Jim and I were great friends. I allways did my best to help Jim in football practice and weights. I hadn't heard from any of Jim's family in over 20 years. I stopped at a friends house in Claremore one afternoon and one of the neighbors was having a garage sale. We decided to look around and I found something, I don't even remember what it was, and hollered at my friend," I found something that reminds me of a great friend I once had, Jim Bob McCool." Another man there turned around and looked at me for a minute and said," you must be Billy Stanbro". I answered that I was and he said," I'm Jims little brother and Jim spoke of you alot". I have to say I feel honored to be thought of by Jim's family after so many years, But I also have to say, I feel honored to have Jim McCool as my friend. You'll allways be remembered Jim. Billy Stanbro
I became acquainted with Jim Bob McCool when his family moved to BA in elementary school. He was always shy and sweet. I spent New Years Eve 1973 with the Bible Baptist Church's Youth Group at the McCool's home in Vandever Acres. They were such a sweet and loving family. Jim Bob felt the call of the Lord to become a minister and planned on attending Bible college to study for the ministry. On that May afternoon in 1973, I was a part-time secretary at Southside Elementary. Jim Bob's dad came rushing in, telling Mr. Ary, the principle, what had happened, and that Jim Bob had "gone home to live with Jesus..." That's exactly how he put it and I'll never forget it. I was sent to get Jim Bob's brothers out of class. I witnessed the boys being told in the most gentle and loving way that their brother was no longer with us. It made a tremendous impact on me - not only losing a friend - but the gentle and accepting way his family handled their loss. That experience has been an example to me in every situation where I have had to deal with death ever since. And I've never had the chance to say this: Thank you, Jim Bob, for the gentle life you led and thanks to your family for the loving example they set for the rest of us. - Sharon
Jim Bob McCool...what can you say. What a shy, gentle, true spirit he was. I was so very sad at his passing. It seemed so unfair. Jim took heat in school, but, he kept his head held high, until the end. I have remembered Jim Bob many times in my life. He was a lifes example to me. What a wonderfully sweet person he was. Like Billy Joel says "Only the Good die young".
Janelle Reynolds (Stanbro)
Jim and I were great friends. I allways did my best to help Jim in football practice and weights. I hadn't heard from any of Jim's family in over 20 years. I stopped at a friends house in Claremore one afternoon and one of the neighbors was having a garage sale. We decided to look around and I found something, I don't even remember what it was, and hollered at my friend," I found something that reminds me of a great friend I once had, Jim Bob McCool." Another man there turned around and looked at me for a minute and said," you must be Billy Stanbro". I answered that I was and he said," I'm Jims little brother and Jim spoke of you alot". I have to say I feel honored to be thought of by Jim's family after so many years, But I also have to say, I feel honored to have Jim McCool as my friend. You'll allways be remembered Jim.Billy Stanbro
Sharon Sellers (Dunn)
I became acquainted with Jim Bob McCool when his family moved to BA in elementary school. He was always shy and sweet. I spent New Years Eve 1973 with the Bible Baptist Church's Youth Group at the McCool's home in Vandever Acres. They were such a sweet and loving family. Jim Bob felt the call of the Lord to become a minister and planned on attending Bible college to study for the ministry. On that May afternoon in 1973, I was a part-time secretary at Southside Elementary. Jim Bob's dad came rushing in, telling Mr. Ary, the principle, what had happened, and that Jim Bob had "gone home to live with Jesus..." That's exactly how he put it and I'll never forget it. I was sent to get Jim Bob's brothers out of class. I witnessed the boys being told in the most gentle and loving way that their brother was no longer with us. It made a tremendous impact on me - not only losing a friend - but the gentle and accepting way his family handled their loss. That experience has been an example to me in every situation where I have had to deal with death ever since. And I've never had the chance to say this: Thank you, Jim Bob, for the gentle life you led and thanks to your family for the loving example they set for the rest of us. - SharonCyndee Sharp
Jim Bob McCool...what can you say. What a shy, gentle, true spirit he was. I was so very sad at his passing. It seemed so unfair. Jim took heat in school, but, he kept his head held high, until the end. I have remembered Jim Bob many times in my life. He was a lifes example to me. What a wonderfully sweet person he was. Like Billy Joel says "Only the Good die young".