Individual Details

Burial

Obituary: Rev James William Putnam, 91, passed away peacefully November 23, 2016. He was born February 28, 1925 in Carthage, Mississippi to James Wiley Putnam and Lena Doralee Thweatt Putnam. To help support his family he worked at a CC camp in Washington State at the young age of 13. He served in World War II with the Seabees. He married Jewell Fern Perry November 20, 1949. He received his B.A. Degree from Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas, where he was class president his senior year. James earned a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Seminary while raising eight sons and commuting back and forth from Loreauville, Louisiana. Two daughters were born later. He was a 32nd degree Mason. Rev. Putnam was a member of the Boilermakers Union and was an excellent welder, having perfected his trade while working on ships during the war. He taught a class in welding at Shreveport Vocational Technical School during the late '60s and early '70s while pastoring nearby. He served Baptist churches in West Dallas, Texas, and in Maxie, Loreauville, Iota and Ida, Louisiana, for 18 years. He became a United Methodist minister in 1970 and served churches in Monroe, Lafayette, and Glenmora, Louisiana. He moved to Texas in 1975 and served churches in Lorenzo, Bovina, Haskell, Borger, Abilene, Pampa, Marshall, and Karnak, until his retirement in 2000. Reverend Putnam never met a stranger. His first question was always “Do you know that Jesus loves you?” The next question was “Do you have a church home?” He never missed an opportunity to witness. Even with 10 children, in small houses, on a pastor’s salary, he brought people into his home and provided a welcoming meal and a place to stay. He loved people right where they were. Many will be in heaven because of his faithfulness. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Nellie Doralee O'Vella and Annie Laura Fannie Mae Hall, and his loving wife, Jewell. He is survived by his brother, Jack Leslie Putnam, son Jerry and wife Becki, son Wesley and wife Felicia, son Jan, son Billy and wife Kelly, son Wiley, son Byron and wife Heather, son Don and wife Yolanda, son Ron and wife Vicki, daughter Dawna and husband James Jones, daughter Janine, 27 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.