James Kelland Lively, 88, of Seminole County, Oklahoma, passed away July 1, 2026, in Ada, Oklahoma. He was born April 28, 1938, in Okemah, Oklahoma, “J.K.” was the seventh child of Shelton and Mollie Grace (McClanahan) Lively. Reared and country educated at Quasada in Northern Seminole County, “J.K” left the farm in Oklahoma following graduation from Butner Schools looking for adventure. Shortly thereafter, he headed to Oregon to join the logging industry and be with his older brothers. As a hardworking, fast learning, quick witted, mechanical and mathematical genius, he soon left the physical rigors of Oregon and began following his life’s passion of electronics and communication.

He married Betty Stubblefield in 1958 and of that union Denise was born. Later they travelled to Buffalo, New York, while J.K. attended Western Electric School. They returned to Oklahoma and he spent the next phase of his life building communication lines in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas; he co-owned a phone company in Dustin, Oklahoma; and worked for Thomas Electric in Wewoka; became an Electrical Contractor and began the next phase of his life with Lively Electric Co. in 1975.

He married Helen “Judee” Bailey in 1975, and added a second “daughter” to his life, Kim. Following Judee’s death in 1996, JK and Debe Jones married at Wewoka Lake in 1997, and he added two more daughters to his life, Deanna and Jennifer. He was the best “Papa” and endeavored to ensure all of his “children” were safe and taken care of.

Pursuing his numerous hobbies, he built and raced dune buggies – he created and shared encyclopedic tales of life on the river – terrified his friends with dune buggy wheelies and had a passion for golf, gardening, dancing and Cattlemen’s; he loved to share good jokes and was an avid fisherman. He was a master carpenter-mechanic- electrician-teller of tall tales and soft shoe dancer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Shelton and Grace; his siblings – Glynn, Violet, Junior, Dale, Dwain, Romey, Ronald and Catherine; and the second love of his life, Judee Bailey.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Deborah Jones-Lively; his brother Dwight Bey Lively; his children, natural and by love – Denise (Lively) and husband, Bryan Williams; Kim Goodwin and life partner Jeanette Elliott; Jennifer (Jones) Jesse; Deanna (Jones) and husband, Rob Gallavan; and son by love, George (Ca-te) Jesse. His brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Eileen Skaggs, Jerry Kim and Tina Riva and Mary Lynn Lively. His grandchildren: Bayli, Garrett and Travis, Sean and Amanda, Kelly and Ian, Madeleine, Drennan, Caroline, and Jacobe. Numerous nephews and nieces, and an incredible host of friends and golfing buddies.

The family wishes to express their special gratitude to the staff of Vital Caring Home Health; the Wewoka, Holdenville and Seminole Fire Departments and EMS crews. We couldn’t have made it without you guys!

Visitation will be held between 3 and 5 PM, Saturday, July 18, 2026, (Pokkecetu Weekend!) at Stout-Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Come as you are, that is what he wanted.

Arrangements by Stout-Phillips Funeral Home in Wewoka, Oklahoma.