Jim Battles

Services to celebrate and remember the life of Jimmy Dale Battles will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at First Baptist Church in Chelsea. Burial will follow at Dawes Cemetery in Chelsea. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025 from 1-8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at the Chelsea Funeral Home.

Jim left behind his earthly temporary home for his permanent heavenly on May 15, 2025. He was 85. He was born at home during a snowstorm on January 4, 1940 to Earl and Ocey Irene (Donaho) Battles in rural Talala. He was the oldest of three children. He grew up working alongside his grandfather where he developed a love for cattle, rodeos, raising horses, and most of all a strong work ethic. Jim was educated in his birth community of Talala and was a member of the last graduating class of Talala High School in 1958. He continued his education at Okmulgee Tech in the field of auto body repair.

Jim’s most loved and biggest passions were an eye for the best horses, good livestock, ranching, rodeoing, and his love for his family. His rodeo days included steer wrestling, and he was an avid bareback riding contestant in the rodeo arena for many years. He was employed by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture as an agent for mandatory testing for brucellosis in cattle during the 1960’s. Towards the end of the 1960’s he met and married the love of his life, Joyce Ann Elam on July 15, 1967 at the Nowata County Courthouse. They made their home in Talala, OK and were gifted with their first child, Paula Jo Battles, in 1970, then eventually moving to Chelsea in April of 1973. The family was again gifted with their second child Travis Jay Battles in September of 1973. Jim was self-employed and operated his own Rafter 1 Ranch operations for the next 40 years with his wife and children. This ranching endeavor was the basis for many many happy and exciting memories over the years.

Throughout his life, Jim ventured into many different works of life. He obtained his real estate license, and worked alongside his sister Roxie selling real estate. For a short while, he worked and helped his brother Charlie with the Charlie Battles Rodeo Company. Some of his other avenues of work included custom welding, and hot shot trucking. Jim enjoyed trading horses, cattle, trucks, trailers, and selling livestock panels. He never passed up a good opportunity for trading to make an extra dollar.

Jim’s family life holds so many memories of going to the pasture, gathering cattle, working cattle, going to his kids and grandkids school activities, 4-H shows, and sports activities. Always being outside and on the go was a regular part of life. Through all of life’s ups and downs, not many folks knew Jim was a cancer survivor and has been battling dementia for the last couple of years.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years Joyce Ann Elam Battles of the home, Children Paula Jo Battles of Chelsea and Scott, Travis and wife Alison Battles of Chelsea. Five grandchildren Alex and wife Shaylee Killough, Madalyn Battles, Jessica Loggins & Justin, Bruce Grazier III, and Brandon Graizier & Amanda, and four great grandchildren Jeremiah Loggins, June Loggins, Brucie Grazier, and Elias Grazier. Sister-In-Law Jackie Cooper and Husband Terry, Adair, Brother-In-Law John McDaniel, Adair, also many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Jim is preceded in death by his parents Earl Battles & Ocey Irene Pack, brother Charlie Battles, sister Roxie Podpechan, brother-in-law Frank Podpechan, brother-in-law Charles Lee Elam, and sister-in-law Jean McDaniel.

Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation at omrf.org or the Oklahoma Dementia Care Network at ouhealth.com.