James Fite

James Clifford Cliff Fite, longtime area minister, passed away Friday, February 03, 2012 at Via Christi Village at the age of 85 years.

Cliff was born July 17, 1926 at Holdenville, Oklahoma, the son of John Earl Fite and Lyda Murrell Fite. He attended Yeager, Oklahoma schools and was a graduate of Dewar, Oklahoma High School. He received his Bachelors Degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served his country in the United States Navy from June 1944 to July 1946, serving in the Pacific as a Radarman 3rd Class aboard the USS San Saba . He was married to Wanda Jean Sharp on July 21, 1950 in Holdenville. The couple moved to Ponca City in 1963.

Since surrendering to the Ministry as a young man, Cliff was pastor of churches at Yeager, Dustin, Calvin, Amber and Oklahoma City before moving to Ponca City. He was a longtime Pastor of Sunset Baptist Church, Ponca City. He was also former Director of the Baptist Student Union of Northern Oklahoma CollegeTonkawa. He later served as Director of Missions for the Kay Baptist Association. He also had served the Ponca Indian Baptist Church as interim pastor and was interim pastor of many other area Baptist churches. His enjoyments included spending time with his grandson Zachary, playing golf and watching all kinds of athletic events on television.

He is survived by his daughter, Laura Gayle Edwards of Gallatin, Tennessee one grandson, Zachary Aaron Mattox Edwards also of Gallatin one brother, Wayne Fite and wife, Delores, of Ardmore, Oklahoma three sisters, Jo Langford, Newcastle, Oklahoma, Maxine Bowen of Midwest City, and Marie Bowen of Holdenville sisterinlaw, Lillian Fite of Shawnee. He was preceded in death by his parents his wife Wanda, in 1995 one brother, John Earl Fite Jr. and an infant sister, Velma.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, February 6th at Grace Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at Sunset Baptist Church with nephew Rev. Tim Bowen presiding, assisted by Rev. Matt Brown and Nathaniel Page. Interment will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers will be Zachary Edwards, Tim Bowen, Earl Langford, Don Bowen, Kevin Langford, Alan Fite and Nathaniel Page. Honorary casket bearer will be Tom Larkins.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ponca Indian Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2546, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602.