James Lyndell Brister, of Durant, Okla., joined his Lord and Savior and loved ones in Heaven on December. 10, 2023 following a long illness. 
Born in Borger, Texas on April 2, 1952, to J.W. Brister and Maydell (Bell). James was raised by Kenneth Blankenship (Maydell), Durant, Okla., from the age of three. He spent the majority of his life in Bryan County, Okla. James met the love of his life Kathy Newton then married her on December 17, 1971.
James attended Durant High School and proceeded to graduate with a bachelor’s in education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. James loved family, farming, motorcycle, and automobile repair. He enjoyed camping and being outdoors with his family. During his lifetime he worked as an educator, factory laborer and later a truck driver for four years to pay for a farm, he then began farming in the Cobb area for 25 years before retiring in 2018.
A loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to everyone, James is survived by his wife of 52 years Kathy Brister(Newton); sons James Brister (Shawna), Cartwright, Okla., and Ray Brister (William), Apopka, Fla.; brothers, W.J. Brister, Mead, Okla., Jerry Brister (Tina), Durant, Okla.; grandchildren: Andrew Strickland, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jessica Salinas (Memo), Heather Ingram, Durant, Okla. and four loving great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
A special thank you to the people at Victory Home Health and Diane McClesky for their loving care and support during his final days. James was steadfast in his faith and attendance at Brown Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. at Brown’s Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
A Celebration of Life services for James will be at Brown Baptist Church in Brown, Okla., on Saturday, Dec. 16 beginning at 10 a.m. James will be laid to rest at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Nida, Okla. Serving as pallbearers Mearl Lamar, Mikey Hall, Brenton Hall, Billy Richardson, Andrew Strickland, Memo Salinas, Heather Ingram, and Steve Kelso. The service will be officiated by Dale Ballard and Bruce McLaughlin.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.