Obituary for James “Jim” Hastings

James "Jim" William Hastings, lifelong resident of Ponca City, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015, at the age of 92.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Albright United Methodist Church with Reverend Scott Spencer officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

Jim was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Ponca City, the son of James Willard Hastings and Ruth Kathryn Hastings in Ponca City. He was raised in Ponca City.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a Ship’s Cook 1st Class in Jacksonville, Fla. He learned his love of cooking for others while serving his country as an instructor.

He was married to the former Mary Lee Colvin for 68 years until her death in 2011. Three children were born to this union. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Juna Lee Hastings and two sisters, Doris Cable and Kathryn Morris. He worked at Conoco R&D Laboratory for 35 years where he received honors for several patented ideas and helped develop a solution which later became today’s fabric softener. He served his church for many years on the board, in the choir and on finance and building committees.

Jim was a leader of Boy Scout Troop 2 for six years, guiding over 60 young boys in the scouting way of life. Some scouts made trips to the National Jamboree and to Philmont Ranch in New Mexico. Troop 2 also raised money for a bus they donated to the church. He also served as the Will Rogers Council Scout Commissioner for five years. When he retired at age 57 he began a lifelong dream of fishing and traveling. Along with his wife, they spent 25 years as "Winter Texans" at Woody Acres RV Park in Fulton, Texas. While there, he implemented the best jam session in the area and entertained many retirees with their music programs. He loved salt-water fishing with friends, often catching 200 fish on each outing which he served at his famous "fish frys" both in Texas and on return to Ponca. As a history buff, he made it a point to travel in all 50 states and actually drove his RV over 49 of them.

More recently, he kept busy as a volunteer cook at McCord Senior Citizens Center where he loved to cook for others and chat with all his friends and former co-workers from Ponca City.

He is survived by one son, Jimmy D. Hastings and wife Sharon, of Piedmont; one daughter, Karen J. Ashley and husband Larry, of Rogers, Ark.; and one brother, Donald L. Hastings and wife Joanne, of Colorado. He is also survived by grandsons, Jason Ashley and Damon Hastings; granddaughters, Jennifer Hoskins and husband Mike and Amanda Wilson and husband Kirk; and eight great-grandchildren, Noah Hoskins, Savannah Hoskins, Seth Hoskins, Sydney Hoskins, Emma Ashley, Caylen Wilson, Gwyneth Hastings and Forest Hastings; He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; one daughter, Juna Lee Hastings; two sisters, Doris A. Cable and Kathryn Morris; and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Jim’s favorite volunteer endeavor in Ponca City. Please send them to the following: McCord Senior Citizen Center, Jim Hastings Memorial Fund, Peggy, Manager, 115 E. Mary Road, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home