Irene James, 68, of Poteau, passed away Friday, July 5, 2002. She was born Dec. 1, 1933 at Beaver Mountain to Charles and Lamina Alverson Dilday. She married Leroy James May 3, 1953, and she received her Associate of Arts at CASC in 1975, Bachelor of Science in 1978 and a Masters in Education from Northeastern State University in 1983 with a special endorsement in kindergarten and social studies in 1978. She retired as a kindergarten teacher for Panama Public Schools 1979-1996. She was very active in her community, was a tutor for Indian students at Poteau Public Schools, a
secretary of Panama Classroom Teacher's Association 1986-1987; she was the secretary/treasurer of the LeFlore County Oklahoma Education Association from 1986-1991, a delegate for the Oklahoma Education Association and a member of the International Reading association. She served on the LeFlore County and Oklahoma Reading Councils, was listed in Who's Who in American Education 1996-1997, was a member of the First Baptist Church in Poteau and her avocations were: Reading, sewing, gardening, traveling and enjoying being Allie's grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Estelle Nelson.
Survivors include her husband of the home; one daughter, Nancy James Stimson and husband David of Anchorage, Alaska; two sons, Bill James of Tulsa and Michael James of Fort Smith; one sister, Ethel Patton of Visalia, Calif.; and one granddaughter, Allie James.
Services were at 1 p.m. Monday, July 8 at First Baptist Church in Poteau with the Revs. Phil McGehee and Don McAlvain
officiating. Burial followed at Antioch Cemetery under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Stigler.
Pallbearers were Bill James, Michael James, David Stimson, David James, Mark James and James Caesar.
