Obituary for James Paris

Former Ponca City businessman, James Max Paris of Tulsa passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2014, at St. Francis Hospital. He was 86.

Memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, January 2, 2015 at Grace Episcopal Church with Rev. Susanne Methven, officiating. The family will be at funeral home on Thursday, January 1, from 5 – 7 p.m.

Jim was born on July 25, 1928 to Glenn E. Paris and Louise (Brant) Paris. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1946. He attended Kemper Military Academy and graduated from Oklahoma A & M University (now Oklahoma State University) in 1950. A member of Sigma Nu fraternity, he was an avid OSU fan and lifetime OSU Alumni Association member.

He married E. Beth Carpenter on April 12, 1952. The youngest son of the Paris and Sons Furniture Stores family, he was an active community leader until retiring from the retail furniture business in 1989. As a hobby, he continued working in the furniture business as a manufacturers’ representative for several companies and mentoring young professionals in retail business.

He served on First National Bank and Ponca City Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Additionally, he served as president and was on board of directors of Ponca City Country Club and Camp Fire Girls. He was an active member and president of Noon Lions Club and earned 35-Year Perfect Attendance Award.

After his retirement from the retail business, he lived in Hot Springs Village, AR and Las Cruces, NM before moving back to Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Beth, of the home; one son, James “Chip” Paris and his wife, Stephanie, of McKinney Texas; two daughters, Leslie Paris of Tulsa, and Lynne Paris Waters, Tulsa; and three grandchildren, Jordan Paris of McKinney, TX, and Sean and Jessica Waters, Tulsa. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Burial will be at the Resthaven Memorial Parks in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.?

Honorary casket bearers will be Pat Nickles, Mike McFadden, Chip Schula, John McFadden, Clark Nickles, Brad Phelps, Gary Farabough, Alan Buttram, Richard Welborn, and David Keathly.? Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal Church or St. Francis Hospital Hospice of Tulsa, 6600 S. Yale Ave., Suite 350, Tulsa, OK, 74136.

Source: Trout Funeral Home