James P. Gard, Jr.

Jim Gard, 76, of Oklahoma City, formerly of Iowa Park, passed on Feb. 24th, 2019.

Jim spent the last 36 years with his wife Susan living primarily near Norman, Oklahoma in the Little Axe community. While living in Little Axe, Jim was a long time school board member, a volunteer little league coach, commander of the American Legion at various times, and participated in numerous community projects which positively improved the lives of the people who made their homes in an area described by many as “paradise”

Jim, a Marine, spent two tours in Vietnam before being injured.

He attended Oklahoma University on a football scholarship, then transferred on scholarship to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He taught school briefly, then served many years as a district manager with the Holiday Inn corporate office.

Jim is preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Gard, and sisters Dianne Ackerman and Dorris Cole.

Jim is survived by wife, Susan, stepson, Joe and wife, Christy Penhall; and grandsons Foster and Kalex.