James D. "Bunky" Mayes was born July 12, 1938 in Marietta, the son of Olie and Anna Marie Blackmon Mayes. He passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2016 in Mercy Health Love County, Marietta, at the age of 77.

Bunky, as he was lovingly known by family and friends, had been a resident of Love County most of his life. A graduate of Marietta High School with the Class of 1959, he then served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1966 during the Berlin Conflict. Bunky and the former Mary Sue Taylor were married in Carter County on February 1, 1958. A truck driver for many years, he logged more than four million miles hauling cattle, grain and fuel. According to his family, Bunky considered himself a very blessed man because he got to do what he wanted . . . driving a truck was his life. Recognized as the first member baptized at Eastside Baptist Church, he later moved his membership to Marietta's First Baptist Church.

Bunky was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, J.B. and Mary Taylor; and three sisters, Elsie Allison, Mary Roberts, and Patsy Sue Allen.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Sue of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and Jeff Black of Stillwater, OK; two brothers and sister-in-law, Leslie and Mary Mayes of Lone Grove, OK, and Olie Mayes, Jr. of Oklahoma City, OK; and four grandsons, Gunner Black, Tristan Black, Dawson Black, and Garyn Fethkenher.

Serving as casket bearers are grandsons, Gunner Black, Tristan Black, Dawson Black, and Garyn Fethkenher; and Lynn Puckett, Richard Quisenberry, Henry Renick, E.C. Peper, Jim Bob Hendrickson, and Bob Stricklen. Honorary bearers are Joe Martin and Jerry Scheihing.