James “Red” Edward Connelly was born August 9, 1939 in Shidler, Oklahoma to Edward McKinley and Ida Mae (Reed) Connelly. He completed his earthly journey on May 27, 2022 at age 82 in Duncan.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 1, at 2:00 P.M. at The Christian Center with Pastor James Miller officiating. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Wesley Robinson, Mike Sutton, Clay Sutton, Colton Sutton, Jay Walkingstick, Tyler Parsons, Justin Kaus, Darren Kaus, and Matt Kaus. Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitt Funeral Home/Oakcrest Cremation Center.
Pop was a one-of-a-kind person. He was so very genuine and honest (almost brutally so) that it was hard not to take the things he said to heart. He had a kind heart and a sense of humor that some could only hope for. We loved him with every fiber of our being. And he made us feel so very loved. He was our safe port in the storm, The fixer of anything, and he was the one phone call you could make to get you out of a bind. He loved the outdoors. From sitting on his patio furniture and just taking in the weather, fishing off the side of a pond, or trying to golf he loved to be out of the house. He worked in the oilfield all his life. While he got his start at Halliburton and spent many years there, he met most of his “work family” in the smaller companies around the area. Through these places he found a profession he loved and excelled at. Through his jobs and work family he was always able to go work and have it be an enriching part of his life and at times it offered an escape to where he was just “Red”.
He married his wife, Ina, in 1962 and for the next 51 years they created a life and set a strong family foundation that all of us will forever cherish. After we lost Mema we honestly thought Pop would go next. Luckily for him and us he was able to snag another great lady, Janie. Even though they didn’t have a lot of time together, the time that they did have was filled with love and adventure. He sure knew how to pick them.
Pop was by far the best cheerleader you could ever hope for. He may not agree with what you were doing or how you were doing it but he would love you through it in his own way. Birthdays, weddings, births, and deaths it didn’t matter he was always there and ready with his sense of humor and a hug to see you through it. Life is going to be really boring without him and we are going to miss him beyond measure.
Red is survived by his daughter, Paula and husband Donald Green of Duncan; daughter-in-law, Tammy Connelly; grandchildren: Stacey and Danny Kirkpatrick of Livingston, Texas, Louanna and Travis Miller of Manford, Oklahoma, Megan Green of Marlow, Docota Green of Duncan, Sarah and John Lamons of Waurika, Brandi Connelly of Duncan; 10 1 on the way great grandchildren; and his significant other, Janie Robinson of Milburn, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ina; son, Larry Connelly; sister, Mary Cartwright; and his favorite pet dog, LaDue.
Memorial donations can be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at stjude.org.
Online condolences can be made at www.whittfh.com.
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