Obituary of D.J. James

Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Darrell Jean (DJ) James, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at her home in Kiefer that she shared with her beloved husband Bill, and their cats, Moe and Molly. She was 83. Born March 8, 1937 to August and Jessie Palinskee, she was big sister to Tedde and David and grew up in Sapulpa, graduating from Sapulpa High School in 1955. On September 26, 1972 she began an adventure that would span 48 years when she married her best friend Bill. Darrell, Donna, Dawne, and Laurie, joined Bill and his three daughters, Sherry, Sheila, and Sharon, and moved into a little green house on Dewey Street in Sapulpa. In 1975 they moved to “the country” in Kiefer and made a home where she would enjoy the rest of her life. A perfect place to make a homestead; along with a prized garden, DJ, Bill, and the girls, raised pigs, rabbits, chickens, and even milking cows. DJ’s favorite vehicle was her lawn mower and she and Bill always had an immaculate lawn of which she was immensely proud. After her retirement from Pretty Water School, she poured her heart into her passion which was her love of her family. Whether riding shotgun with Bill on one of their fishing trips, pulling out the map and heading off on some road trip to try a new restaurant, camping at her spot in Afton, canning the spoils of their incredible garden, or cooking one of her favorite recipes, she was always surrounded by family who adored her. 47 youngsters have been lucky enough to call her Grandma. A proud breast cancer survivor, DJ was as tough as they come but had a heart of gold. From teaching Sunday School at Ridgeway Baptist Church, helping with a sewing project, making quilts for all her grandkids, or showing up at one of the grandkid’s house in the spring to help till the garden or mow the lawn with her and Bill’s matching mowers, she was devoted to her family. She never missed a birthday, and her house (and garage) was always full during the holidays. We will miss her cornbread dressing and we will miss her brownies. We will miss the birthday cards and we will miss telling her about whatever was going on in our lives. We will miss her smile and her love most of all. Darrell was preceded in death by her parents, August and Jessie Palinskee, brother, David Palinskee, and sister, Tedde Jo Bristow. She is survived by her husband, William “Bill” James; aunt, Mabel “Mae” Riser; daughters and spouses, Donna and John Harless, Dawne and Robert Edelman, Laura (Laurie) and Earl Dennis, Sherry James, Sheila Platner, Sharon and Johnny Horton; grandchildren, Jonna Roberts, Sarah and Van Havenstrite, Shae Edelman, BriAnne Varnell, Austin and Brittany Dennis, James Carnes, Kimberly and Isaac Tauaefa, Becky Harton, Bobby Harton, Brandon and Caroline Harton, Daniel and Penny Horton, Rachel and Wayne Bradley, Jessica Horton; great grandchildren, Josh and Jacob Roberts, Christopher, Joy, and Stella Havenstrite, Kymber Raines, Laurissa Varnell, Ezekiel and Selah Tauaefa, Griffin Harton, Taylor and Trey Harton, Saint, Maximus, Atlas, Gabriel, and Luca Harton, Kylie, Raylee, Rielyn, and Ryker Bradley, Alex and Dillon Epperson, Easton, Avery, and Ian Horton; great-great grandchildren, Daxton and Drew Epperson. www.greenhillok.com