Jimmy Lee Horn

Jimmy Lee Horn, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2017, at his home in Cleveland, Oklahoma at the age of 80 years old.

Jim was born December 17, 1936, in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He was the son of Raymond Lee and Lucille LaVerne (Palmer) Horn. Jim was raised and received his education in Pawnee later graduating with the Class of 1955. Following high school, Jim began working in the oil fields of Oklahoma. Following a three-year courtship on August 26, 1956, in Pawnee, Oklahoma, Jim was united in marriage to the love of his life Judith Elaine Harp which would result in a 60-year successful marriage. The couple established their initial home in Pawnee but soon moved to Kansas. During his time in Kansas Jim began working for his father R.L. Horn and Sons Drilling. Jim learned the ropes of the oil field by starting as a derrick hand working his way up thru the ranks. Jim also worked for Loffland Brothers Drilling in Colombia, South America until the revolution caused the rig to be stacked and all the crew to be returned to the States.

Jim later entered the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy. Upon his graduation from the Academy, Trooper Jim Horn served in the Tulsa area. He was later transferred to Ardmore following the death of a trooper. Jim also worked in Ponca City and Burbank area before deciding to follow a different career path. Jim and Judy soon moved to Cleveland, and Jim accepted employment at Rader Detention Facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1988, Jim gained employment with the Central Vo-Tech facility in Drumright. Jim learned how to drive heavy equipment in the oil field as well as the laws needed to teach students from his time as an OHP officer. Jim worked as the instructor at Central Vo-Tech for semi-trucks until his retirement in 2003.

Jim had many things that he loved to do. One of his favorite things to do was fish and making fishing lures. Jim was such a good fisherman that he was banned from one tournament because the other entrants complained that he and his partner won too consistently. Jim enjoyed building model airplanes with his boys which also carried up into his adulthood. On numerous occasions, he and his good friend Dr. Bill Glasgow would fly the plane with their boys standing by patiently with cardboard boxes to pick up the pieces.

Jim felt one of his greatest personal accomplishments was learning to fly as a teenager. While later gaining his private pilots as well as his commercial pilots license and flying for an oil field supply company. Jim’s father in law stated that Jim was one who could catch a pass while showing a toothy grin to the spectators earning him his nickname “Show Boat.” Jim always felt that hard work, fairness and being early to everything was a trait others should admire. While knowing being early drove Judy crazy. One of Jim’s proudest moments was expressing his wedding vows to Judy, holding his first son and graduating from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy. Jim was also a great husband, father, grandpa, brother and friend that will be missed by many.

Survivors are his loving wife of over 60 years Judy of the home, three sons Lil' Jim Horn and his wife Missey of Anchorage, Alaska, Jon Horn and his wife Laura of Norman, Oklahoma, Jeff Horn and his wife Julie of Norman, Oklahoma; one sister Brenda Horn Blackard and her husband Dan of Valliant, Oklahoma; six grandchildren Justin Horn, Michael Horn, Savannah Horn, Braden Horn, Skylar Horn, Addison Horn; three great grandchildren Emily Madison Horn, Lucas Horn, Eleanor Horn, special Pat Wilcox, two dogs Annie and Roxy as well as numerous other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a son Joseph Leon Horn, one brother Gary Raymond Horn and a nephew, Kelly Raymond Horn.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday at the Chapman-Black Funeral Home Chapel with David Short officiating. Following services the body will be cremated under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends may share a memory with the family at the online at www.chapman-black.com