James Michael “Mike” Stanford completed his 8-year battle with colon cancer on August 3, 2019 at the age of 73. His graveside service will be held at Memoryland Memorial Park at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7th with Rev. Royce Litchfield officiating. Family visitation will precede the service at 9:00 a.m. at Coker Mathews Funeral Home.
Born in Hunt County, TX, on December 22, 1945, he was the son of J.W. and Ida Mae Wilson Stanford. He proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Navy at the age of 17 and earned the rank of SK3, Petty Officer Third Class on the USS Tattnall. On September 2, 1967, he married Barbara Jean Sparks in Greenville, TX. He was the office manager for Little Trucking where he enjoyed working with his family and bringing a smile to everyone he met.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Barbara Jean Stanford; his children, Shelley and Jeff Hansell, Kevin Stanford and Julie Guthery, and James Stanford; his grandchildren Kristopher Stanford, Lacey and Logan Sharkey, Allie and Colton Winters, Jaclyn Hansell, and Courtney and Trey Clanton; great-grandsons Tyler Sharkey and Cooper Winters; sisters Betty King and Barbara Little; brother Jody Stanford and his wife, Linda Sue Stanford and several nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Mr. Stanford was preceded in death by his parents; great-grandsons, Austin and Haven Sharkey; brother-in-laws Charles “Sotty” King and Gerald Little; and niece Vickie Stapleton.
Pallbearers will be Logan Sharkey, Colton Winters, Trey Clanton, Jerry Little, Charles “Bubba” King, David Herbert, and Jeff Stanford.