Obituary of James E. Means

On Sunday, January 29^th 2023 James Means, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away at the age of 87.  He was born August 23, 1935, in Stilwell OK. He was the youngest of sixteen children to parents James Lewis and Eliza Louisa Means.  He is survived by his wife, Lola Jean, and former wife Gloria Chini, and their three children: James Alan (Mary), Tim (Helen), and daughter Katrina Means.  Grandchildren Alicia Means-Lopez, Candice (Jason) Horst, Brian Means, and Sam Means.  Great grandchildren Jacob and Jenna Lopez, and Declan and Camden Horst. Stepsons Leland Davis, Jessie (Terri) Davis, Grandson Christopher Davis, and his many nieces and nephews. James is preceded in death by his parents and fifteen siblings. 

James was a man who loved with his whole heart despite the hardships God handed him.  He would drop anything and everything for his family and the ones he loved.  He was a man who didn’t know the definition of selfish and would do anything to put a smile on any face, like how all of his family learned to drive from him, and how he could sing to anyone at any time.  Our Dad and Papa could talk anyone’s ear off, and everyone loved it, like all the times he would fill our hearts with wisdom from his stories he shared so proudly.  James Estle had a warm soul, so much so that he treated his animals like one of his own.  James was a Jack of all trades and he used it to his advantage.  He lived a life worth remembering and a life worth celebrating.  James was a man who lived a life incapable of describing in words.