James Donald (Jim) Lovett

James Donald (Jim) Lovett of Norman, OK died November 9, 2017 at his home.  Jim was born to Roy Walter Cross and Ellen Bertha Lovett on October 19, 1935.  His mother died shortly after his birth and he was adopted by an Uncle and Aunt, Martin (Em) and Vera Lovett. 

Jim grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from Central High school in 1953.  He attended Midwest Christian College in Oklahoma City, OK, Central State College in Edmond, OK, and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.  In his early adult life, Jim served as minister for the Church of Christ at Wellston and Dale, OK. He also did extensive evangelistic work in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.  He was holding a gospel meeting at the Church of Christ in Meeker, OK, where he met Virginia Rhodes.  After a yearlong courtship, Jim and Virginia married on June 12, 1956, at the Church of Christ in Meeker, OK.   At that time, Jim was serving as minister at the Church of Christ in Chandler, OK.  From there, they moved to Oklahoma City, OK, where Jim served as minister of the South Woodward Church of Christ. 

It was during this time that Jim became interested in the funeral service industry.  Jim and Virginia moved to Dallas, TX, where he attended the Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1961.  His funeral service career included serving as a funeral director for Bahner Funeral Home in Sulphur, OK, and for Vondel L. Smith Mortuary in Oklahoma City, OK.  Jim and Virginia owned and operate Lovett Funeral Service in Mangum, OK from 1969 until 1982.  In 1983, they moved to Norman, OK where Jim served as managing director with Guardian/Mayes until his first retirement in December 1997. 

A short time after retiring, Jim accepted a position as a funeral service compliance auditor with the Alderwoods Group.  He traveled the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico auditing funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories.  Finally, in 2014, Jim officially retired from the funeral service industry.  

Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Pat Wight.

Jim is survived by Virginia of the home; daughters, Jamie Turnquist and husband, Mike, and Lisa McGraw and husband Trey; sister, Karen Duke; grandchildren, Dustin Lovett, Andrew Bull, Savannah Turnquist and Lacy Bull; step-grandchildren, Rachel, Beau and Shyla McGraw; great-grandsons, Brody and Paxton Lovett; niece, Ellen Trump and husband Steve; nephews Marty, Allen, and Kenny Duke; and grand dogs, Boris, Rufus and Jasper.