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  • It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Jim Jenkins, a respected agricultural educator, mentor and leader. He graduated from Holdenville and served as the 1971–1972 Oklahoma FFA Southeast District Vice President. Jim devoted his life to agricultural education teaching at Liberty Mounds 1975-76, Thomas 1976-78, Blackwell 1978-81 and Bethel 1987-97. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jim’s family, friends, former students and colleagues during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

    Visitation: Thursday, May 28, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Cooper Funeral Home in Tecumseh, OK
    Funeral Service: Friday, May 29, 2026, 2:00 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church, 37496 New Hope Road, Tecumseh, OK
  • With deep sorry we share the loss of former Oklahoma CareerTech Agricultural Education Program Manager and State FFA Adviser Jack Staats who died May 19. He began his ag ed teaching career at Freedom High School where he taught for three years. Staats then advised at Buffalo for one year before moving on to start the ag program at Alva High School where he taught for 30 years. Jack dedicated his life to agricultural education, FFA and the development of young people across Oklahoma. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, May 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at the Salt Fork Event Center, 27251 County Road 460, Alva, OK, 73714.
  • In loving memory of James Walter Horton of Marlow, Oklahoma, who passed away on April 12, 2026, at the age of 67. James leaves behind a lasting legacy cherished by his family, friends, and the many students whose lives he touched. He dedicated his career to Agricultural Education, teaching across the state of Oklahoma in communities including Kinta, Davidson, Cement, Fargo, and most recently Choctaw. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM at College Heights Baptist Church, located at 1202 W Grand Ave, Chickasha, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in James’s memory to Russell Murray Hospice            (https://rmhospice.org). He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
  • It is with heavy hearts that we share of the sudden passing of long-time Ag Teacher and Connors State College Faculty Member, Mrs. Debby Golden. Debby passed away suddenly at her home on Saturday, March 28th, 2026. Debby was a pioneer in our profession, as she was among the first female Ag Teachers in Oklahoma. Before that, Debby was the first female FFA member of the Beggs FFA Chapter, and the first female President of the Beggs FFA Chapter. Throughout her life, she helped lay the foundation, break barriers, and blaze the trail for other female Ag Teachers to follow. During her time in the classroom, she served the communities of Guthrie, Boynton, Midway, Checotah and Morris. Debby’s husband Bill Golden was also a long-time Oklahoma Ag Teacher, and they spent many of those years working together. In 2002, Debby moved to the collegiate level and spent more than twenty years working at Connors State College. Although Debby had retired in 2025 , she was still associated with Connors State College, and she was still the driving force behind the annual Connors “Aggie Days” Interscholastics Event. Services for Debby Golden will be on Saturday, April 4th at 10:00am at the Morris High School Gym

 

Last Modified on May 27, 2026