02/16/2026
James R. Irby
James Richard Irby passed into the arms of his SAVIOR at 94 years, 6 months in Tulsa, Oklahoma February 14, 2026.
He was born August 4, 1931, in Prairie Grove, AR in the home of his maternal grandparents, the third of Leon William and Mary Ruth (Butler) Irby’s four children. “Jimbo” or “Jimmy” to his immediate family, lived most of his early years in Stroud, OK, where his mother taught school, while his daddy roughnecked. Their family worked a neighborhood garden together annually and canned their harvest for the months to come.
Jimmy was the closest to his brother, Charles. Together they worked hard in their lawn business grooming their church lawn and many other lawns on a weekly basis using reel type mowers and hand clippers, until they were able to purchase a power mower. For relaxation, they challenged each other to some very competitive tennis matches.
Jimbo participated in most school sports, i.e. playing on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Stroud Tigers’ football team while wearing a leather helmet, playing catcher for their baseball team, and competing in track and field events. Jimmy was never encouraged to play basketball. His mother was concerned that they didn’t wear helmets.
Jim continued his education at Oklahoma A & M and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts. His coursework focus was on English, but he had great interest in animal husbandry courses and was active in ROTC training. When he wasn’t in class, studying, fulfilling ROTC duties, or pursuing the love of his life, Roberta, he would be swinging a racket.
His brother, Charles, and Charles’ fiancée, Mary McFarland, purposed to introduce her roommate, Roberta Ann Unterkircher, to Charles’ little brother, Jimmy via a “blind date” at a church function. Jim and Roberta realized that they had met the person GOD had planned for them and were united in marriage at her parents’ home on June 3, 1954, after completion of their final semester. GOD blessed them with three children: Dick, Cindy and Anita. They nurtured them to become loving spouses and parents of their own families as their parents had nurtured them.
Jim managed two C R Anthony stores in Austin, TX and later in Hollis, OK. In 1966 he and Roberta bravely launched “Irby’s Dept Store” in Mannford, OK and “The Clothes Closet” in 1976. After twenty years of working side by side, they retired to a more leisurely lifestyle in the country.
When he wasn’t working in their clothing ventures, he studied seed catalogs, gardened, groomed their lawn, acreage and orchard, tried his hand at caring for a couple of cows and fattening a couple of calves, grafted pecan trees, planted fruit trees, walked three rounds of golf in a day, weekly with his buddies, fished, ran trotlines, etc… He was most “at home” when he was outside!
Jim was a very kind and gracious man who loved GOD, taught Sunday school and sang baritone in the choir for many years. He loved family deeply and cherished friendships. They were embraced with hugs and handshakes to express how glad he was to see them, as they visited their home and warmly greeted all who entered their businesses. A grandchild recalled an endearing way he expressed his love when caring so deeply about someone or something. If he felt correction was needed, his speech would begin with a slight stutter. It wasn’t weakness, but evidence of how deeply he cared for people and awareness that his words mattered. Another grandchild loved how “constant” he was. He was always there for a hug, ready to chat with you about whatever he was growing in his garden, and “needing his sugars”.
He frequently served others in many tangible ways, ie…using his new power edger along every neighbor’s curb on both sides of their street just to be helpful. After retirement, he and Roberta committed every Thursday to serving their church family, UHBC, with other couples by maintaining the church lawn and kitchen. Following their morning of service, the couples shared a potluck lunch and played various games. His favorite was “Moon” dominoes.
He and Roberta spent many late evenings playing “Spinner” dominoes at home. Jim was always looking for anyone that could be talked into playing multiple games complete with Dr Pepper, ice cream popcorn. When he and Roberta weren’t engaged in a competitive game, he was watching FOX News or Westerns and snacking from his private stash. He found contentment in simple pleasures.
GOD gifted Jim with a servant’s heart, a spirit that exemplified CHRIST through many forms of service to the people in his life. He was an incredible example of “dying to yourself” to serve them, as you purpose to make them feel loved and greatly appreciated. Roberta had many physical limitations in her final fifty years. He never failed to faithfully show his love for her in words and deeds, to assist and cherish her, even as his cognition began to fade. He was the ultimate caregiver, server of her needs and wants without complaint…unless she became a little too bossy. Then you’d hear him say “now, Berta” …
His great desire would be for all to come to know his LORD, to recognize their human frailty of sin and to ask for the LORD’s forgiveness of their sins against HIM. Jim would want everyone to receive the LORD’s free gift of unconditional love, forgiveness and salvation and to accept CHRIST’s gift of living eternally with HIM in heaven where Jim now permanently lives. His eternity began when CHRIST stopped all of his pain and suffering by calling him out of his earthly body February 14, 2026, at 1:20 AM. CHRIST transported him to his permanent home in heaven.
He was preceded in death by his “Berta”, his loving wife of 68 years, his parents and three brothers, “Bill” William Leon Irby and his wife Norma, “Charles” Howard Irby and his wife Mary, and “Jack” Franklin Irby, who had drowned at a very young age.
He is survived by their three children, James R. (Dick) Irby Jr. and wife Linda of Keller, TX, Cindy Harp and husband Ron of Tulsa, OK, Anita Cathey and husband Jeff of Stillwater, OK; fourteen grandchildren, Ryan Irby and wife Heather, Matthew Harp and wife Alison, Mackenzie Hoffman and husband Aaron, Travis Irby and wife Rachel, Graham Harp and wife Emily, Cameron Harp and wife Polly, Constance Toledo and husband Tyler, Rachel Cathey and Tyler Springer, Olivia Porter and husband Alex, Meg Shea and husband Logan, Elliott Harp and wife Hanna, Aubria Peercy and husband Tommy, Jacob Cathey, Peyton Harp and wife Sarah; and twenty-one great- grandchildren, Callie Hoffman, Caroline Irby, Avery Hoffman, Marcail Harp, Adaline Irby, Emma Hoffman, Hayes Irby, Andrew Harp, Lilly Irby, Micah Harp, Caleb Harp, Josie Irby, Jesse Harp, Sadie Hoffman, Maven Peercy, Lyla Hoffman, Henry Harp, Adrianna Porter, Elias Peercy, Creed Harp and Sylvie Hoffman.
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