Services for James (Jim) Farley Speed will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17 at the Morris Memorial Baptist Church in Ada, Oklahoma. Revs. Dustin Felcman and Gary Jamar will officiate. Burial at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada will follow immediately after the services. A visitation will be held for friends and family Wednesday, March 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada.
James Farley Speed passed away peacefully at home on March 12, 2022 at the age of 88. Jim was born November 11, 1933, to Luther Monroe Speed and Lillie Estelle (Rhodus) Speed. Jim married Patricia J. Elshire on February 24, 1962 in Waco, Texas.
Jim is survived by his wife, Patty Speed of the home, daughter, Susan Smith and husband Darryl of Stillwater, Oklahoma; son, Jim Speed of Ada; former daughter-in-law Laurie Speed; son Bill Speed and wife Melissa of Ada; daughter Sally Richardson and husband Randy of Orlando, Oklahoma; twelve grandchildren, Ben Smith and wife Taryn of Edmond; Will Smith of Royse City, Texas; Tim Smith and wife Brea of Tulsa; Sam Smith and wife Amber of Edmond; Emily Neal and husband Tom of Wichita, Kansas; Thomas Richardson of Tulsa; Abby Richardson of Orlando; Will Speed, Lexie Speed, Lillie Speed, James Speed, and Logan Speed all of Ada; and five great grandchildren, Sophia Smith, Andy Smith, Beckett Smith, Nathan Smith and Ryan Neal.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and all fifteen (15) of his siblings.
Bearers will be Jim’s grandsons, Ben Smith, Will Smith, Tim Smith, Sam Smith, Will Speed, Thomas Richardson and James Speed, and grandson-in-law Tom Neal. Honorary bearers will be Vernon Langley, Sam McClure, Virgil Franks, Danny Matthews and the members of the Gideons Ada Camp.
Jim was born in deep south Mississippi in a small town named Chatawa. Jim grew up on a small farm in south Mississippi. He was a member of a large family that worked hard and in which the older siblings helped raise and teach the younger siblings. Jim graduated Southwest Mississippi Junior College where he played basketball on scholarship. After graduating from Southwest, Jim entered the United States Army in which he served for two years as an artilleryman, mostly in Germany and Austria. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Jim attended and graduated Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a degree in Economics.
Jim and his wife and two children moved to Ada in 1966 at the behest or request of his employer, the Internal Revenue Service. He and Patty loved Ada and made it their home. In 1969, Jim opened his own public accounting office, James F. Speed Accounting, and worked there until he was no longer able to work. What he most enjoyed about his work was talking with his friends and clients, usually a lot about basketball and cows and a little about the clients’ income taxes. In 1972, Jim and Patty and their four children moved to their farm west of Latta. When Jim was asked what he was raising out there on the farm, his reply was “children.”
Jim was a born again Christian and, for as long as he was able, an active member of his church, Morris Memorial Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as a deacon for many years.
Jim served his community well. He was a member and leader of the Latta School Board for ten years. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for many years, serving as President of the local Kiwanis Club. Jim was 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner.
Jim believed in the truth and power of the bible. He was a Gideon for more than 20 years and served as the president of the Ada Camp at least twice. The last time that he passed out bibles at East Central University he was well into his 80s and not feeling real well; he grew weary, needed to sit down and needed help to his car. He never shirked from work.
The family would request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Gideons International.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
