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Michele Kay <I>French</I> James

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Michele Kay French James

Birth
Shattuck, Ellis County, Oklahoma, USA
Death
22 Feb 2013 (aged 68)
Boise City, Cimarron County, Oklahoma, USA
Burial
Boise City, Cimarron County, Oklahoma, USA GPS-Latitude: 36.7205931, Longitude: -102.534725
Memorial ID
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MICHELE KAY (FRENCH) JAMES

The nearest hospital in those days was at Shattuck, Oklahoma. It was there that for two weeks in May, her mother and Aunt Flora awaited her birth. At the same time, on a battlefield in France, he father eagerly awaited news that his child had been born.

Michele Kay began her life journey on the late spring day of May 28, 1944. Her parents were Helen and Hugh French. While it would be a year and a half before her father held their baby girl in his arms for the first time, Michele was tenderly nurtured by her mother in Boise City, Oklahoma, as they waited for Hugh's return from World War II. It was during this time that Hugh, who had thought his daughter would be a son, began calling Michele a loving nickname which would be hers for a lifetime -- Mikey.

Being the first grandchild born to Hugh's parents, R.J. and Ruby French, Michele was doted on by the extended family. With deep dimpled cheeks, blonde hair and dark brown eyes, on one could resist her charm and chuckles. Her daddy's sisters-Boo, Cukie and Barbara-delighted in the antics of their first niece. Also attentive were her aunt and uncle, Roy and Flora Godown.

With Hugh finally home from war, the family of three settled into a happy life in Boise City. A few years later they welcomed the birth of Hugh, who soon became known as Corky. With her little brother beside her, Mikey relished the simple pleasures of childhood, be it climbing trees, playing games or after an afternoon running and laughing in the sunshine, getting called in for supper by their mother.

Mikey attended all twelve grads of schooling at Boise City. While homework had to be done, she also excelled at other pursuits during those years. She enjoyed playing basketball. She also enjoyed playing the flute in the band. In high school, Mikey achieved the honors of being majorette and drum major of the marching band. In FHA, she learned she had a natural talent for sewing, which would garner many smart outfits made for herself and later, for her daughter. And with her friends Caroling, JoAnn, Mary Lou and others, Mikey did what all local teenage kids did in the "50"s --drag main, listen to music and have a Coke float at Looney's Drugstore.

As a teenager, Mikey joiner a girls' organization called Rainbows where she learned about the women of the Bible. In adulthood, she became a member of the Eastern Star, following in the footsteps ot her Aunt Cukie and grandmother. Eventually, when her own daughter became a Rainbow girl, Mikey was the Mother Advisor. Many good memories were made between Mikey and that group of young girls.

It was also during her teen years that Mikey began working as a nurse's aide at Cimarron Memorial Hospital. Under the tutelage of Wally Carson, Sally Parker and other nurses, Mikey learned not only the basic of nursing, but also how to soothe a soul in need, whether it was to sit quietly by a bedside and listen, or to place a cool cloth upon a fevered brow. The art of nursing, of helping others, came naturally to Mikey, and although she didn't know it then, that ability would be an important part of her entire life.

Upon graduation from high school in 1962, Mikey packed her bags and moved to Texas, where she attended two years of nursing school at Amarillo, College. But, as often happens, a special man had appeared in her life.

On November 28, 1964, at the Methodist Church in Boise City, Michele French married Joe James. They survived hard times and enjoyed many happy years together. They joyfully welcomed the births of two lively children, Michael Wayne and Gail Lynn, who were the lights of their lives as they raised them on the family farm west of town. And it was there, during Joe's final six years of life that Mikey demonstrated and lived the true essence of love. After several years of traveling back and forth multiple times a week for Joe to receive dialysis in Amarillo, Mikey learned how to administer it, and four times a day she would give him the life-sustaining treatment, making Joe's life as comfortable as possible until his death in 1`991.

While Mikey's life revolved around her family's happiness, she also pursued her own path in the community. For several years she worked along side her cousin at the Gulf station, washing cars and filling gas tanks. She was Deputy County Assessor for almost six years. She became integral part of Cimarron Home Health from its beginning. And she even had a stint behind the counter at Cimarron Lumber Yard. But Mikey was always drawn back to nursing. She ended her working career as an aide on the hospital floor and then as the doctors' assistant at the local clinic.

When she wasn't working, Mikey enjoyed exploring and using her talents of sewing, woodworking and decorating. She also drew great pleasure from working in her yard, making it an oasis of tranquility surrounded by farmland. Mikey was very attentive to her mother. and then there were her fingernails--Mikey always kept them so prettily painted and accented with designs.

Ir is said that if you leave hour hart open, love will find its way in. That was true for Mikey when she and the town vet, Dicky Hodge3sw, discovered that they brought out the best in each other. Their special bond, their loving and fun friendship, would last for fourteen years and until his sudden death on January 17, 2007.

Although she admitted she didn't like change, Mikey demonstrated her ability to cope with many changes throughout her life. She was strong in spirit, resilient and bendable, but not breakable. Her sense of humor, her positive attitude, and probably her German heritage, kept her going when times were hard to bear.

Her faith in God and his mysterious ways was also part of Mikey's life. Raised a Methodist before attending the Baptist Church with Joe, Mikey found her final home at the Christian Church. There she worshiped beside her mother, son and his family, and with friends who become part of her family. She appreciated the pastor, Tom Milbern, who helped strengthen her faith and knowledge of the Bible. And although there were times when Mikey asked Tod 'why', her belief that Jesus was holding he in his hands with love, grace and mercy covering her like a blanket was what saw her through to the final "Amen" of her life.

Mikey's vibrant spirit left her earthbound body on February 22, 2013.

Michele Kay French James was preceded in by those she loved so dearly; her father and mother, Hugh and Helen; her brother, Corky; her husband, Joe; her special friend, Dicky; her aunt Boo; her uncle and aunt, Roy and Flora; other family members and many friends who had walked beside her through life.

Those who remain to keep her memory and love alive and going forward are;' her son, Michael, and wife, Sherry, who live in Boise City; her daughter, Gail and husband, Bobby Hunt, who live in Cushing; six precious grandchildren who called her 'Me-Me' and whom she dearly loved and was so proud of; Dalton, Garrett and Coda Hunt, Dagan, Brandon and Eric James; her aunts, Cukie Cutter and Barbara Tapp; her seven French cousins; Corky's wife, Stella; Joe's family, who loved Mikey as one of theirs; and her circle of friends who gave her joy and comfort.

Thus, all of us are gathered here to day to mourn her passing, to celebrate her life and to say, Goodbye until we meet again, dear "Michele".

Funeral services will be Monday, February 25, at 2:00pm at the St Paul's United Methodist Church, Boise City, with Chris Brittles, officiating. Interment will be in the Boise City Cemetery. The family has suggested memorials to Delane's Schwindt Cancer Fund, they maybe left in care of the Mortuary. Services by Cimarron Mortuary, Boise City, Oklahoma.
MICHELE KAY (FRENCH) JAMES

The nearest hospital in those days was at Shattuck, Oklahoma. It was there that for two weeks in May, her mother and Aunt Flora awaited her birth. At the same time, on a battlefield in France, he father eagerly awaited news that his child had been born.

Michele Kay began her life journey on the late spring day of May 28, 1944. Her parents were Helen and Hugh French. While it would be a year and a half before her father held their baby girl in his arms for the first time, Michele was tenderly nurtured by her mother in Boise City, Oklahoma, as they waited for Hugh's return from World War II. It was during this time that Hugh, who had thought his daughter would be a son, began calling Michele a loving nickname which would be hers for a lifetime -- Mikey.

Being the first grandchild born to Hugh's parents, R.J. and Ruby French, Michele was doted on by the extended family. With deep dimpled cheeks, blonde hair and dark brown eyes, on one could resist her charm and chuckles. Her daddy's sisters-Boo, Cukie and Barbara-delighted in the antics of their first niece. Also attentive were her aunt and uncle, Roy and Flora Godown.

With Hugh finally home from war, the family of three settled into a happy life in Boise City. A few years later they welcomed the birth of Hugh, who soon became known as Corky. With her little brother beside her, Mikey relished the simple pleasures of childhood, be it climbing trees, playing games or after an afternoon running and laughing in the sunshine, getting called in for supper by their mother.

Mikey attended all twelve grads of schooling at Boise City. While homework had to be done, she also excelled at other pursuits during those years. She enjoyed playing basketball. She also enjoyed playing the flute in the band. In high school, Mikey achieved the honors of being majorette and drum major of the marching band. In FHA, she learned she had a natural talent for sewing, which would garner many smart outfits made for herself and later, for her daughter. And with her friends Caroling, JoAnn, Mary Lou and others, Mikey did what all local teenage kids did in the "50"s --drag main, listen to music and have a Coke float at Looney's Drugstore.

As a teenager, Mikey joiner a girls' organization called Rainbows where she learned about the women of the Bible. In adulthood, she became a member of the Eastern Star, following in the footsteps ot her Aunt Cukie and grandmother. Eventually, when her own daughter became a Rainbow girl, Mikey was the Mother Advisor. Many good memories were made between Mikey and that group of young girls.

It was also during her teen years that Mikey began working as a nurse's aide at Cimarron Memorial Hospital. Under the tutelage of Wally Carson, Sally Parker and other nurses, Mikey learned not only the basic of nursing, but also how to soothe a soul in need, whether it was to sit quietly by a bedside and listen, or to place a cool cloth upon a fevered brow. The art of nursing, of helping others, came naturally to Mikey, and although she didn't know it then, that ability would be an important part of her entire life.

Upon graduation from high school in 1962, Mikey packed her bags and moved to Texas, where she attended two years of nursing school at Amarillo, College. But, as often happens, a special man had appeared in her life.

On November 28, 1964, at the Methodist Church in Boise City, Michele French married Joe James. They survived hard times and enjoyed many happy years together. They joyfully welcomed the births of two lively children, Michael Wayne and Gail Lynn, who were the lights of their lives as they raised them on the family farm west of town. And it was there, during Joe's final six years of life that Mikey demonstrated and lived the true essence of love. After several years of traveling back and forth multiple times a week for Joe to receive dialysis in Amarillo, Mikey learned how to administer it, and four times a day she would give him the life-sustaining treatment, making Joe's life as comfortable as possible until his death in 1`991.

While Mikey's life revolved around her family's happiness, she also pursued her own path in the community. For several years she worked along side her cousin at the Gulf station, washing cars and filling gas tanks. She was Deputy County Assessor for almost six years. She became integral part of Cimarron Home Health from its beginning. And she even had a stint behind the counter at Cimarron Lumber Yard. But Mikey was always drawn back to nursing. She ended her working career as an aide on the hospital floor and then as the doctors' assistant at the local clinic.

When she wasn't working, Mikey enjoyed exploring and using her talents of sewing, woodworking and decorating. She also drew great pleasure from working in her yard, making it an oasis of tranquility surrounded by farmland. Mikey was very attentive to her mother. and then there were her fingernails--Mikey always kept them so prettily painted and accented with designs.

Ir is said that if you leave hour hart open, love will find its way in. That was true for Mikey when she and the town vet, Dicky Hodge3sw, discovered that they brought out the best in each other. Their special bond, their loving and fun friendship, would last for fourteen years and until his sudden death on January 17, 2007.

Although she admitted she didn't like change, Mikey demonstrated her ability to cope with many changes throughout her life. She was strong in spirit, resilient and bendable, but not breakable. Her sense of humor, her positive attitude, and probably her German heritage, kept her going when times were hard to bear.

Her faith in God and his mysterious ways was also part of Mikey's life. Raised a Methodist before attending the Baptist Church with Joe, Mikey found her final home at the Christian Church. There she worshiped beside her mother, son and his family, and with friends who become part of her family. She appreciated the pastor, Tom Milbern, who helped strengthen her faith and knowledge of the Bible. And although there were times when Mikey asked Tod 'why', her belief that Jesus was holding he in his hands with love, grace and mercy covering her like a blanket was what saw her through to the final "Amen" of her life.

Mikey's vibrant spirit left her earthbound body on February 22, 2013.

Michele Kay French James was preceded in by those she loved so dearly; her father and mother, Hugh and Helen; her brother, Corky; her husband, Joe; her special friend, Dicky; her aunt Boo; her uncle and aunt, Roy and Flora; other family members and many friends who had walked beside her through life.

Those who remain to keep her memory and love alive and going forward are;' her son, Michael, and wife, Sherry, who live in Boise City; her daughter, Gail and husband, Bobby Hunt, who live in Cushing; six precious grandchildren who called her 'Me-Me' and whom she dearly loved and was so proud of; Dalton, Garrett and Coda Hunt, Dagan, Brandon and Eric James; her aunts, Cukie Cutter and Barbara Tapp; her seven French cousins; Corky's wife, Stella; Joe's family, who loved Mikey as one of theirs; and her circle of friends who gave her joy and comfort.

Thus, all of us are gathered here to day to mourn her passing, to celebrate her life and to say, Goodbye until we meet again, dear "Michele".

Funeral services will be Monday, February 25, at 2:00pm at the St Paul's United Methodist Church, Boise City, with Chris Brittles, officiating. Interment will be in the Boise City Cemetery. The family has suggested memorials to Delane's Schwindt Cancer Fund, they maybe left in care of the Mortuary. Services by Cimarron Mortuary, Boise City, Oklahoma.


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