James Thomas "Tom" Agee

Graveside services for James Thomas "Tom" Agee, 92, of Ada, are at 2pm, Thursday, February 19th, at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada, Oklahoma, arranged by Criswell Funeral Home of Ada. It was Tom's wish that only a simple graveside service will be held. Brian Brashier, Darrell Walker, and Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kevin Meeks will officiate. Pallbearers will be Dan, Ed, and Tommy Collins, Steve and Moose Henry, Rex and Rowdy Jones, and Kevin Wood. Honorary pallbearers will be Junior Delozier, Brent Henry, and Patrick Smith. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and the family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 p.m.

James Thomas "Tom" Agee passed away on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at the Ardmore (OK) Veterans Center, where he was under care for advanced dementia. He was born December 20, 1933 in Madera, California to James Thomas and Inez Vernon (Alton) Agee. The family had left Ada for better opportunity in California. But Tom's father died before the baby was born. Life was difficult for a young widow with six children. Tom – our dad - worked from the time he was preschool age to help support the family. They moved to Texas, picking crops as a family, then back to Ada. As a boy in school, he worked as a helper in a mechanic's shop, at a café, at a gas station, and digging ditches for a plumbing company.

He met Deloris Ross in the 8th grade at Latta. He was out of school, working, when a friend took him to a Latta basketball game. The friend said, "If you come to school here, maybe you can date pretty girls like her." Daddy said Mama looked over her shoulder at him, and her big green eyes made him think he'd seen a "hoot owl". He said he fell for her right then. He enrolled at Latta, and excelled in the classroom, and in basketball, track, and baseball. Friends say Daddy stood out in the crowd, and was a charismatic natural leader. His teachers recognized his potential, and arranged a college scholarship. But he declined it to go to work. After graduation, he and Mama married on November 19, 1955. He said he never understood why the prettiest, best girl around chose a poor boy like him.

Daddy was drafted into the U.S. Army, and Mama followed him to Fort Lee, Virginia. There, he was named company clerk, and was such an excellent marksman, he was asked to join the Army's rifle team. Instead, after discharge, he and Mama and their first child, daughter Tracy, returned to Ada. He went to work for Lancaster Plumbing and soon became the plumber their customers asked for. At a waterline ditch cave-in, he saved the life of his boss, Kenneth Lancaster.

After a brief time in his own plumbing company with friends James Henry and Roger Stone, he worked at Valley View Hospital, then for Arkla Natural Gas. Arkla became a career, and he advanced to managing the distribution hub in Ada. He received many awards for his innovative ideas for Arkla, saving untold money for the company. After retirement, he took a part-time job at People's Electric Cooperative, and walked and traveled many miles daily with his co-worker and friend, Floyce Lanier. He loved his co-workers there, and finally retired for good at age 80.

Daddy was a 28-year military veteran, in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and then achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Oklahoma National Guard. He was admired by his fellow soldiers, and was often commended by his officers. For his skill, he was named to the prestigious Governor's Twenty – the top 20 marksmen in the entire Oklahoma National Guard.

Daddy was a man of many skills. He was a carpenter, plumber, engineer, farmer, draftsman, electrician, gunsmith, could fix anything with a motor, handle and doctor animals, build fence, and could painlessly pluck a thorn from a child's foot. He was principled and well-respected. Many people have told me how they admired Daddy, and how they learned from watching him. He had most every gift – looks, intelligence, athleticism, and magnetism. But he never saw his special qualities, and doubted what others saw in him.

His life was never easy – not from the start. But he had the deep and enduring love of his wife, who passed away in July, 2025. He was a good daddy to his little girls and loving Grandad to his granddaughters. And he was loved by many friends. We couldn't go anywhere without running into someone Daddy knew.

Survivors include his three daughters, Tracy Roller of Ada, Gina DeHoyos and husband Jess of McLoud, and Tishia Agee of Ada, his beloved granddaughters, Jordan Roller of Norman, OK and Rachel Roller of Ada, and extended family including nephew, Darrell Walker, co-officiate at his graveside service.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60+ years, Deloris, his parents, his brothers – William Franklin "Abe", John Thomas "J.T.", and Harold Dale Agee, Bobby Don and Paul "Duke" Graham, his sisters – Geneva, Juanita, and Lelia Jean Agee - three nephews – Randy Graham, Wesley Prater, and Conla' Ross - and three nieces - Beverly Ross, Lela Kaderka, and Jeanne Calvin.

We are grateful to the staff at the Ardmore Veterans Center for the dignified care he received. We thank all his old friends for all the years of love, support, and friendship.

Our prayers were answered with Daddy's peaceful passing. Now a lifetime of work is done, and he is at rest.