James Jim Edwin Phelan was born December 24, 1926 in Okemah, Oklahoma, to Earl William and Priscilla Seratt Phelan. Jim flew home through the clouds on Wednesday, January 18, 2006, at his home in Waurika at the age of seventy-nine. Jim was the Curator of the Chisholm Trail Museum for many years. He worked at Gilcrease Museum, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, and for the Oklahoma Historical Society in Oklahoma City. He also worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita and at Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa. He and Marjory Lorenz were married December 23, 1951, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Jim served his country in the United States Army serving in WWII. He received his pilot’s license while in the Army. He was a member of the Lions Club.

Survivors include: his wife Marjory Phelan; one son - James Richard Phelan; three daughters - Suzanne Phelan, Patrice Phelan Thurman and her husband David, and Kathleen Phelan Crowe; one brother - Steven Dudley Phelan and his wife Maxine; one sister-in-law - Joan Phelan; and four grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by his brother Earl Loren Phelan and his parents Earl William and Priscilla Phelan.

Graveside services for Mr. Phelan were at 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 21, 2006, at the Highland Cemetery in Okemah under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chisholm Trail Historical Museum.