James Carl Birtell's Obituary
James (Jim) Carl Birtell, 95, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 13, 2023, at a Tulsa hospital. He was born on November 13, 1928, in Topeka, Kansas, to Carl and Elsie (Carter) Birtell. He married Beverly Browning on March 25, 1951, and they enjoyed over 70 years of marriage until her death in January of 2022.
Jim grew up on a farm in Auburn, Kansas, where he learned the values of hard work and faith. After high school, he attended Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State University) and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1950. While there, Jim met Beverly in their church choir and they were married on Easter Sunday, 1951. After a brief time in Russell, Kansas, they moved to Borger, Texas, where he worked for Phillips Petroleum for more than 30 years. In addition to his job at Phillips, he owned two apartment complexes and taught a few classes at Frank Phillips Junior College while raising two kids.
Jim loved the Lord and was very active in church. He was a founding member of Faith Covenant Church in Borger, where he served in various ministries, especially missions. After retirement, Jim and Beverly became “Winter Texans” and made sure they were down south in the Rio Grande as soon as possible after Christmas. He had a passion for travel and visited many places, including Hawaii and Alaska and enjoyed taking his kids and grandkids on trips in his travel trailer.
In 1989, Jim and Beverly moved to Broken Arrow, OK where they were members of Memorial Bible Church and later Fellowship Bible Church. Jim served the Lord wherever he was and was called a “prayer warrior” by family and friends.
James is survived by his two children, Don Birtell and his wife Susie of Borger, Texas, and Sandy Nation of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; his brother, Max Birtell of Iowa; his sister-in-law, Pat Stocker of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; his five grandchildren, Dawna Irving and her husband Josh, Dayna Huffington and her husband Mark, Aaron Birtell and his wife Perla, Dustin Nation and his wife Carolyn, and Miranda Conn and her husband Michael; his 15 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Beverly; his brothers, Ted and Craig Birtell; and his son-in-law, Roger Nation.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, November 20, 2023, at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Floral Haven’s Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be private.
If you are unable to attend the service in person, we will be webcasting the service. Please click on the following link at 9:55 a.m. on Monday, November 20, 2023 to view the service live. If you are unable to view it live, you may click on the same link for the next 90 days to see the recording of the service:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/94645
James will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, who lived a life of service and generosity. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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