James O. White, 83

James O. White, 83, of Fletcher, Okla., passed away at his home on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.

The burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Okla., under the direction of Fletcher Funeral home.

He was born March 1, 1925, in Bridgeport, Okla., to Virgil Eldon and Ruby Pearl Nusz-White. He grew up in Bridgeport and Geary and attended school there.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps on April 18, 1940. He served in World War II, and was wounded in battle; receiving a Purple Heart, at Okinawa Shima, Ryuka Island.

After he was honorably discharged from the military on Feb. 5, 1946, he returned to Geary and worked for the county. He then moved to Colorado, then next to Montana where he began building dams, including the Libby Dam.

He married Cheri Sorell in 1979 and returned to Geary, Okla., to care for his stepfather.

He was a carpenter, member of the Kalispell Carpenters Union, a horseman, and a Santa Gertrudis cattle rancher.

Survivors include his wife, Cheri, of Fletcher; son, Ian, of Fletcher; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Julie White, of Kalispell; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Andy McCaslin, of Connecticut; stepson, Joseph Seelye, of Phoenix; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Susan and Jim Mann, of Kalispell; brother and sister-in-law, Virgil and Peggy White, of El Reno, Okla.; 12 grandchildren and their spouses; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Connie Sagrillo; and a brother, Chet White.