Marvin James, 89 year old lifetime Checotah resident, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, November 5, 2010 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Tuesday, June 21, 1921 in Onapa, OK to John W. and Chaney Collins James. Marvin grew up in the Brush Hill area and attended school at Onapa where he excelled in sports, playing basketball and baseball. After graduation from Onapa High School he began a trucking and dozer business. Marvin married the love of his life, Oleta Williams, on Friday April 18, 1941 in Eufaula, OK. To this union, 4 children were born. They settled in Onapa and Marvin began the James Construction and Trucking Company, working throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. He owned the first hydraulic dump truck and the first diesel truck in McIntosh County. He was an accomplished pilot, an avid fisherman and hunter, and traveled to Colorado with many friends and family to deer and elk hunt since 1946. While in Onapa they were active members of First Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a deacon. In the early sixties they moved to Checotah and joined First Baptist Church. As a faithful member, Marvin taught the Junior Boys Sunday School Class, served on the Building and Grounds Committee, drove for the Bus Ministry, and would drive the bus to take the youth to Falls Creek every year and take the senior saints on sightseeing adventures, and was one of the founders of the church's Truck Stop Ministry. In 1973, he was elected as McIntosh County District 1 Commissioner, serving his constituents faithfully for 10 years. He was a sixty year member of the I.O.O. F. (International Order of Odd Fellows) and served as President of the O.C.C.A (Oklahoma Conservation Contractors Association.) Marvin was a hard working man, always willing to help his fellow man. He loved his family. They were the most important thing to him, and he loved getting together with his family and sharing the Christmas holiday. He enjoyed eating sweets, & Oleta's homemade apricot fried pies. He was a great man who will be deeply missed by all who loved and knew him. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; six sisters, his twin, Marie Vogt, Anna Jane Goodman, Ethel Nunnally, Esther Hayes, Pearl Brandon, & Biddie Brandon; one brother, Henry James. He is lovingly survived by his wife of 69 years, Oleta, of the home; Children, Bob James and his wife Karen of Checotah, Jolene Adams and her husband Mike of Tulsa, Colene Norwood and her husband John of Checotah, & Neal James and his wife Pam, also of Checotah; six Grandchildren, Leslie Nutt and her husband Brian of Muskogee, Tami Duvall and her husband Sam, Jennifer Norwood, John Lewis Norwood II, all of Checotah, Jarrod James and his wife Sara of Sallisaw, & Kara Sezate and her husband Bobby of Jenks; eight Great-grandchildren, Caleb Nutt, Ashton Nutt, Kadee Duvall, Riley Duvall, Jayden Norwood, Kieran James, Parker Sezate & Hudson Sezate. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, other extended family and a host of friends. Viewing for Marvin will be 1-6 PM on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at Garrett Family Funeral Home with the family greeting friends from 2-4 PM. Funeral Services for Marvin will be 2:30 PM Monday, November 8, 2010, at First Baptist Church with Reverend Jarrod James, Reverend Richard Ford, & Reverend Steve Dennis, officiating. Committal prayers and Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery with Reverend Wayne Beshears, officiating. John Norwood II, Caleb Nutt, Brian Nutt, Sam Duvall, Riley Duvall, Jarrod James, Bobby Sezate are serving as Casket Bearers. Dr. Maurice Payne, Dewayne Matthews, Rassie Harden, Rusty Martin, Dusty Martin, J.E. Williams, Johnny Vogt, Donnie Vogt, Kenny Vogt and Shaw Brandon will serve as Honorary Casket Bearers.