James Winford Spivey, age 88, has gone to be with the Lord November 12 after a brief battle with cancer. James W. Spivey, or Jim as he was known in the Durant, Oklahoma area, was born on January 7, 1935 in Rush Springs, Oklahoma. He graduated from Bray High School in 1953 and was recruited to play basketball for Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he led the team to 3 straight appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. The SOSU Savages played in the championship game his junior and senior years but fell short each time. Despite the runner-up finish Jim was named the Tournament MVP his senior year and has several records that still stand today. He was Southeastern's first 3 time All American. In 1987 he was named as one of the Top NAIA Players of All Time.

Jim met Earlynn Cartwright while at SOSU and they were married and began building their life together. JIm was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers to play professional basketball but chose instead to play in the more established national semi-pro league for the Phillip 66'ers based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After a brief stint in the oil business, he began his career in education. He coached high school basketball in Beaver, Oklahoma for one year before becoming the boys basketball coach at Grayson County Junior College in Denison, Texas. He also served as their athletic director for several years. In 1976 Jim became the Superintendent of Colbert Public Schools.. From there he went to work for the Oklahoma State Department of Education serving as local county Superintendent for many of the counties of southern Oklahoma. But in addition to his night job it was not unusual to attend a local high school athletic event and see him working as a football official or a basketball referee.

Jim and Earlynn retired from education and they began to travel the United States in their motorhome. Eventually they established a winter residence in Mission, Texas and a summer residence in Monument, Colorado. They had many friends from both locations and looked forward to each season and their time of good weather and fellowship. After retiring from the road they lived in Colbert, Hendrix, and finally Pottsboro, Texas. He was devoted to his family and communicated regularly with them all. He was never more than a few feet away from his phone and loved to follow the adventures of his loved ones through posts on social media.

James W. Spivey was preceded in death by his mother and father, James Arthur and Iva Meridith Spivey, his sister Geneve and brothers Richard and Lewis Edward Spivey.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Earlynn Cartwright Spivey; his son and daughter-in-law James and Bonnie Spivey of Pottsboro; his son William (Bill) Spivey and his partner Angela McGraw of Sitka, Alaska; his daughter and son-in-law Joyce Ann and John Aldridge of Denison, Texas. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Donald and Delores Spivey of Marlow, Oklahoma. James was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; April, James Glen, Michael, Lucas, Kate, and Christopher. Great-grandchildren are Aubrey, Charlotte, Molly, Emory, Graham, Rylinn, and Silas.

The family is very appreciative of the wonderful caring nurses and health care workers who cared for Jim during his short stay at Grayson Place Assisted Living and Birdi Hospice Care. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Colbert, Oklahoma on December 3, at 2:00 pm.