William James "Jim" Childress, Jr.

William James "Jim" Childress, Jr., of Marlow, OK, was born March 27, 1952, in Lubbock, TX, to William James and Mildred Louise (Barnes) Childress. He passed away on Friday, August 23, 2019, with his loving wife by his side. He was 67.

A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, in the Marlow First Baptist Church Chapel with Pastor Ernie McCoulskey, of Canton, TX, officiating. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Whitt Funeral Home/Oakcrest Cremation Center.

Jim graduated from Farmington High School in Farmington, NM in 1969. He attended South Plains College in Levelland, TX. He worked in the oilfield briefly. In 1979 he began working at his Uncle Jerry Childres’s Canvas shop in Dallas, TX and discovered he was really good at making things out of canvas. The education he got from working with his Uncle was priceless. In 1985 he moved back to Farmington, NM and opened ABC Canvas. After 31 years, they sold ABC Canvas and decided to move to Oklahoma and opened Anything Canvas. Jim worked for over 40 years in the canvas industry and was a master at his craft.

He married Renee Starkey on July 19, 1975, in Farmington, NM. To this union, two children - James and Janea - were born. He loved his children dearly, playing with them in their younger years and going to ball games, music concerts, and other events. He followed them everywhere. Jim loved his Harley motorcycle. They moved to Marlow, OK in 2016. Jim enjoyed the friends he made in Oklahoma especially the ones he ate breakfast with at Wright's Diner. Jim was a member of the Marlow First Baptist Church.

Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years, Renee; his children, James and wife Christy Childress of Charleston, SC and Janea and husband Derek Spear of Dayton, OH; grandchildren, Embry and Hunter Spear; brother, Mark and wife Kathy Childress and niece Caitlin Childress of Houston, TX; sister, Carolyn Roberts and niece Amy Roberts of Farmington, NM; father and stepmother, William and Nancy Childress of Elmo, TX; sister-in-law, Vanessa Harris of Duncan; cousins, Susan and husband Rick Flippin and Darrell and wife Judy Walker; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Childress; and niece, Laura Roberts.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital (www.stjude.org), American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), or the Kidney Cancer Association (www.kidneycancer.org).

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.