James F. Kessler was born June 18, 1929 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Jess and Frances Kresburg Kessler. He passed from this life February 4, 2008, at the Wilson Nursing Home at the age or seventy-eight. He and Carolyn Lowery were married June 19, 1953, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He worked in the oil field for many years as derrick man, driller, and roughneck. He retired from Jefferson County in 2000.

Survivors include: his wife Carolyn Peck Kessler of the home in Ringling, OK; two daughters - Karen and her husband Hank Lambert of Ringling, OK, and Trisha Stone of Ringling,OK; one sister - Betty Stevenson of Del City, OK; seven grandchildren - Tara Marutzky, Casey, Christopher, and Kelly Stone, Monty, Holli, and Ariale Kessler; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and son, Guy in 1994.

Funeral services for Mr. Kessler will be at 2:00 PM, Thursday, February 7, 2007, at the First Baptist Church in Ringling with Ronnie Carroll and Mike Williams officiating. Burial will be in the Ringling Cemetery under the direction of Dudley-Roberts Funeral Home in Ringling. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at Dudley-Roberts Funeral Home in Ringling. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wilson Nursing Home Activity Fund or Falls Creek.