James Thomas Sharp, 85, passed away on March 18, 2023, in Ardmore, OK. He was born on September 2, 1937, in New Hope, Arkansas to Burgess Sharp and Bonnie (Crouch) Sharp. He passed away at home surrounded by his loving family.

He worked for the Chickasaw Telephone Company as a locator until his retirement. He loved to fish and was an avid fisherman back in his early years and after retirement. He loved to go to his family reunions and reminisce, have fish fries and cook on the grill.

James loved to tell tall tales of all his adventures of his childhood growing up, however, we never knew if these stories were true or not, the stories always seemed to end differently each time we heard them.  One of his enjoyments was going to the coffee shop early in the mornings to shoot the bull with his cronies.  James loved to watch sporting events, especially football and baseball, and to cheer for his OU Sooners and his Arkansas Razorbacks.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Leslie Sharp; brothers, Fred and Roger Sharp; sisters, Jo Hunt, Emma Phillips and Margaret Wilson.

James leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Jo Ann Sharp of Ardmore, OK; son, Jimmy Dean Sharp of Nashville, TN; daughters, Sherrie Ott and husband, Steve of Ardmore, OK, and Alicia Carrell and husband, Paul of Broken Bow, OK; sisters, Sue Thompson of Hot Springs, AR, Peggy Lacefield of DeQueen, AR, Evelyn Lindsey of Genoa, AR, and Louise Lemons of Nashville, AR; grandchildren, J.D. Sharp and wife, Jarie of Sulphur, OK, Kayla Sharp Estep of Clarksville, TN, Charles Sharp of OKC, OK, Brent Sharp of Dallas, TX, Leslie Ott of Ardmore, OK, and Stacie Walker and husband,  Brian of Ardmore, OK; great grandchildren, Jakob Sharp, Jalie Sharp, Kynsen Estep, Jaci Estep, Jordi Sharp, Preslie Ortega and Collins Walker; numerous other relatives and friends.