Velma Jo Canoe Deckard

TAHLEQUAH, OK- Funeral services for Velma Jo Deckard will be held on Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 at 10:00 AM at the Reed-Culver Chapel with her brother, Pastor Richard Canoe officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 from 10:00 Am until 6:00 PM at the Reed-Culver Chapel. Interment will be held in New Jordan/Grass Cemetery in Mayes County, OK. Services are under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home of Tahlequah, OK.

Pallbearers for Velma include Leland Swepston, Ronnie Canoe, Jimmy Canoe, Fabian Keener, Ryan Keys, and Lee Springwater. Honorary pallbearers include Rocky Masters, Taylor Keys, Gary Canoe, Seneca McIntosh, and Jacob Ray.

Velma Jo Deckard was born on August 22nd, 1945 in Tahlequah, OK the daughter of Benjamin and Lizzie (Bark) Canoe. There were twelve of the children and plenty to do, and playmates to spend the day with. She graduated high school and continued her education in Secretarial education. She worked and retired from NSU. She married Edward Deckard and they made their home in the Tahlequah area. Velma was the proud mother of Leland, Rhonda and Tamara. She loved time spent with her children and their many activities. Velma spent her down time in the kitchen where she made wonderful meals for her family to share like goulash, biscuits and gravy, and the best meatloaf you ever tasted. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed a long walk every day of her life. She was gifted with a funny sense of humor and the comical streak that kept folks laughing at her antics. She was generous and loving and possessed a large heart. She was very passionate about her family and especially the grandbabies. Every chance she got was dedicated to making a special holiday meal, or sharing a laugh together. She was so very proud of all they accomplished. A Baptist by faith, she attended several of the area churches. The Lord called Velma from her labors on November 16th, 2013 in Tahlequah, OK. She was 68 years old. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Velma is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edward Deckard, two sisters, Ophelia Hammons, Marion Keener, and four brothers, Roger Canoe, John Canoe, Dan Canoe and Charles Canoe.

Those left to cherish her memory include her three adored children, Leland Swepston of Ada, Rhonda Maudlin of Muskogee, and Tamara Brown and husband Lazarus of Tahlequah. She leaves two brothers and one sister, Joe Canoe of Dry Prong, LA, Richard Canoe of Oklahoma City, and Evelyn Robertson of Tahlequah. Her legacy lives on in her eight grandchildren, Hattie Aguilar, Toby Aguilar, Ryan Keys, Taylor Keys, Ashley Canoe, Dustin Sisk, Alissa Keys, and Brooke Keys, as well as four great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.