Jewell Lavon (Whitehead) James

Jewell Lavon (Whitehead) James was born August 16, 1936 to Arthur Whitehead and Elsie (Glenn) Whitehead in rural Capron, Oklahoma and passed away on January 19, 2023 in her home at the age of 86. 

She attended Driftwood Public School through the 8th grade and then attended Burlington Public School, graduating in 1955. She then went to work in Washington D.C. as a civil servant for a year and afterwards came back and began working in a nursing home. She then went through Blackwell General Hospital LPN training, graduating in 1960. Then she began working in Enid. A year later, she married Frank James. She and Frank had three children: Sharon, Arthur, and Barbara. They lived in Oklahoma, Connecticut, and then returned to Oklahoma, where Frank left her to raise their children on her own. She fortunately had her parents, four sisters, and other relatives to help her. Jewell began working at the Cherokee Memorial Manor as an LPN for multiple years. She then went into private nursing for a family for almost 30 years. She retired in 2011. 

Jewell’s parents had a strong Christian faith that led their daughters to their own Christian lives. Jewell was a member of First Christian Church in Cherokee for close to 70 years. She had a great time growing up spending time with both sets of grandparents and extended family. Jewell was a hard worker and a great role model for her children and loved getting to see her grandchild and great-grandchildren grow up. She enjoyed spending time with her four sisters and their families. Jewell loved reading her Bible, going on trips, and watching movies.

Jewell was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Elsie Whitehead; sisters and husbands, Helen and Marvin Knopf, Jo Ann and Milton Dorris, Gladys and Norman Weigand, and Virginia Tatro.

She is survived by her three children, Sharon, Arthur, and Barbara; her granddaughter and husband, Tabitha and Terrance Long; and great-grandchildren, Truman and Triton Long; as well as numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Service for Jewell will be Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Cherokee First Christian Church.  Viewing will be Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 until 7:00.  Burial will be at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  www.lanmanmemorials.com Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorial contributions can be given to First Christian Church in Cherokee through the funeral home.

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