Veronica Sue Mata

Veronica Sue Mata was born on May 28th, 1952 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of George Hooper Sr. and Nancy (Breeden) Washington. She grew up with three brothers and nine sisters, Gil “Bo”, George, Alan, Georgia, Joann, Shirley, Wanda Mary, Brenda, Sharon, and Barbara. She loved time spent with her family, fishing in the nearest pond, and she could out fish any of them. She was pretty, had a wonderful sense of humor and made you happy just to be near her. It was said “she wasn’t the life of the party, she was the party!“ She was hard working and never needed to take time away from work. She moved to Amarillo, TX and attended Nursing School to obtain her LPN Degree. For twenty years she cared for her patients before moving onto private duty nursing, a job she loved till her retirement a year ago. She met and married Rufugio Mata in Amarillo, TX, and for 45 years they were each other’s best friends. They separated for 15 years but realized they needed each other and remarried 10 years ago. She was a talented lady that knew her way around a kitchen and could make just about anything you could think of. Her family was first and foremost, and she loved going to Wanda’s house for get togethers and holidays with her family. She had a spirit of adventure and traveling to see new places and people made her day. You could normally find her listening to good country music like Brooks and Dunn and Shania Twain. Her children were her pride and joy, and she proudly raised five children, Tony, Mark, Henry, James and Amanda. She soon included all of her nieces, nephews, and grandkids. She loved to make them laugh and always showed them a good time. For all the plans she had for the future, the Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her many labors on October 31st, 2024 in Indianola, OK, surrounded by the family that loved her most. She was 72 years old and will be greatly missed for her smile, her laugh and her generous and loving spirit.

She is preceded in death by her mother, father, her son, Tony Tiger, son, James Belvin, Daughter in law Debbie Belvin, sisters, Georgia Bender, Joann Makenzie, Shirley Kocher, grandson, CJ Belvin, and numerous aunts and uncles.

Those left to celebrate her memory include her children, Mark Belvin of Shawnee, OK, Henry Belvin of Boswell, OK, and Amanda Griffitts-Little and husband Todd of Norman, OK. She also leaves three brothers, Gil Hooper and wife Vera of Stilwell, OK, George Hooper Jr. and wife Irene of Tahlequah, and Alan Washington of Norman, OK. She leaves five sisters, Wanda Logan and husband Phillip of Briggs, OK, Mary Cruz and husband Adam of Sand Springs, OK, Brenda Locust of Tahlequah, Sharon Mutter of Moore, OK, and Barbara Washington of Crete, NE. She lives on in her eight grandchildren, Jesse Belvin, Blake Estrada, Justin Belvin, Joe Estrada, Ryan Belvin, Rowdy Belvin, Skylar Belvin, and Sissy Belvin. She also leaves six great grandchildren and one new addition to soon join the family, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral Services for Veronica Sue (Hooper) Mata will be conducted on Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 2:00 PM with Reverend Emmitt McKenzie officiating. The family will receive guest for visitation prior to services. She will be laid to rest at Greenleaf Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK.

Pallbearers for Veronica include Blake Estrada, Joe Estrada, Jesse Belvin, Joseph Bender, Stephen Lowe, Eddie Robles, Shane Hooper, and Gill “Bub” Hooper Jr. Her honorary pallbearers include John Eric Brown, Billy Barr, Luis Navarro, and Angel Navarro.