James Mitchell Criner Sr. was born on September 2, 1945 in Stigler, Oklahoma to parents George Mitchell and Georgia Pauline Criner. He was a hard-working man who loved his family and his country music. He loved picking his guitar and singing. James made his career in agriculture, starting out working on the farm at the age of 8 with his dad and siblings. He continued his ag career as an adult for the next six decades, retiring in 2008 from Western Farm Services. James passed peacefully while surrounded by family. He is survived by his son, James Mitchell Criner Jr.; daughters, Julie Self and Nicole Hernandez; special loved ones, Liberty Woods and Patricia Keefer; grandchildren, Katie and husband Ned Boreham, Steven, Cody, Joshua, Lauren, Trenice, Brendan, Kyana and Asia; great grandchildren, Tryniti and Alex; siblings, Wanda Graves, Norma Day, Maudie Wilhelmsen, Loretta Tiner, Linda Coley, Paul Criner, Charlotte Dooley, Tina Earl; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mitchell and Georgina Criner; siblings, Doyal, Harley, Leroy and Stevie Criner. James will be greatly missed, but we know he is already picking and grinning in heaven.