Sonoma, California - Jim was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Fay Offutt Denham and Richard Garland Denham on October 30, 1945. He graduated from Southwest High, earned his BA at San Francisco State, and his Master of Social Work at OU. Jim worked as a social worker for more than thirty years. In Oklahoma, he worked in child welfare and adoption, especially taking joy in helping families adopt.

Jim married Judith Blake in 1980 and was a devoted father to their two children, Diana and Caroline. In retirement, he met his partner, Linda Williams. They shared a fulfilling life in Sonoma, CA, taking memorable trips to France, Norway, and Mexico and frequently visiting children and grandchildren.

While living in Norman, Jim was a member of the Challenges and Choices discussion group of St. Stephen's United Methodist Church. He enjoyed the church men's group, hosting their annual "wild game dinner," and joining their trips to a ranch in northwestern Oklahoma. In early retirement, he enjoyed meeting friends for coffee most mornings at Café Plaid. Jim was a loyal friend, always up for a good conversation and game for an adventure.

Jim was deeply curious about the world and active in many communities. He was a skilled writer and avid reader who read fiction in Spanish and English and several daily newspapers cover-to-cover. He was part of Spanish conversation groups in Norman and Sonoma. Jim was a true sports enthusiast: an expert pool player, a boxing trainer, a soccer dad, a lifelong runner. He ran marathons in San Francisco and Dallas and continued racing well into his seventies.

Jim is remembered for his love of family and friends, his storytelling and great sense of humor, and his spontaneous joy for life. He passed away on Dec. 30, 2024 in Sonoma.

Jim is survived by his partner Linda Williams; daughters, Diana Denham and her husband, Uriel Marin; Caroline Simpson and her husband, Ben Simpson; stepdaughter Heidi Guibord and her husband, Tim Tenorio; stepson Garth Guibord and his wife, Jen Guibord; and eight grandchildren: Lua Marin Denham, Eva Marin Denham, Ruth Simpson, Graham Simpson, Beatrice Simpson, Elliot Tenorio, Dexter Guibord, and Emmett Guibord.

There will be a gathering to celebrate Jim's life at 415 W. Comanche in Norman at 6:00pm on Wednesday Oct. 15th, just ahead of what would have been his 80th birthday.