Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, J. T. Weedman, Jr. passed away on May 7, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loving wife. He was 89 years old. A celebration of J.T.'s life will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma with a reception following the service. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.
J. T. was born to a single mother in 1935 with a different birth name. When J.T. was 4 years old, Jack and Mae Weedman found him and gave him everything he needed including his name, Jacob Torrence Weedman, Jr. He was adopted by them and began "living, instead of just existing" with the new experience of having a Mom and Dad who loved him and provided for him. His father, Jack (J. T. Weedman, Sr.), worked for Carter Oil Company for decades. His mother, Mae (Lillian Mae Burrows Weedman) grew up in a boardinghouse in Shawnee and served meals. She was a Pentecostal Holiness preacher for a period of time, and Superintendent of Girls Town in the 50s. Both provided a strong family and Christian faith, with love for him and his older adopted sister, Mary, that lasted a lifetime. Due to his early childhood experiences and love for his parents who saved him, he was very protective and loyal to his family and friends throughout his life and always, always grateful for the life he lived.
J. T. was the consummate entrepreneurial businessman who got his life insurance license in 1959 as he was graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University. J. T. always had jobs growing up and through college and learned a strong work ethic. Even though his father was worried his son wouldn't be able to make a living in sales, J. T. was very successful and regularly on the cutting edge of the insurance world from life insurance (due to his incredible mentor, Atlee Beagle, of Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company), health care and pension plans, and structured settlements. In the last 25 years, he began Weedman Goup, Inc, and Delta Loans in 2010. He remained President until his death after a 66 year business career. J. T. was grateful to his many clients who became his friends and felt blessed to serve them.
J. T. loved politics and was a master storyteller. Called a "political legend" and mentor, J. T. was involved in politics from his early years where his mother was a paid campaign worker. As a young boy, he helped his mother and met candidates running for office. When he realized that they were in the newspaper, he started reading the political news, which began a lifelong habit. Election nights were always exciting, and everyone was glued to the radio. All of these experiences established a life-long love of the drama, comedy, battles, and fascination of politics. In college, he was a Young Democrat and started campaigning for specific candidates. He was involved in developing and bringing in candidates in many local races for decades in Shawnee and statewide. From local politics to his appointment to the Election Board to a gubernatorial aide in the 70s to statewide politics, he garnered loyalty and respect by some and gained political enemies by others. After the elections were over, it wasn't unusual for him to become friends with an opponent.
J. T. loved to laugh and attempted to find humor in all situations. J. T. enjoyed lifetime friendships with many and was grateful for his friends and their steadfastness and love. J. T. had strong convictions and was not afraid to follow through on them, while recognizing that others might not agree. Always a keen mind, J. T. enjoyed reading the newspaper and listening to the news. He enjoyed watching college football, basketball, swimming, and in his younger years playing tennis. An avid sportsman, he hunted quail and pheasant with his son, friends, and bird dogs, Cindy and Peaches. He loved driving his truck with his dog, Zip, to his land outside Earlsboro, Oklahoma for many years. He enjoyed cooking with his wife, family, and friends and loved food of all kinds. He was always faithful and generous to the church as well as to others, who like his own early life, may have fallen on hard times.
Recently celebrating 30 years of marriage, J.T. and his loving wife, Sylvia, have enjoyed a rich and rewarding, loving relationship since 1994. They loved each other, took care of each other, and had many adventures together including joining together in their strong faith and attending church, taking several cruises, and enjoyed many interests in cooking, football, basketball, politics, business, grandchildren, and their two boys, Max and O'Reilly. (aka dogs)
J.T. is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Mae, and his sister, Mary Alyce Hall, and nephew, Dennis Alvarez.
He is survived by wife, Sylvia, of the home; his children, Bart Weedman (Leigh) of Arlington, Texas, Jayna Weedman Haney (Mike) of Houston, Texas, and Krista Tippett of St. Paul, Minnesota; Sylvia's children, Melanie Gaines of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Julie Lockwood (Justin) of Glencoe, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jacob Weedman (Lauren), Zachary Stryker, Sarah Oakley, Jessica Sosa (Jonathan), Sebastian Tippett, Aly Tippett, Grey Gaines, Audrey Gaines, Kurt Lockwood, Quint Lockwood (Kaylee) and son, Baylor; and niece, Diana Alvarez and her children, Kaylene Alvarez and Guy Alvarez, and Guy's children, Emma and Noah.
The family wishes to thank Frank and Gabriela's Home Care Service, Bright Star Care, and Centric Hospice for their kindness and care.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests donations be made to the Shawnee YMCA or a church of your choice in J.T.'s name.