Jim Knowles

James Earl “ Jim” Knowles, 72, former longtime Seminole resident died December 12, 2010 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Jim was born February 7, 1938 in Seminole, Oklahoma to Earl L. and Martha Lucille (Sinclair) Knowles. Jim attended and graduated from Seminole High School in 1956 and East Central State College in 1960 B.S. degree in chemistry/biology. Jim taught chemistry and biology at Shawnee High School in 1961.  He worked as a chemist for Lilly-Tulip in Missouri and director of quality control for Crown-Zellerback in Oregon and California. Jim returned to Seminole in 1977 to assume the operation of the family business. Jim served on the Seminole City Council from 1982-85 and was Mayor of Seminole from 1985 to 1987. Jim was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church on July 6, 1985. He established the Tri-City Substance Abuse Center in Seminole in 1986. He became a drug/alcohol counselor certified at the state, national and international levels and received Counselor of the year award in 2007, from the Drug/Alcohol Professional Counselors Association.  In 1992, he established a social ministry with the Cheyenne/Arapaho tribes in Watonga serving there until 2007. Jim is also a proud member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the Deer Clan where he was given his tribal name of Tuska-A-Neska. Jim was also a proud inductee to the Seminole High School Hall of Fame. He also started the Seminole Chapter of the Salvation Army. Jim was an avid orchid gardener. He also started Easter Lint Soup and Sermon at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Seminole, Oklahoma and it continues today. Jim attended Southwestern State College, School of Pharmacy, in Weatherford, Oklahoma for a time, and while there he owned and operated a restaurant called “ Europia” where he served pizza and steaks. It was there he met a young waitress named Sharon Sigler and later was married on October 14, 1961 in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. Jim is survived by his wife Sharon Knowles of Ada, Oklahoma, daughter Heather Knowles of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Brother and sister-in-law Mike and Diana Knowles of Seminole, Oklahoma and brother-in-law Guy H. “Buddy” Sigler and his wife Linda of Ardmore, Oklahoma; and nephews Jeff, Bill and Greg Knowles and J.J. and Matthew Sigler. Memorial services are planned for Friday, December 17, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Lukes Episcopal Church at Broadway and 17th street in Ada, Oklahoma. Rt.Rev. Dwight Helt, Rt.Rev. Kenneth Armstrong and Rt. Rev. John Norvell will officiate at the memorial service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Earl Knowles Christmas Dinner % Seminole Rotary Club, or the Whirlwind Mission of the Holy Family; Oakhater Episcopal Center in Watonga, Oklahoma % Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, 924 N. Robinson Ave., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Or the American Heart Association. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Seminole.         Funeral Information: December 17, 2010, 11:00 AM St. Luke's Episcopal Church located at Broadway and 16th, Ada, OK 74868