James D. Fellers was born August 27, 1942, in Effingham, IL to parents Ray Dean Feller and Dorsey Feller. Sometime in grade school Jim’s last name changed from Feller to Fellers; a question no one can answer. Jim’s parents divorced when he was quite young, and he lived with his grandparents until age 9. His grandfather worked for Carter Oil Company (Exxon) and was moved to Hoisington, KS when he was about two. They lived there until he was transferred to Sayre, OK when Jim was about 6 years old. Jim’s mother remarried when he was 9 and they went to live in Wichita, KS. Jim credits his new stepfather, Bill David, as the best thing that had ever happened to him. Bill was a career Air Force Master Sergeant, and they lived in several places eventually ending up in Savannah, GA, for his last three years of high school. Jim felt fortunate to attend Herschel V. Jenkins high school when it first opened, and he graduated from its second graduating class. At Jenkins, Jim was on the golf team and a pitcher/outfielder on the baseball team. Jim also had the distinction of being the school photographer and took all the casual pictures for the school annual.
Jim’s mother was born in Fox, OK and was an extreme OU football fan. It was her wish that he choose the University of Oklahoma for college. It sounded good to Jim so that’s what he did. Jim pledged Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity and met some wonderful guys mostly from out of state and rural Oklahoma. During his years in the house Jim served as social chairman and rush chairman. After graduating with a BBA, he stayed in Norman and worked at the Ed Massey clothing store on Campus Corner. In 1969 Jim moved to Oklahoma City and started his career in finance and investing and joined Harris Upham Company, a regional brokerage firm based in Kansas City. Jim never changed firms but the Company name changed about 8 times eventually becoming Morgan Stanley in 2009. Jim retired on December 31, 2022, after almost 53 years. Jim measured his success in the investment business by the clients he had for so many years. Those relationships made everything work. Jim had a very simple but high-quality approach to building long term assets: quality, diversification, and patience.
Golf has been a very important event in Jim’s life. He started taking lessons when he was 13 and didn’t stop playing until age 70. Being a member of the Oak Tree Men’s Golf Club for 24 years was the highlight of his playing career. Not only was the golf course fabulous but so were the many friends he got to know. They were a group of strong A+ personalities that loved to compete. Jim was proud to have twice won the club championship in the first flight, shooting 76-75 and 81-73.
Jim and art, art and Jim. Jim’s love of art started in college and he enjoyed countless hours over the years appreciating the great works by his favorite artists including Nicolai Fechin, the Taos Founders and Freemont Ellis.
In 1999 Jim married Sue Phillips, his sweetheart that he chased for more than 15 years. Sue became the love of his life and together they formed a wonderful partnership. Even though they were both very strong and hard headed they could never get enough of the love they shared for each other. True soul mates.
Jim is survived by his wife Sue Phillips and the Phillips family. Jim is also survived by his beloved daughter Laura Barton (husband John) and his precious granddaughter Karli Rae Barton of Edwardsville, IL.
An informal visitation will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2023 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, 6600 Broadway Ext., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at All Souls’ Episcopal Church with interment following at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions are to be made in James’s name to All Souls’ Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73116.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the caregivers Carmen, Hannah & Jojo, for all of the loving care they provided James.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors.
Posted online on November 20, 2023
Published in The Oklahoman
