Jim was born July 18, 1951, in Larned, the son of Willis and Dolly Strain. Jim grew up in Larned and graduated from Larned High School in 1969. He joined the Army in 1973 and after an early discharge due to poor hearing, he moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma in 1975. He later attended Northern Oklahoma College and graduated with an associate’s degree in Computer Science and Accounting with a 4.0 GPA. He received a plaque for Best in Prose Harvest in 1983, was elected to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges in recognition of outstanding merit and accomplishment as a student at NOC 1983 – 1984, and received a plaque for Outstanding Student in 1984. He worked for the Ponca City Country Club, and had recently retired after 31 years.

Jim was joined in Ponca City by his love, Dawn Hampton, in 1977. They were married on June 24, 1982.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish and trap. He was a KU basketball fan, a Kansas City Chiefs fan and he LOVED NASCAR. He enjoyed building computers and playing video games and he really loved music. He taught himself to play the harmonica and the guitar and could sing a few notes too.

Survivors include: his wife Dawn; one daughter, Melissa Michelle Strain (Pawnee Rock); two sisters, Marie Jennings (Texas); Brenda Perez (Larned); sister’s-in-law, Donna Mitchell Strain Schlotzhauer (Missouri) and Vicki Strain (Montana); mother-in-law, Donna Nolde (Larned); brother-in-law, Doug Hampton(Ponca City); brother-in-law and wife, David & Pauline Hampton (Larned); sister-in-law and husband, Denise and Dean Robeson (San Antonio); one granddaughter, Sadi Strain-Shepherd (Larned); and one great-grandson, Kingston Shepherd (Larned); and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Dolly; paternal grandparents Claude and Esther Strain; maternal grandparents, Paddy and Mary Murphy (Ireland); and three brothers, Roy, Butch, and Dennis.

Jim has been cremated and a memorial service is planned on June 11, 2022, at 11 am in Ponca City, Oklahoma in the Fireside Room at 445 Fairview Ave. We will have fellowship and food after.

Memorials in his name can be made either to your nearest Humane Society or any Hunter Safety Program.

Paid Obituary