James Bandy

A Celebration of Life for, James Billy “Bill” Bandy, will be 2:00 pm, Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home with Dr. Matt Miles and Pastor Billy Benson officiating. Burial will follow in Enid Cemetery, with the United States Navy Funeral Honors Team providing military honors. The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 2nd from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at the funeral home.

Bill, an active and long-time resident of Enid, OK, died on December 22, 2021 at the age of 95, in the home of his daughter.

Bill was born in Oklahoma City on December 3, 1926, to Ancil Roosevelt “A.R.” Bandy and Calla Fisher (Jones) Bandy. He attended Putnam City Schools in Oklahoma City. Bill joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 at the age of 17, and served at the Naval Supply Depot on Okinawa Island as a Storekeeper, 3rd Class until the end of the war.

Bill worked in accounting and banking for several banks and stores in Oklahoma City before taking a position with the Oklahoma State Employment Security Commission (OESC), where he would work for 23 years. Bill was transferred to the OESC office in Enid in 1961, where Bill and Jean would establish a home.

Bill married Willow Jean Hyatt on August 2, 1947, and they raised six children.

After retiring from OESC, Bill and Jean owned and operated “Willow’s Tree Fine Needle Work”, a popular needle craft and picture framing store in Enid.

After the death of his wife Jean in 1992, Bill became a realtor at Garner Real Estate Agency, where he met Peggy (Freese) Sharkey. They married in March 1994, and she became his constant companion for the remainder of his life. Together, they made trips to Europe, Canada, and Mexico.

Bill had an outgoing personality, and was a respected member of the Enid community. Throughout his life, Bill was actively involved in civic organizations including the Enid Kiwanis Club; Enid Chamber of Commerce; and First Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. Bill would often be found working on and driving the Kiwanis Train at Meadowlake Park. He volunteered at Bass Hospital for many years. He was also a legal mediator at the Garfield County Courthouse where he won an award for being the top mediator of Northwest Oklahoma. Both he and his wife Peggy delivered “Meals on Wheels” to those in need in the local community.

Being civic-minded, Bill always said “we want to make ourselves useful” and “There is no better place to live than Enid, OK”.

He is survived by his (second wife) Peggy; (sister) Mary Jo Weitz, and husband Stanley, of Texas; (daughter) Toni Tomich, and husband Richard, of Arizona; (daughter) Traci Jenkins of Enid; (daughter) Trudi Bandy of Enid; (son) James “Pat” Bandy of Enid; (daughter-in-law) Ann Bandy of Ponca City; (step son) Roger Sharkey of Enid; as well as 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, (first wife) Willow Jean, (son) Phillip Allen Bandy, (son) Timothy Hyatt Bandy and (step-son) Steven Kent Sharkey.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Kiwanis Club of Enid for the upkeep of the train with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made and service viewed on line at www.ladusauevans.com.