James A. Gilmour passed peacefully December 29, 2021 at 91 years of age after a strong battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He rejoins his wife of 63 years, Patricia Kenyon Gilmour, daughter, Anne, parents, Glenn and Elizabeth Gilmour, and many generations who have come before him, to live in the light of the Lord.

Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Kingfisher at 1800 S 13th Street on January 7, 2021 at 11:00 AM.

Jim, as friends and family knew him, was born July 18, 1930, in Kingfisher, OK. He lived all but about a decade of his life in the Gilmour farmhouse northwest of town. When God created him, God made a farmer. Farming was in his DNA. Jim excelled in FFA, regularly wining at livestock shows. He was proud to have earned the highest award achievable in the national FFA, the American Farmer Degree in 1951. Following his graduation from Kingfisher High School in 1949, he worked on the family farm until he enlisted in the US Navy, serving from 1951 to 1953. He traveled extensively, sailing on the USS Power to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, South America, around Cape Horn, and back through the Panama Canal. Jim's family noted that every time an exotic prize package was won on Wheel of Fortune, Dad would always say matter-of-factly, "I've been there. Yep. It was pretty nice."

He married Patricia Kenyon on the hottest day of the year, June 21, 1953 in Dover, OK at the First Christian Church. Once discharged from the Navy, he immediately returned to Kingfisher County to farm, leasing land and living first on the old "Love Place", followed by the "Tillbury Place" west of Dover. In 1964, after his parents moved to town, Jim took over the farming operations on the homeplace, moving into the 1917 farmhouse with his young family in tow. Jim, the farmer, was blessed with four daughters, Susan, Anne, Julie, and Betsy. He instilled a deep love of the farm in those girls, who have all shared it with their own families.

Jim served on several boards through the years, including the Farm Services Association, Farmers Co-Op Supply, Farmers Mutual Insurance Board, Kingfisher Community Hospital and the Kingfisher County Election Board. Jim was an active member of the American Legion for 70 years. He was a trustee at the First United Methodist Church of Kingfisher, where he and his family faithfully attended. He was one of his daughters' biggest supporters, attending their school events and giving them the opportunity to complete their college degrees. Later, as they had their own children, he finally got some boys, enjoying time with 5 grandsons and one granddaughter. Jim officially retired from farming in 2007, moving to town in 2012.

Jim's biggest contributions to the community came from the personal connections he made with others. He was a "regular" for coffee at the Co-Op, Wheeler Bros. elevators and Rother Brothers for years, keeping up with the local farm news. Jim was a frequent visitor to the retirement homes, cheering up and keeping connections with old friends who could not get out anymore. He shared his vast knowledge of farming with newer generations that gradually took over the care of neighboring land. He was quick to help mend fences, both literally and figuratively. Jim was the type of man you would hope to be your neighbor and citizen of this community—born and raised, traveled the world, but came back home to spend his days in the place he loved the most. His friends remember he always had a smile on his face. As our family has received condolences from those in his community, a common thread to describe Dad invariably include "the nicest man I've ever known."

Jim is survived by his children and grandchildren, Susan and Gary Mays, Kingfisher; Brad Mays; Neil Mays, Jenks; Julie, Karl and Cole Hansen, Edmond; Andrew Hansen, Irving, TX; Betsy, Rob and Ella Sears, Sachse, TX; and Ian Sears, Stillwater; as well as, his brother, Warren Gilmour, Sandy, UT and sister, Gladys Hopkins, Kingfisher. He will be greatly missed by his "surrogate sons" Kevin and Kelby Haynie, NW of Kingfisher.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kingfisher High School FFA or First United Methodist Church of Kingfisher.