James ‘Jim’ Quigley

James Clifford “Jim” Quigley was born Dec. 31, 1937, and passed away Jan. 23, 2025, at the age of 87. Jim was born in Calumet and grew up in Geary and Hinton. He graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1955. After graduation, he enrolled in the University of Oklahoma to study geology, but after two years, hard times forced him to go a different direction.

During this time, he joined the Air National Guard and served under the 137th Support Squadron in Oklahoma City from 19601965.

At the age of 23, Jim purchased his first semi-truck and started his own trucking company. Over the next 55 years, he drove millions of miles transporting cattle, grain, chemicals and other commodities.

Jim would buy grain as far away as North Dakota and haul it back to the local farmers. He hauled many loads of wheat from the local elevators to the port in Houston.

He was a frequent buyer of cattle at sale barns in multiple states, filling orders for his customers.

Part of his kids’ rearing was being babysat in a semitruck, playing in the sleeper.

He would always brag that he was the oldest trucker in town, but in his late 70’s, time would catch up and soon he had to retire.

When he was not trucking, Jim was running his farming operation, raising wheat and cattle.

Not one to be sitting idle, he planted wheat up to the date of his death.

He instilled in his kids the importance of hard work, honesty and that a handshake was an unbreakable bond.

Jim found the love of his life, Karen McDaniel, and they were married July 24, 1964. They were wed in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kingfisher.

From that union, they raised three kids on a farm west of Kingfisher.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Bessie Quigley, along with brothers Roger Quigley, Joe Quigley and sister Leota Zunski.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Karen; brother, Larry Quigley; sister, Christine Quigley deMenars; daughter, Sherry (Mical) of Bethany; son, Dale (Chris) of Mustang; and son, Kenny (Kari) of Stillwater, along with numerous grandchildren.

Jim is one of the last few Marlboro men of that generation. He will be greatly missed, but his spirit will live forever.

Please donate to the Emmanual Lutheran Church Benevolence Fund, 124 W. Douglas Ave., Kingfisher, OK 73750.

Visitation for James will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at Sanders Funeral Service.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kingfisher with burial following at Kingfisher Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.