James Matthews Vannoy's Obituary
James Vannoy Obituary
A Memorial Mass for James Matthews "Jim" Vannoy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 12, 2020 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in McAlester. Fr. Jovita Okonkwo will be the Celebrant. Inurnment will be at Memory Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are with Bixby Funeral Service and Bishop Funeral Service of McAlester.Born September 30, 1939, in Holdenville, Oklahoma, James Matthews “Jim” Vannoy was the second of three boys gifted to Charles L. and Lenora (Matthews) Vannoy. When Jim was a boy, the Vannoy family made a move to McAlester, where they established their home and raised their sons. Jim was a 1957 graduate of McAlester High School, where he excelled in school. He would further his education by attending East Central in Ada, where he completed his bachelor’s in Education in only three years and later obtained a master's degree. Recruited by New Mexico’s public school system, Jim began teaching in Albuquerque, where he loved his job. He would teach in both junior high and high school classrooms, as well as serve as the Activities Director, taking on the difficult task of things such as chaperoning the ski club!A return home became necessary for Jim in the late 1980s to care for his parents and other family members. In McAlester, he became active in St. John’s Catholic Church sitting on various boards and volunteering numerous hours for the Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma. Also, Jim found joy in working part-time for Foster’s Flowers. Described as: good-hearted, generous, giving, caring, and humorous, Jim was a guy who was fun to have around. He enjoyed traveling and spent many hours crappie fishing on Lake Eufaula. Jim passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2020, in Broken Arrow. He was 80. He is survived by two brothers: Tommy Vannoy and wife, June of Broken Arrow and Bill Vannoy and wife, Karen of Leesburg, Florida; numerous nieces and nephews including Tommy Vannoy, II (Liliane); Jamie Vannoy (Jennifer); Robert Vannoy (Kim); Brenda Gale (Rick); William Vannoy (Lindsay) and Richard Vannoy (Jennifer). He is also survived by numerous great-nephews and a great-niece including Philip, Austin, Andy, Joe B., Jeff, Joey (Summer), Josh (Lizzie), Bryce, Ryan, Caden, Willie, and Claire. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lenora. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim's memory to Knights of Columbus Assistance Fund, P. O. Box 3502, McAlester, OK, 74501.
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