James Hoskin

James “Socker” Hoskin passed away October 27, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born December 05, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Samuel C. Hoskin and Sammie Alein “Clement” Hoskin. James was raised in the Cobb School area of Craig County and was a member of the Vinita High School class of 1961. He joined the US Navy and was a Seabee for his country; after serving, James returned to Oklahoma and married the love of his life, Edwina Rachel Galvin, on February 08, 1964. They celebrated fifty-six years of marriage. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and was an electrician by trade in Chicago and California, working as a Journeyman Lineman for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). He was also a member of the International Association of Bridge Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers Local 584 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After retiring from the Union he worked for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma until 2001 and was himself a Cherokee elder. James enjoyed antiques, fishing, boating, and telling people that he was the proud uncle of Chuck Hoskin, Jr., Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, and wife January. What brought James the most joy, and what he considered was his greatest and most precious accomplishment in life, was being a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was fondly referred to as the “professor of life” by his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister Janie Darlene Goins.

James is survived by his wife Edwina Rachel Galvin Hoskin of the home in Gran Tara, Grand Lake, Oklahoma, his children Rachel “Hoskin” Cummings and husband Jarret of Rockville, Maryland, Samuel Hoskin and wife Rebecca of Grand Lake, Oklahoma, grandchildren Tori Hoskin, Shelbi Hoskin, Zane Cummings, Ella Grace Cummings, Joshua Luffman, and Rene’ Matsukevich and husband Matt, one brother Mayor Chuck Hoskin and wife Stephanie of Vinita, Oklahoma, the “Howard children,” Kim Howard Weston of Overland Park, Kansas and Chris Howard of Columbia, South Carolina, and three great-grandchildren and nieces and nephew Amy Hoskin, Amelia Hoskin, Jennifer Goins, and Roger Goins.

A Catholic Rosary will be held Tuesday, November 03, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Claremore, Oklahoma, with Mass immediately following at 11:00 a.m. and officiated by Father Sylvanus Amaobi. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Ketchum Cemetery, Ketchum, Oklahoma, with the Cherokee Nation Honor Guard.