were regulars for several years. Jimmy’s love for horse races began at an early age when his dad had racehorses and Jimmy was the jockey and had a lot of success and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Jimmy loved hunting quail, deer and pheasants, fishing trips to Lake Texoma, horse races, Leedey basketball and other sports, telling a good story and having a cold Dr. Pepper .If he was ever in a place with cloth napkins, he had some nifty folding tricks along with “Jimmy” dialog that would make us all have a really good laugh! Being the character he was, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have many, many “Jimmy” stories to share.
Jimmy was proceeded in death by his parents, siblings Melvin Wilson, Marshall Wilson, Nadine Wilson and great grandson Jadan Haney.
Jimmy is survived by his wife Christene, children Joyce Johnson and husband Red, Linda Ommen and husband Roger and son Mike and wife Jerri. Grandchildren Mark Haney, Matt Haney, Jo Ediger, Ryan Ommen, Rocky Ommen, Levi Wilson and Nicole Merwin, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Memorials may be made to the Shirley Cemetery in care of Shaw Funeral Home, P.O. Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.
Private Graveside Services were held Tuesday August 18, 2020 at 10:30 am at Shirley Cemetery, Leedey, OK. Condolences may be made to the family at shawfuneralhome.net. Shaw Funeral Home of Leedey.