Obituary for Richard James "Jim" Maples
Richard James “Jim” Maples
March 10, 1957 ~ January 13, 2021
Jim was born March 10, 1957, in Riverside, California to Eugene Maples and Lylia Hall. In 1958 Jim’s family moved to Oklahoma where he spent the rest of his childhood and teenage years. As a young man, Jim excelled in all academic areas but especially loved history and geography. He was so smart in fact that he was able to skip 2nd grade. Jim graduated from Moore High School in 1974. In 1973 Jim met the love of his life, Diane Garrison, and they were blessed with three children: Brandon, Jamie, and Melissa. Jim was a wonderful husband and a loving father. He always made sure his family was taken care of and worked hard to support them. In 1977 Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Omaha and served his country for 4 years until he was honorably discharged in 1981. Jim and his family relocated to Oklahoma City in the early 80’s, and he began his career with the US Postal Service. He was a mail carrier and supervisor for the Postal Service and spent nearly 30 years working for them. He made so many great memories and friendships during his time with the USPS. After being retired for a short time, he decided he didn’t enjoy not staying busy, so he took a job with Eastlake Elementary and helped at the school cafeteria for the past 8 years. Although he worked often, Jim always made time for family and enjoyed spending time with them. He loved to go out and support his granddaughters at their softball games and tournaments. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and visited New Orlean’s many times together on special occasions. For their 28th wedding anniversary in 2003, they celebrated in Hawaii, which was one of the highlights of their travel experiences. Jim was a simple man and enjoyed simple pleasures. He loved to fish anywhere he could. Being outdoors and enjoying the peace and quiet was very cathartic for him. Many did not know, but he was an avid reader. He loved reading most anything but mostly fiction books. He also loved action films, especially his top 2 favorites: Top Gun and Independence Day. Jim was a great man, very friendly and never met a stranger. He kept a great outlook on life and was optimistic even in dark times. He lived, loved, and laughed, and if you knew him...his laugh was unmistakable. His presence will be missed, but his spirit will live on through the lives he touched on his journey through life.
Jim was preceded in death by his:
Mother Lylia (Hall) Kyker
He is survived by his
Wife, Diane Maples
Father, Eugene L. Maples
Son, Brandon Maples
Daughter, Jamie Maples
Daughter, Melissa McDowell and husb. John
3 Grandchildren Brinly Maples, Emma McDowell, Kylee McDowell
Brother, Steve Maples and wife Debbie
Sister, Cindy Casey and husband Paul
Sister, Annette Adams and husband Tommy
Sister, Tammy Glasgow and husband Eddie
March 10, 1957 ~ January 13, 2021
Jim was born March 10, 1957, in Riverside, California to Eugene Maples and Lylia Hall. In 1958 Jim’s family moved to Oklahoma where he spent the rest of his childhood and teenage years. As a young man, Jim excelled in all academic areas but especially loved history and geography. He was so smart in fact that he was able to skip 2nd grade. Jim graduated from Moore High School in 1974. In 1973 Jim met the love of his life, Diane Garrison, and they were blessed with three children: Brandon, Jamie, and Melissa. Jim was a wonderful husband and a loving father. He always made sure his family was taken care of and worked hard to support them. In 1977 Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Omaha and served his country for 4 years until he was honorably discharged in 1981. Jim and his family relocated to Oklahoma City in the early 80’s, and he began his career with the US Postal Service. He was a mail carrier and supervisor for the Postal Service and spent nearly 30 years working for them. He made so many great memories and friendships during his time with the USPS. After being retired for a short time, he decided he didn’t enjoy not staying busy, so he took a job with Eastlake Elementary and helped at the school cafeteria for the past 8 years. Although he worked often, Jim always made time for family and enjoyed spending time with them. He loved to go out and support his granddaughters at their softball games and tournaments. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and visited New Orlean’s many times together on special occasions. For their 28th wedding anniversary in 2003, they celebrated in Hawaii, which was one of the highlights of their travel experiences. Jim was a simple man and enjoyed simple pleasures. He loved to fish anywhere he could. Being outdoors and enjoying the peace and quiet was very cathartic for him. Many did not know, but he was an avid reader. He loved reading most anything but mostly fiction books. He also loved action films, especially his top 2 favorites: Top Gun and Independence Day. Jim was a great man, very friendly and never met a stranger. He kept a great outlook on life and was optimistic even in dark times. He lived, loved, and laughed, and if you knew him...his laugh was unmistakable. His presence will be missed, but his spirit will live on through the lives he touched on his journey through life.
Jim was preceded in death by his:
Mother Lylia (Hall) Kyker
He is survived by his
Wife, Diane Maples
Father, Eugene L. Maples
Son, Brandon Maples
Daughter, Jamie Maples
Daughter, Melissa McDowell and husb. John
3 Grandchildren Brinly Maples, Emma McDowell, Kylee McDowell
Brother, Steve Maples and wife Debbie
Sister, Cindy Casey and husband Paul
Sister, Annette Adams and husband Tommy
Sister, Tammy Glasgow and husband Eddie