Willie Mae Vann

Willie Mae Hogshooter-Vann was born on May 25th, 1935 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Bill and Nanny (Gibson) Hogshooter. She grew up in a household with 13 brothers and sisters, Billy, Woody, Jackson, Ross, Raymond, Kenneth, Leona, Leoma, Maryjane Barbara, Sharon, Beverly and Thelma She went to school at Oaks Mission School, and when she finished school, she met and married her best friend, Willie Vann, on March 15th, 1954, at the courthouse in Stilwell, OK. Together they would raise a family of five sons and three daughters, Cecil, Adam, Daniel, Jimmy, Clifford, Joyce, Rosie and Christina. She was a homemaker and devoted herself to caring for Willie and their children and grandchildren. She was an exceptional cook, and made the best dumplings, fruit pies and Thanksgiving turkey and dressing. She was an accomplished seamstress and could make just about anything she needed, she trekked for miles looking for the elusive wild onion patches. She loved gardening and raised the best flowers and wonderful vegetables. Willie was an avid sports fan, and couldn’t wait till she could go get a frito pie, and enjoy watching the game. There were monthly trips to the Community Building for wrestling matches. At home, she was always ready to relax, doing her crossword puzzles, watching wrestling on TV, and best of all, loving on her grandchildren, she never tired of her babies. She thought all of them were precious, and loved to hear their laughter. The summers were for fishing, the winters for relaxing, and she loved life and lived it to the fullest. She was ornery, and she wasn’t afraid to prank people. Willie Mae often accompanied her husband Willie to the Illinois River Baptist Church, where they enjoyed good gospel music, and sharing the word of God.

Life wasn’t always easy for Willie Mae, she lost three sons, Jimmy Jay, Clifford, and Adam Vann, then her beloved husband, Willie in 2015, her mother and father, five brothers and three sisters, followed by her grandchildren, Clifton “Buddy” Vann, and Bradley” Chase Vann, and her great-grandchildren, Kaira Pineda, Colton Brian Vann-Foreman, and Kerry Whaler. She was kind, and never complained. She had a smile that lit up a room. She knew everyone and always spoke to you wherever she happened to be. The view from her own back porch was perfect for Willie Mae. Her days were filled with the love of her family and friends, and that made Willie Mae happy. Willie Mae went home to her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 at her home in Chewey, OK, surrounded by the people she loved and admired most, her family. Willie Mae was 88 years old and will never be replaced.

Those left to celebrate Willie Mae’s life include her children, Cecil Vann and wife Sherry of Oaks, OK, Daniel Vann of Oaks, OK, Joyce Ketcher and husband Albert of Kansas, OK, Rosie Young of Chewey, OK, and Christina Fixin and husband Pastor Gerald of Rocky Ford, OK. Willie Mae lives on in her grandchildren, Arlene Pair, Beth Denton, Kelly Whaler, Stacie Vann, Lydia Vann, Ashley Soap, Amber Clouse, Kandace Turner, Angelina Sanders, Maggie Jones, Tyler Vann, Kourtney Vann, and Eric Vann. The great grandchildren include Swain Vann, Willie Ryan Vann, Daran Vann, Xander Denton, Jakobe Vann, Treyshawn Jones, Nevaeh Sanders, Ashlynn Soap, Nakayah Sanders, Jocelynn Denton, Christopher Clouse, Behati Jones, Mario Pineda Jr., Codey Soap, JayJay Turner, Jayce Drywater-Turner, Julia Turner, Jimmy Pineda, Addilynn Soap, Nikole Sanders, Rylee Clouse, and Jenna Turner. She has great great granddaughters, Neila Vann, Kelsea Vann and Rainey Vann sister-in-law, Susanna Hogshooter of Bull Hollow, OK, and brother-in-law, Les Thomason of Siloam Springs, AR, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Willie Mae (Hogshooter) Vann will be held on Friday, August 18th, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Edify Church in Chewey, OK with her Pastor Gerald Fixin officiating. She will be laid to rest at Crittenden Cemetery in Chewey, OK. Pallbearers for Willie Mae include Daylen Clouse, Jaron Soap, Darin Sanders, Mario Pineda, Billy Hogshooter, and Daran Vann. Her honorary pallbearers include Donald “Duckie” Russell, Mario Pineda Jr., and Jimmy Pineda. Her family will receive guests on Thursday, August 17th, 2023 from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Chapel in Tahlequah, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.