Obituary published on Legacy.com by Crawford Family Funeral & Cremation Service - Edmond on Aug. 15, 2025.
James Lee "Jim" Fowler, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend - long-time resident of Guymon, Oklahoma, known for the Christmas tree in his home at 5th & Academy that shone with more lights than the famed Rockefeller Center tree - passed away Tuesday morning, August 12, 2025, in
Edmond, Oklahoma, just shy of his 85th birthday.
Born in 1940 in the rural community north of Elk City, Oklahoma, Jim was the elder child of Roy James and Ada Edna (Daugherty) Fowler. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Carolyn (Fowler) Hall, and his grandson, Ben Ward.
Jim is survived by his wife of more than 62 years, Beverly Ann (Slater) Fowler; their children Lisa Ward (& Rae) Rice of Edmond; Jerry (& Renee) Ward of Oklahoma City; Jef (& Starrla) Fowler of Memphis, Tennessee; Scott (& Julie) Fowler of Dallas, Texas; and Matthew Fowler of Oklahoma City, as well as 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Fiery-haired, strong-willed, and full of grit, Jim came of age as the "work mule" for his Great Depression–era parents, helping run the family farm and ranch in the Dust Bowl region of western Oklahoma. He occasionally reminisced (and perhaps exaggerated) about walking miles to a one-room schoolhouse (uphill both ways), braving weather disasters that destroyed two homes, and frequently fighting with schoolmates. Still, the experiences propelled him to earn the rank of Eagle Scout before graduating from Elk City High School in 1958. He became the first in his family to attend college and, we understand, the first to get kicked out of college… repeatedly.
His restless and rowdy spirit met its match when he joined the United States Marine Corps. The discipline and purpose he found there began to shape the man he would become. While serving in the Marine Corps Reserve, Jim graduated from Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, Oklahoma, in 1964, lettering in football and playing on the undefeated team of 1961. More importantly, it was there that he met Beverly Slater of nearby Guymon. They married in June 1963 and soon welcomed two sons.
At the end of 1969, Jim moved his young family back to Guymon from El Paso, Texas, intending to settle them near Beverly's parents while he returned to a fast-living crowd. But an unexpected encounter with Jesus Christ profoundly changed his life. The newfound faith and transformation turned his heart toward his family and toward serving something greater than himself. He devoted himself to understanding God's Word and walking in a personal relationship with Him.
That calling was tested in the early 1970s with the breakup of their babysitter's family. With little hesitation, Jim and his then 29-year-old wife, Beverly, suddenly took in three teenagers to join their small family in an even smaller house. The youngest, Mike Ward, eventually moved out of state to live with his biological father, but is considered family to this day. Years later, Jim and Beverly's circle of children grew again with the joyous arrival of their youngest son, Matthew Isaac, in 1980.
During the 1970s and 80s, faith and family became the central pillars of Jim's life, replacing his previous priorities of freedom, football, and the fraternity of Marines…though those things remained a part of his identity to the end. But in the end, it was Jim's hand in the hand of his youngest son, with Beverly brought in soon after to hold hands with her husband one last time. Between their first embrace and their last was a story of radical transformation, unconditional love, and a shared life that leaves a legacy of faith and devotion extending three generations, with more to come.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00pm on Saturday, August 23, at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City (3401 NE 36th Street).
Oorah! Boomer Sooner! Praise the Lord!
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either the Panhandle Area Sheltered Workshop or Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. Donations may be mailed to Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942