James Milton "Jim" Tanquary, 81, of Texhoma passed away Friday, January 21, 2022 at the Moore County Hospital in Dumas, Texas.

The son of Horace Milton and Bertha Fay (Garrett) Tanquary, Jim was born May 4, 1940 in Franklin, Nebraska.

Jim was united in marriage to Ruth Ann Nissen on June 17, 1960 in Alliance, Nebraska.  The Tanquary family moved to Texhoma from Martin, South Dakota in December of 1977.  While in Martin he served on the fire department and received his certification as a police officer in 1974.

Jim served as the Texhoma Chief of Police from 1986 until February of 2009, when he began serving as a Deputy with the Texas County Sheriff's Department.  He was a past active member of the Texhoma Volunteer Fire Department and member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ruth Tanquary on April 20, 2010; his parents, Horace and Bertha Tanquary; one brother, Joe Tanquary; and one sister, Sharon Gifford.

Survivors include his four children:  Michael T. Tanquary and wife, Carrie of Texhoma, Raymond L. Tanquary and wife, Jewel Rae of Conover, North Carolina, Theresa Zieber of Liberal, Kansas, and Jeffrey J. Tanquary and wife, Audra of Texhoma;  eight grandchildren: Holly, Coty, Chad, Zachary, Tyler, Misty, Stacy and Chris; nine great grandchildren; and one brother, Neal Tanquary and wife, Janiece of Phoenix, Arizona.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, January 25 ^th at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Texhoma with Rev. Thomas House officiating.  Interment with honors will follow at the Texhoma Cemetery.  Services are under the care of the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon.

Memorials in Jim's name can be made to the Texhoma Fire Department.  Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942.  Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com .