Frank James Erickson

Frank James Erickson Jr. was born on May 18th, 1973 in San Francisco, CA, the son of Frank James Erickson Sr. and Vanessa Lou Mankiller. He had three brothers and five sisters, Theresia, Shannon, Carla Mann, Abraham, Daniel, Sarah, Rachel, and John. The family lived in the Rocky Mountain area and Tahlequah area. Frank graduated from Sequoyah High School. He loved to play pool and was often a pool shark when he played. He was an accomplished artist who loved to paint and draw. He liked to shoot his guns and loved to play poker with his family. He had a keen interest in martial arts. Upon graduating, Frank moved to Denmark with his son Patrick. He remained there for several years. He broadened his horizons and took on culinary school, and then worked in various restaurants, displaying his talent with cooking. He worked on fishing boats along the West coast and enjoyed traditional Salmon fishing with his family. He lived on the Yurok reservation before moving to Colorado and coming back to the Cherokee Reservation in his late 30s. He was a man that knew his own mind and would have no problem debating the way he felt about any issue, anytime. If you think he loved his family, he adored his daughter Jade and his son, Patrick. They were the light of his life. Frank was not shy and didn’t need anyone else to validate his daily routine. He was fiercely proud of his Yurok and Cherokee heritage, and never forgot what it meant to him and those he loved. He never asked for much but would help siblings and friends anytime. Frank passed from this life on January 20th, 2024 in Tahlequah, OK. He was 50 years old.

Frank is preceded by his grandparents, Charley and Clara Irene (Sitton) Mankiller and Charles Everett Myers and Theresia Elvera Erickson Ross, his mother, Vanessa Lou Mankiller, his father and stepmother, Frank Erickson Sr and wife Zana Ender Finley. He also joins his aunts and uncles, Andrea Lavato, Frieda Mankiller-Mullins, Frances Willingham, Wilma Mankiller, Linda Sanchez, Everett Dewey Myers, Larry Sillaway, Joseph Henderson Sylvester “Louie” Myers, George Robbins Jr., John Robbins JR, Louis “Don” Mankiller, Robert Mankiller, Bob Willingham, John Mankiller, Richard Mankiller, James Mankiller, and William “Bill” Mankiller.

Those left to celebrate his life include his daughter, Jade Erickson of Nowata, OK and his son, Patrick Erickson of Denmark. He leaves his brothers and sisters, Theresia Erickson and Ericka Mueller of Eugene, OR, Shannon Finley of Washington, DC, Abraham Bearpaw and wife Tristana of Tahlequah, OK, Daniel Bearpaw and wife Ashley of Stilwell, OK, Sarah Bearpaw-Hayes and husband Chad of Stilwell, OK, Rachel Bearpaw-Pritchett and husband Faron of Stilwell, OK, John Mankiller of Stilwell, OK, and Carla Mann of Ft. Washakie,WY. He also leaves his aunts and uncles, Marilyn McCovey, Everetta Myers, Lula Elk, Tjyiana Mankiller, Dickie Myers and Gilbert Myers, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and family far too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Frank James Erickson Jr will be conducted Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Abraham Bearpaw offering eulogy and comments. His family will take Frank home for his traditional Wake Service Sunday January 28th 3:00 PM until Monday January 29th. The address where the Wake is being held is 14483 West 745 Rd in Tahlequah, OK. He will be laid to rest at Echota Cemetery next to his family followed by a meal in the Echota dining hall.

Pallbearers for Frank include Abraham Bearpaw, Aidan Bearpaw, Daniel Bearpaw, John Mankiller, Bear Mueller, Aaron Hair, Richard Myers, Chad Hayes and Faron Pritchett. His honorary pallbearers include Gilly Myers, Evan Bearpaw, Nathan Pritchett, Vernon Williamson, Dickie Myers, Gilbert Myers, Charles Myers, Willard Carlson, George Robbins, Tyke Robbins, John E. Robbins, and Rodney Robbins.