Obituary for James Alford Gunn, Jr.
James Alford Gunn, Jr, 85, passed from this life May 6, 2023, at his home in Legacy Village. A celebration of his life service will be 3:00 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023 at the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater.
James was born to James Alford and Mayble (Blacklidge) Gunn on April 7, 1938 in Monticello, Arkansas. After graduating from Monticello High School in 1956, he attended the University of Arkansas, majoring in accounting. He earned a bachelor's degree in business in 1960, a master's degree in 1961 and a PhD in 1963, as well as a CPA certification.
In 1959, Jim married Cathleen (Catsy) Collard in Little Rock, Arkansas. They lived in Fayetteville while he finished his degrees and taught at the University of Arkansas for one year. They then moved to Stillwater where he was an associate professor of accounting in the College of Business at Oklahoma State University for seven years. He left OSU, but remained in Stillwater where he developed his own business in estate planning, life insurance and financial investing. Jim succeeded in all these endeavors, receiving recognition and honors for being a leading agent in the insurance companies he represented and for being a top investment advisor.
Throughout his life, Jim was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, serving as deacon, elder and officer in the Cimarron Presbytery. He also served on Stillwater Medical Center's Board of Directors for a number of years. Jim was an avid OSU football and basketball supporter, attending hundreds of home games and traveling to conference championships and NCAA Tournaments.
James is survived by his wife, Catsy; their daughter Leslie and her husband Chris Roark; their children Libby Roark, Ryan Roark and Kailee Roark Young and her husband Marshall as well as their son, Micah. Also surviving is their daughter Lori Smith Schram; grandson Cody Smith and granddaughter Casey Smith Skelton and her husband Zach Skelton.
Those wishing to honor Jim's memory may do so by contributing to the First Presbyterian Church, 524 S. Duncan St. Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
James was born to James Alford and Mayble (Blacklidge) Gunn on April 7, 1938 in Monticello, Arkansas. After graduating from Monticello High School in 1956, he attended the University of Arkansas, majoring in accounting. He earned a bachelor's degree in business in 1960, a master's degree in 1961 and a PhD in 1963, as well as a CPA certification.
In 1959, Jim married Cathleen (Catsy) Collard in Little Rock, Arkansas. They lived in Fayetteville while he finished his degrees and taught at the University of Arkansas for one year. They then moved to Stillwater where he was an associate professor of accounting in the College of Business at Oklahoma State University for seven years. He left OSU, but remained in Stillwater where he developed his own business in estate planning, life insurance and financial investing. Jim succeeded in all these endeavors, receiving recognition and honors for being a leading agent in the insurance companies he represented and for being a top investment advisor.
Throughout his life, Jim was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, serving as deacon, elder and officer in the Cimarron Presbytery. He also served on Stillwater Medical Center's Board of Directors for a number of years. Jim was an avid OSU football and basketball supporter, attending hundreds of home games and traveling to conference championships and NCAA Tournaments.
James is survived by his wife, Catsy; their daughter Leslie and her husband Chris Roark; their children Libby Roark, Ryan Roark and Kailee Roark Young and her husband Marshall as well as their son, Micah. Also surviving is their daughter Lori Smith Schram; grandson Cody Smith and granddaughter Casey Smith Skelton and her husband Zach Skelton.
Those wishing to honor Jim's memory may do so by contributing to the First Presbyterian Church, 524 S. Duncan St. Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074