James "Jimmy" Wallis

James Edward Wallis was born in Los Angeles County hospital, Los Angeles, California on November 8, 1931. He departed this life on February 20, 2023 and entered, with rejoicing, into the presence of the Lord. Jimmy or "Pa" and "Jpa" as he was known to most of his family and friends, along with his younger sister, Fay, was raised by his paternal grandparents, James Oliver and Etta Ellen Wallis. His Father, Virgil, died by accident in Ouray, Colorado in 1935 and his Mother, Bertha, abandoned both he and his sister. Jimmy attended the first and part of the second grades of school in Ouray, Colorado. Then with his grandparents and sister moved to Olathe, Colorado where he completed the rest of his grade school and high school education. While in both grade school and high school Jimmy sang on countless occasions for local functions, parties, and churches. He knew and sang most of the popular tunes of the 40's and 50's as well as numerous familiar gospel songs. He graduated both grade school and high school with honors and upon graduation from high school was awarded a four year-all-expenses-paid scholarship to Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado for exceptional achievements in drama (acting) and sports (baseball.) However, he never exercised his opportunity to attend Western State College, but felt called at an early age to go as soon as possible into the Ministry. He, therefore, went to the Apostolic Faith Bible College for two years in Baxter Springs, Kansas where he and his first wife, Lavonda Barker, both attended and he asked her to marry him. They were married on August 23, 1951 in Laverne, Oklahoma. Jimmy had preached his first sermons and was responsible for Rev. Ralph Durham's weekly radio program over KUBC in Montrose, Colorado for three months, while his pastor was in Alaska, when he was 18. He also traveled with "Bitsy" and Ruby Reese for a short evangelistic tour when he was 12 years old. Their travels took them through Spearman, Texas where he sang for Johnny Moderick and his congregation and was introduced to Hattie Bowlware's song, "I've Had A Vision Of Jesus." That song would eventually become Jimmy's signature song as he was requested over and over to sing it. Jimmy was officially ordained, as a minister, on March 25, 1951 at the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kansas with Gail Schultz as the minister in charge of ordination. Just after the first term of Bible School, Jimmy went with Otto and Naomi Busch in tent revival meetings in Kansas, Alabama, and Mississippi while Lavonda was traveling in ministry in Oklahoma and Texas with the Charles Mahan family. Jimmy drove Otto's farm truck caring all of the equipment for the tent revivals and took a wrong turn in Memphis, Tennessee. No cell phones in those days so Otto and Naomi had to turn around and search for him. Jimmy pulled over to the side of the highway and waited until a frustrated, animated, yet understanding German evangelist found him, and then led him back to the correct hi-way. When Jimmy and Lavonda were married they traveled extensively in the United States in revival meetings. They were even traveling a few days prior to the birth of their twins, Randy and Kandy who were born on Feb. 21, 1953. After Randy and Kandy were born, Jimmy and family settled down and began to pastor various churches in the Apostolic Faith Movement. They pastored in Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas. They worked in full-time ministry until retirement to Tulsa, Oklahoma in September of 1999. Even after moving to Tulsa, Jimmy and Lavonda continued to serve and minister up and until the home going of Lavonda on October 10, 2011. After five years of being alone, God brought into Jimmy's life another beautiful companion who had also been through heartache and loss. He and Barbara dated for three years (why did I take so long?) On a beautiful evening, September 27, 2019, Jimmy and the former Barbara McMurray were married at the Glass Chapel in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The smile and joy returned to Jimmy as God was responsible for adding extra blessing and love back into His life. Barbara was and is a special gift from God. My love for Barbara, as I write this, grows with each passing moment. While pastoring in Liberal, Kansas Jimmy graduated with honors, in the school's first graduating class, from Seward County Community College in 1971 with an Associate of Arts Degree and a major in Social Science. He later completed work for and received degrees of Bachelor of Religious Education, Master of Sacred Literature, and Master of Ministry from Trinity College and Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana. His most important accomplishment, however, had nothing to do with himself. Through God's unmerited favor and grace he was born-again and received eternal life at the age of 11 all because of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The moment of truth occurred for him on a Sunday morning in a small country church on "California Mesa" just West of Olathe, Colorado He followed his conversion by being baptized, by immersion, in the cold water of an overflowing canal near Olathe in the Spring of 1942. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Wallis, his paternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. J.O. Wallis, the couple he always considered his parents, his maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Brumfield, his half-sister, Verlyn Doert, and his own, much loved, sister Arvilla Fay Killen. numerous uncles, aunts, and relatives, (many of whom were like a brother or sister to him) his father and mother-in-law, Rev. and Mrs. Jack Barker, (another special set of parents) and his first wife, Lavonda Barker Wallis. Jimmy is survived by his wife, Barbara Wallis, daughter, Kandy Sharp and husband, Roger, son, Randy Wallis and Lou Ann, daughter, Heidi McMurray, son, David McMurry and wife, Dacy, grandchildren, Heather Rhynes and Dr. Jason, Heath Sharp, Jordan Wallis, Cameron Wallis and Donna, Maren Baker and Aaron, Dustin Seidel and Jennifer, Sommer Adcox and Brent, Taylor Gilstrap, Corey Conradt and Rickey, Britni Hill and Caleb, Lucas Bersin, Barrett Bersin, Olivia Mills, Cheris Bersin, Braeden Bents, David McMurray III, Charles McMurray and 19 Great Grandchildren. Finally, It is Jimmy's desire that those who do survive him will not grieve for him, as those who have no hope, but catch a vision of Jesus returning, and live with the blessing of Christ upon them and seek to hear the Lord tell them, "Well Done!"

Tributes

James "Jimmy" Wallis

November 8, 1931 - February 20, 2023