James ‘Jim’ Fobber
James (Jim) Edward Fobber of Kinta, Okla. born in Bristol, Va. on Nov. 14, 1944, to Jessie & Ivalene (Barker) Fobber, passed away on Feb. 13, 2021, at the age of 76 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
A person would have to write for decades to fully describe the life of Jim Fobber as he lived his life to the fullest, more than anyone reading this passage can ever imagine. Jim was an active member of the Church of Christ at Lequire and Stigler congregations. He committed his life to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The countless lives he impacted will never forget the type of man he was. Jim loved to help people in any way he could. He was an exceptional teacher and was willing to give anyone a chance. Jim worked as a rail buyer for a packing house most of his life buying slaughter cows and also running a stocker calve operation. In his early childhood, he worked in Virginia logging trees using a team of mules to snake them out of the hills. As a teenager he and his brothers hopped a train to Florida to work in the orange groves. His family then moved to eastern Tennessee where they continued to outwork any group of men that today’s world can imagine. A few years later, he and his uncle along with with a brother traveled to Illinois for work. He worked in a Dr. Pepper warehouse hauling and delivering products. It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Coretta Fausett.
Jim and Coretta Fobber were married in Rockford, Illinois on Oct. 17, 1964. They were married for 56 and a half glorious years. The couple lived in Rockford for the first few years of their marriage where they welcomed their two beautiful children, Jimmy Fobber and Laura Fobber. The family moved back to East Tennessee for a few years after Laura was born where they embarked on several business adventures. Jim bought a used semi-truck and hauled boats all across the country. He had been to every state in the USA except for three. Jim and Coretta went on to be founders of Fobber Livestock Inc., a cattle buying station in St Clair, Tenn. They also bought and ran a convenience store in St. Clair called Country Corner along with a slaughter house in Carter’s Valley. He always had a dream to operate his own feed yard. In the early 1990s, Jim and Coretta made that dream come true. They moved to Mead, Kan. to become owner/operator of Mead Feeders. They endured harsh weather conditions there for a few more years before striking a deal with a man from Stigler, Okla. to trade properties.
Jim and Retta moved to Stigler, Okla. in 1994 where they once again embarked on several new business journeys. They owned and operated The West Side Restaurant located by Stigler Round Up Club. Jim was also buying and selling large groups of cattle, running a trucking company, and all while maintaining his position as a rail buyer at all the local sale barns. The couple eventually moved to Kinta, Okla. where they have continued to live. The work ethic of Jim Fobber is not to be compared to that of an ordinary man mostly because of his love for what he did. He was always looking for new business opportunities and was willing to take a chance at anything he thought he could make work. He had a strong passion for the cattle industry. He was known at the sale barns as “the farmer’s friend” meaning he helped raise the price on all the cattle being sold so that it would be more profitable to the ranchers selling them. Jim also loved horses, especially racehorses. He had a multitude of wins with horses he bought and raised including Superior Racehorse Blue Efforts, Oklahoma Bred Paint Horse of the Year, JF Royal Storm, Champion Aged Mare Fanci Flying along with so many more. Jim also loved boating. He always looked forward to going to the lake and spending time with his family and friends.
He never met a stranger mostly because of his outgoing personality and desire to truly get to know every soul he met. He was the kind of man that cared for people, truly cared for them. He wanted to help everyone he could and he succeeded in that endeavor.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 56 1/2 years, Coretta Fobber of the home; his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Mark Burkhart of Whitefield, Okla.; his son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy and Angela Fobber of Whitefield: four grandchildren, Jake Fobber, Morgan Lenz, C.J. and Sarah Fobber, and Thomas Fobber of Whitefield; his great-granddaughter, Kylie Fobber; his siblings, Frank Fobber, Tex Fobber, Mack Fobber, Mary Anne Bales, Juanita and Grady Garrett, and Milton Fobber; nephews, Jeremy Fober and Brian Fobber; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Jessie Fobber and Ivelene Barker; his stepmother, Janie Fobber; his brothers, Scott Fobber and Joe Fobber; and nephews, Mitchell Fobber and Tony Fobber.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Stigler Church of Christ with Mr. Virgil Cantrell officiating. Pallbearers include Jimmy Fobber, Jake Fobber, Jeremy Fobber, C.J. Fobber, Mark Burkhart, Thomas Fobber and Brian Fobber. Honorary pallbearers include Budge Herbert, Steve Wilson, Raymond Boydston, Ronnie Dean, Donnie Strickland, Poncho Ruiz, Brad Deveraux, Arthur Deveraux, Norman Jackson, Donnie Shadwick, Bobby Stacy, Kenny Sherrill, Danny Bowen, Derrick Bowen and Denver Bowen.
Burial will follow in Coleman Cemetery in Porum under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler.
Family requests private graveside service at Coleman Cemetery.
Stigler Church of Christ will be live streaming the service on their Facebook page.