Jim Mayer; 1959-2026

Jim Mayer was born on Sept. 8, 1959, in Guymon, OK, on his mother’s birthday. The youngest of three children, he was raised on the family’s ranch just south of Hooker along the Beaver River. Jim knew from an early age that he wanted to carry on his family’s ranching heritage. He was proud of what his ancestors had built, and through the course of his life always sought to preserve and build on that legacy.  He had many hobbies and passions, but his passion for the conservation and preservation of his family’s ranch was what he truly enjoyed.

In school, Jim was a member of 4-H and often spoke about the opportunities that 4-H provided him, from speech contests, to traveling to Japan and the Philippines, to even winning grand champion at the National Western Livestock Show in Denver. Jim always loved talking about his time in 4-H. In fact, one of his last requests was that donations to the Hooker Loyal Doers Chapter be made in his name.

Jim was a devout Christian, and in true Jim Mayer fashion, he was baptized in the Cimarron River as a young man. Jim was a voracious reader of the Bible; reading it all the way through many times throughout his life. His bibles pages are well worn with extensive notes and highlights.

At 16, Jim began attending the Southwestern Kansas Vocational and Technical school in Liberal, KS, learning welding and mechanics, two things that he was very passionate about right to the end of his life; in fact, he was anxiously anticipating “burning some rod” with his brand new welder that he purchased just six weeks earlier.

After high school, Jim studied at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell while still working on the family ranch.

In 1979, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Dallas Kimberly Brewer of Hardesty, OK. He was a loving and devoted husband for more than 46 years. Jim and Dallas recently spent their 46th anniversary retracing their steps in some of the same locations they had spent on their honeymoon 46 years prior.

Jim served on numerous local, state and national boards and committees with both the Farm Bureau and the Republican Party.

Jim loved history and was a student of history. And there was no history that he loved more than the history of his beloved High Plains. He worked hard to preserve that history and educate as many people as he could on the importance of that history. This was nowhere more obvious than by his faithful and meticulous documentation of his own family’s history in this area.

Jim was both a loving and devoted father and grandfather, passing down family history, skills and wisdom that he had learned from his father, Lewis, and his grandfather, Fred. A priceless gift that will be cherished along with his memory.

Jim Mayer passed from this life to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan. 8.

He is survived by his loving wife of the home, Dallas Mayer; his son, Tyler Mayer; and daughter-in-law, Naomi Elaine Mayer; three grandchildren who he loved so very much, Jax James Mayer, Tess Elaine Mayer and Ava Elaine Mayer; as well as his sister, Jane, and her husband, Roger Skelton. Jim also leaves behind beloved in-laws, Mary Ellen Lane, Leon Giles, Betty and Lee Cunningham, Leola and Jeff Merideth, Lisa and David Giles and Nancy Brewer and Dee Fleece; nieces and nephews, John and Tori Skelton, Jess and Megan Skelton, James and Lindsey Skelton, Jason and Jana Schreiner, Jarod and Julie McDaniel, Lau and Katherine Christensen, Chad and Margie Rice, Paul and Paige Mayer, Matt and Luci Wilms, Ben and Beth Aaker, Nathan and Christi Pease, Zach Brewer, Travis Brewer, Nick Brewer, Chase and Lauren Giles, Chaney Giles, Courtney Fleece, Zak and Chloe Hazen; along with 28 great nieces and nephews; Cecilia Araujo, his “exchange student daughter” of Corrientes, Argentina; and cousin, Kacy Nash, who spent many summers at the ranch. Jim also leaves behind his many cousins from the Witt and Beasley families to grieve his passing, as well as great neighbors, and a host of friends near and far.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Anna Mayer; grandparents, Fred and Lyda Mayer, and Henry and Frances Witt; brother, Joe Mayer; and sister-in-law, Mary Anne Mayer; in-laws, Howard Ralph Brewer, Wesley Lane, Zane Brewer and Barbara Giles; and nephews, Trey Sutcliffe and Conner Fleece.