James Milton Sims, Jr. passed away Sept. 8th, 2026. He was born on July 13, 1949 to Phyllis and James Sims, Sr. in Garden City, KS. He graduated from Muldrow High School in 1967. In 1968, James joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving until 1970. After the serving in the Marines, James returned to Oklahoma and began riding bulls for the excitement and adventure. James attended Oklahoma Baptist University; completing two bachelor’s degrees, a religious degree in 1974 and a Health, PE, and Recreation degree in 1995.
He married Brenda Ellis on May 25, 1974 in McAlester, OK, enjoying 43 years of marriage before her passing in 2017. In the mid 1980’s, James joined the U.S. Army Reserves at age 38 before being honorably discharged in 1989, but also having had taken another hard fall while doing training. The accident paralyzed him and confined him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his remarkable life, yet it never diminished his drive or ended his active, engaged way of living.
James was an ordained minister at a cowboy church and practiced his calling by asking nearly everyone he met if their eternal salvation was secure. Additionally, advocacy for wheelchair access was a passion for James. His determination to help others will continue to be appreciated by many who do not know the efforts he made on their behalf. As someone who always wanted to be active, James would participate in the annual National Veteran Wheelchair Games. There, he competed in racing, swimming, obstacle courses, and weight lifting. His faith, advocacy, and athletic participation all tell the same larger story. His disability changed the circumstance of his life, but not his purpose, activity, or concern for others.
Survivors include his children: Becky Gray and husband Jason, Andy Sims and wife Leslie, and Mandy Edwards and husband Ben all of Shawnee; siblings Kenny Sims, Carol Henson and husband Gerald, Cindy Short and husband Steve, and Bill Sims, all of Short, OK; grandchildren: Liam Gray, Adalyn Sims, Adrian Sims, Maycee Edwards, and Lincoln Edwards; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as his caretaker and friend Phoenix Hindman.
James is preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Jesse Sims; and his best friend Pat Robirds.
Services were held at on Sept. 14, 2026 at Hilltop Baptist Church, 44500 E. MacArthur Street, Shawnee, OK with Pastor Gary Nickerson Officiating. Following the ceremony, James was laid to rest with U.S. Marine Corps honors at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Riley-Walker Funeral Service & Crematory.
