Hattie Louise James

Hattie Louise James, 70, of Seminole, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday, February 3, 2024. Hattie was born on June 2, 1953, in Noel, Missouri, the daughter of Bradley Paul and Louise (Phelan) Gordon. Hattie lived in rural Benton County near Maysville, Arkansas for her first 32 years. She then lived in group homes in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma for a number of years. She later lived in group homes and nursing homes in east central Oklahoma until her death. Even though Hattie was later considered to be disabled, she worked in the Gravette Elementary School cafeteria in Gravette, Arkansas for about ten years. After she started living in group homes, she worked at whatever type of job that the group homes could help her procure. Hattie enjoyed being able to make her own spending money so that she didn't have to depend on others for her pop and snacks.

Hattie's early introductions to Jesus and the Bible were from Vacation Bible School and weekly Bible classes at the Maysville Grade School led by volunteer teacher, Miss Peggy Campbell. She enjoyed reading her Bible. In her teen years, she attended the Church of Christ in Southwest City, Missouri with her adoptive mother Josie James. While living in group homes, she attended the Baptist Church when possible. Hattie enjoyed reading, knitting, crocheting, and doing puzzle books. While living at home with her adoptive parents, Buck and Josie James, she would help out around the house with cleaning and washing dishes.

She is survived by one sibling, Ronnie L James and wife Pamela K. of Checotah, OK and her nephew, Kevin James and wife Katie of Salem, MO, niece Amanda Pittman and husband Jeff of Vilonia, AR, great-nephew Tristen James of Springfield, MO, great-niece Cameron James of Salem, MO, great-nephew Noah James of Salem, MO, great-nephew Grant Nickel of Vilonia, AR, and great-great-nephew Austin James of Springfield, MO. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bradley Paul Gordon, Louise Gordon, Buck James, and Josie Jeanette James.