James H. "Jim" Folks was born on August 13, 1938 at Dr. Beam's house in Arnett, Oklahoma, to Thomas J. and Beulah Estelle Clark Folks. He joined his older siblings, Ike and Alta Fae, and later welcomed a younger sister, Anna Mae. The family lived south of Arnett until Jim was 15, at which point they moved into town. He graduated from Arnett High School in 1956.  He passed away at his home in Arnett on March 2, 2025 at the age of 86 years.

Jim spent the summers through his high school years going with Dub Herron to Raton, New Mexico to the race track. That is where he learned to shoe horses and start colts. After high school, Jim went to work for Reed Hill on the Big Bull Ranch along the Canadian River south of Higgins, Texas. His time there was cut short when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1960. He completed boot camp at Fort Hood, Texas, and then served two years on active duty in Germany followed by four years in the Army Reserves. Upon returning home, he worked for Deryl Parker and later for Ellis County Commissioner Pearl Truitt.

On November 9, 1964, Jim married Dona Slavin in Woodward, Oklahoma. They made their home in Arnett, where they raised their three children—Wade, Stacy, and Jamie. Jim was a devoted father who loved teaching his children to ride horses and supporting them in their rodeo pursuits. He never missed an event and was their biggest champion in everything they did. That same love and dedication extended to his four grandchildren—Cole and Cody Folks and Caitlin and Molly Landers. "Poppa Jim," as he was affectionately known, took great pride in watching their sports, stock shows, rodeos, dance recitals, and any activity they were involved in. His joy grew even more when he became a great-grandfather with the arrival of Polly Ray last year.

Jim had a deep love for horses and turned that passion into a career as a farrier, beginning in 1964. For 18 years, he traveled extensively, shoeing horses for ranches and feedlots across Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. His route stretched from Watonga, Oklahoma, to Perryton, Texas, and beyond. Among the many horses he worked on, the most famous was Walter Merrick's legendary racehorse, Easy Jet, along with several of Merrick's other top-tier horses.

In 1982, Jim began working for Davison and Sons Cattle Company, and the family moved to the West Camp south of Arnett. He loved this job and cherished the opportunity to raise his family in the country, where they could keep their animals close. Working cattle alongside the other ranch hands brought him great joy, but his favorite tradition was the annual campout—spending a week sleeping in tents, sharing chuckwagon meals, and embracing the cowboy way of life.

In 1993, Jim suffered a serious horse-riding accident that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye and hearing in the opposite ear. He often joked, "I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other," and after the accident, it became quite literally true. Despite this setback, he continued to enjoy hunting, thanks to a modified rifle by Pete Black that allowed him to shoot right-handed using his left eye.

After 25 years with the ranch, Jim retired in December 2007 and moved back to town, where he spent the remainder of his days surrounded by family and friends.  Jim's legacy is one of dedication—to his family, his work, and the way of life he loved. He will be remembered as a hardworking man, a steadfast supporter of his loved ones, and a cowboy at heart.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Estelle Folks; his brother, Ike Folks, and wife Pat, as well as his second wife, Carolyn; his sister, Alta Fay "Sis" Wildman, and her husband, Cecil; his brother-in-law, Mike Stewart; and his nephew, Tommy Ike Folks, killed in Afghanistan while serving in the US Army.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dona Folks of Arnett; his son, Wade Folks, and wife, Melissa, of Leedey, Oklahoma; his daughter, Stacy Roberts, and husband, Harold, of Oklahoma City; and his daughter, Jamie Dearing, and husband, Larry, of Arnett, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren—Cole Folks, Caitlin Christenson and husband Allan, Cody Folks, and Molly Landers and fiance Ben Stevenson—as well as his great-granddaughter, Polly Christenson; Riley and Lindsay Dearing, Crew Blair, Camp and Cale Dearing; Landon and Haley Gonce, Bentley and Ellie; Tanner and Paige Dearing and Tiegan.  Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Anna Mae "Cricket" Stewart, and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the:

Arnett Fire Department or Arnett First Baptist Church

c/o Shaw Funeral Home

P.O. Box 276

Vici, OK 73859.