Leonard Shane James, 46, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, February 23, 2026, at 9:23 p.m., a time that feels fitting for a man whose favorite number was 23. Born on March 21, 1979, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Shane lived boldly, loudly, and always on his own terms.

Growing up in Ponca City, Shane loved playing bingo, soccer, and cruising down Grand Street with the music turned up. In the early 2000s, he worked at Albertsons Warehouse, where he built lifelong friendships and memories that stayed with him through the years.

Shane was ornery in the way only he could be. He could light up a room, turn a stranger into a friend, and make people laugh without trying too hard. He was honest, sometimes bluntly so, and you never had to guess what was on his mind. He loved to joke, loved to dance, and loved to live in the moment. If you asked him, he was “partying like a rock star.”

In 2000, Shane became a father, a role that mattered deeply to him, even in imperfect seasons. His daughters were a constant part of his heart and his story. Watching his daughters grow into the women they are today made him proud. Bailey, Karter, and Kenna kept him on his toes. Whether getting dressed up for the Father & Daughter Dance at the Marland Mansion, attending basketball games or soccer tournaments, watching dance performances, or celebrating graduations and birthdays, he showed up when he could, and it meant the world to his girls.

Shane met his partner, Bridget, and later moved to Kansas City in 2011, where all his entertainment boxes were checked. He was passionate about music, poker, and sports. Together, Shane and Bridget rarely missed a chance to attend a tournament or a big game. They especially loved traveling to Las Vegas together, where the lights, energy, and card tables felt like home. The Bellagio fountains held a special place in their hearts. He was a devoted fan of the Oklahoma Sooners, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and the New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Lakers, cheering for each of them with unwavering loyalty.

Like many, Shane faced personal struggles throughout his life. Those challenges sometimes created distance in relationships and made his path harder than he would have chosen. But even in those difficult chapters, the spark that made him Shane, his humor, charisma, and heart, never fully disappeared. 

Shane is survived by his daughters, Bailey Lane James of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Karter Lynn James of Tonkawa, OK and Kenna Kay James of Marland, Oklahoma. His partner, Bridget Hickman of Kansas City, Missouri; his father, Leonard “Lennie” James of Ponca City, Oklahoma; his sisters, Shannon Roberts, Shalaina James, and Paige James of Ponca City, Oklahoma, as well as nieces Tamika Criner, of Ponca City, OK and Shaneika Criner of Ponca City, OK and many aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Seandale James, his Grandparents, Leonard and Maisie Cranford, his niece Dominika Criner, his Grandparents, Harold James and Marlene Evans, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Shane’s life was not perfect, but it was real. He will be remembered for his laugh, his strong opinions about sports, the music he played too loud, the stories he told dramatically, the way he could make a room feel alive in an unforgettable way. His girls carry the very best parts of him, his spark, his boldness, his humor, and his heart, and through them, his legacy lives on.

If heaven has bingo nights, poker tables, and a big screen playing the game, we’re certain he’s already found his seat. A celebration of life is being planned in the near future.