Jack Freese engaged in community involvement as well, volunteering his time to various boards, committees, and organizations, including the Tulsa County Bar Association, the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Tulsa Junior College Paralegal Program (for which he was the sole creator), the board of the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS), and eight years on the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board, appointed by then Gov. David Walters. He and his wife Patty were longtime members of Southern Hills Country Club, Philbrook Museum of Art, and Gilcrease Museum. The member organization closest to
his heart was the Rotary Club Sunrise Chapter, for which he served for over 20 years in many capacities. Jack was a devoted Catholic whose faith gave him strength, wisdom, and peace. He and Patty were longtime active members of Christ the King Church. He is survived by Patricia Ann “Patty” Freese, his loving wife of 44 years, sons John Markham Freese, Jr. and Brian Lloyd Freese and wife, Judy Fox Freese, and the family of Sheila Riley Dixon, his only cousin. He is survived also by many lawyers whom he mentored and taught as law clerks and associates.
In Memory of... James M. Sturdivant passed away on November 24, 2021, in Arizona at the age of 84. Jim was born in Tulsa on September 14, 1937 and called several Oklahoma communities home before graduating from Enid High School in 1955. He went to the University of Oklahoma where he pledged the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon and was a member of the R.O.T.C. Upon graduation from OU in 1959 Jim went into the U.S. Marine Corps as an officer. He was on active duty for two years - 15 months of which were spent in Okinawa. Jim felt that his service in the Marines was a defining experience.
James M. Sturdivant
Following an honorable discharge from the Marines, Jim returned to OU and earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1964. He took his last law school final in Norman the morning of January 22, then, over the noon hour, drove to Tulsa and, that afternoon, began a distinguished career of 57 years at the law firm GableGotwals. He was an active partner until the time of his death. Jim believed in his clients and was their dedicated advocate. He was a sincere man who dealt in facts, always willing to listen, tough but fair and took the obligation of the attorney-client privilege very seriously. Jim served as counsel in hundreds of cases involving business disputes, anti-trust, contracts, trade regulation, financing, and securities. He served as lead trial counsel in more than 100 actions, and in many more that were
resolved before trial. He handled cases in state and federal courts at all levels. Through all of Jim's many accomplishments and activities, his family always came first. Jim married Barbara Dunn in 1978. He was a devoted husband who deeply loved and appreciated his wife of 44 years and his children, Katie, Anne, David and John. He was a caring and encouraging father who was very proud of his children and grandchildren, his great joy. He could think of no better way to spend time than to be with them.
Ray Henry Wilburn was born February 5, 1928 in San Antonio, TX to Henry William & Mary Wilburn and passed on November 12, 2021 at the age of 93. Services were held on November 19 at Ninde Brookside Chapel. Ray was a member of the U.S. Navy; serving on 4 different destroyers. Using the privilege of his G.I. Bill, Ray graduated from the University of Tulsa with a B.A. in Political Science in 1951 and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law with distinction. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel 1999 to 2021. Ray was in practice with his partner Michael J. Masterson for over 40 years.
Ray H. Wilburn
