James N. Shadid

James Nayemtallah Shadid was born September 23, 1930 in Oklahoma City to Economos Nayemtallah Shadid and Khouriah Hafeeza Shadid.Jim's father became a priest on July 6, 1933 in Marjayoun, Lebanon. The family moved to Lebanon and stayed until 1947 after his father died in 1946. Jim attended Roosevelt Jr. High and Classen High School. He attended Oklahoma City University while working at Western Electric.He was drafted in the US Army in March of 1952 and sent overseas to Korea. In April 1953, during the invasion of Pork Chop Hill he was injured and hospitalized and was awarded honorable discharge from the US Army on March 24, 1954. He secured a job at AT&T and worked there from 1955 to 1969.Jim married Jeanette Nesser in 1971. Jim and Jeanette lived a hardworking and beautiful life raising their children Nanette and Jimmy. Their example of marriage was a wellspring of kindness, gentleness and welcoming hospitality received by everyone. Jim loved time with family and caring for his grandchildren. He loved all sports and spending time in his garden. Above all, he loved his church, Saint Elijah Orthodox Christian Church, where he served in the altar for many years. He loved the Liturgy and listening to chanting and was blessed to call the faithful priests his friends. He was very proud to be both the son of a priest and the father of a priest.In 1969 Jim opened his first restaurant, 4 Seasons on 23rd & Council in Oklahoma City. In 1974 he built his own restaurant at 92nd & MacArthur, Jimmy's Family Restaurant. Later he changed the food concept to Italian and renamed it Vita Bella. Jim's hard work and love of his customers earned him many friends who became family. Jim & Jeanette loved welcoming family and friends and especially friends of their children into their home for table fellowship. They were truly an Uncle and Aunt to all who entered their home. In 2000, Jim & Jeanette returned to Lebanon for a wonderful visit. They lived a beautiful life together for 47 years until the passing of Jeanette in 2019.Jim is survived by his children Nanette & Nicholas Hathaway and Very Rev. Fr. James & Gigi Shadid; his grandchildren Grace Hathaway, Nicholas Hathaway, Anna Hathaway, Dimitri Shadid, Noel Shadid, and Emil Shadid; his sister Neena Haddad and her husband Philip, his sisters-in-law Laurice Birkes, Julie Nesser, Barbara Shadid, his brother-in-law Elias Khoury as well as a large family of loving nephews and nieces and their families.Trisagion Service for Jim will be Tuesday, February 22 at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Flowers That Do Not Wither Fund at St. Elijah or Camp St. Raphael.