James Arthur Perry Stillwater, OK

James Arthur "Jim" Perry died December 25, 2024, in Stillwater from the effects of frontotemporal dementia. He was 67. Services are Friday, January 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Jim was born October 19, 1957, in Hobart to Johnny Max Perry and Nellie Catherine Pfenning Perry. His parents were attorneys.

He graduated from Hobart High School in 1975 where he was the student council president and a three-sport athlete lettering in baseball, football and wrestling. The passion he would make his career began in high school when he served as sports reporter for the Kiowa County Star-Review and Hobart Democrat-Chief newspapers.

The son of Oklahoma A&M graduates, Jim majored in journalism at Oklahoma State University and served various staff roles for The Daily O'Collegian. His four years were part of a lifelong affinity for Stillwater, OSU and the Cowboys and Cowgirls.

Jim fell in love with Diana Shrader while he was sports editor of the Claremore Progress. They were married May 23, 1981, and had two children: Jami and Christopher. He served as managing editor of the Progress for many years and later led newsrooms at the Owasso Reporter, Tulsa Front Page and Cushing Citizen newspapers.

Jim officiated sports in Oklahoma for many years working baseball, basketball, fast-pitch softball and wrestling. He called numerous state tournament and all-state baseball games, the American Legion World Series and had a brief stint working Tulsa Drillers minor league games. Jim was inducted into the Oklahoma Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2022.

He enjoyed playing golf, attending as many Oklahoma State sporting events as possible and spending time with family and friends.

Jim is survived by his wife, Diana, of Stillwater; their daughter Jami Flint, son-in-law Michael Flint and their children Cohen and Sullivan of Bullard, Texas; and their son, Chris, daughter-in-law Beth Perry and their children Hanlon, Holland and Hampton of Dallas.

He is also survived by his three sisters, Nicki Hancock and brother-in-law Bill Hancock of Prairie Village, Kansas; Catherine Perry and brother-in-law Sedg Mead of St. Louis; and Allison Madrid of Puebla, Mexico.

Also nephews and nieces Nate Hancock and Kristin of Overland Park, Kansas; Karen Hancock of Stillwater; Javier and Maryellen Madrid of Evanston, Illinois; Jo Madrid and Andrew Dickerson of Dallas; Ana and Chris Piehler of Grossmehring, Germany; Arturo Madrid and Mara Garcia Y Santos of Barcelona, Spain; Allison T. Madrid of Chicago and Judith Madrid of Dallas; Nellie and Danny Catanzaro of Overland Park; and Marjorie Mead and Joey Urbanovitch of Cudjoe Key, Florida.

Also great-nephews and nieces Andie Hancock of Oklahoma City, William Hancock of St. Louis, Jack Hancock of Norman; Mateo Madrid of Dallas; Nico and Ben Piehler of Grossmehring, Germany; Mariana, Maricarmen, Marcela and Javi Madrid of Evanston; Clementina and Julieta Madrid of Barcelona and Bella Catanzaro of Overland Park.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Javier Madrid and nephew Will Hancock.

The family expresses its sincere gratitude to Companion Healthcare and Westhaven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made in his memory to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration: https://www.theaftd.org/.