Lelah Mae “Gadvyu” Squirrel-Cummings was born on April 4th, 1934, in Locust Grove, OK, the daughter of Watt and Minnie (Christie) Squirrel. She grew up in the Locust Grove Community with two brothers and three sisters, Jim Squirrel, Walter Squirrel, Ruby (Beaver), Mary Jane (Henry), and Maxine (Vann). Once she was done with school, she relocated to the Rocky Ford Community. On June 19th, 1954, she married the love of her life and her best friend, Sanford Cummings. Together they raised a family of two sons and two daughters, Michael, Joseph, Martha and Christine. First and foremost, she was a handmaid of the Lord and served her God all the days of her life. She loved caring for her husband and family. She could cook, sew, weave baskets, draw and sing the old gospel favorites. She loved gardening, taking care of beautiful live plants and gathering her family close to her during the holidays to share the season with them. She was very artistic and made beautiful crafts out of Christmas wrapping paper. Lelah served as a foster grandparent at Oaks School to many children needing love and guidance, and she was a perfect example on how to live one’s life. She was a breast cancer survivor for over 25 years. When she had a little free time, she enjoyed working crossword puzzles. She was very kind and a gentle woman with love and compassion that could be felt as soon as she entered a room. She loved her friends and her family with all her heart. She served as a deaconess at New Mission Church and attended Freedom Fellowship Church for many years. She was tremendously proud of her Cherokee heritage and was a fluent Cherokee speaking elder. The road wasn’t always easy, she laid her grandparents, mother, father, husband, son Joseph and daughter Christine, brother, Walter Squirrel and sisters Ruby Beaver, Mary Jane Henry and Maxine Vann and nephews, Arch Beaver and Pete Fisher to rest. She continued with her family that she loved until the Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her many labors on October 23rd, 2024, surrounded by those who knew and loved her. She was 90 years old and leaves a legacy for her family to follow.
Those left to celebrate the life she led include her son, Michael E. Cummings and wife Yvonne and two daughter, Martha R. Cummings and Linda Buckhorn and husband James, all of the Rocky Ford area. She leaves one brother, Jim Squirrel of Oaks, OK. She lives on in her grandchildren, Mathew Cummings and wife Megan, Nathan Soap and wife Brittnee, Bridgett Puckett and husband Lyle, Craig Cummings and wife Milyssa, Nikara Vogel and husband Jack, Kayla Cummings, and Jaron Soap and wife Ashley. She also leaves her 15 great grandchildren, Maquel, Isaac, Wyatt, Ashlynn, Addilynn, Elsie-Mae, Jessie-Mae, Rhyiah, Codey, Jack Jack, Sanford, Emilee-Mae, Tinzlii, Renaya, and Halen as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones far too numerous to mention.
Funeral services for Lelah Mae “Gadvyu” Cummings will be conducted on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Oaks High School Gymnasium with Pastor Bill Pettit officiating, with obituary reading by Chaplain Kevin Webster. Her family will receive visitors at Reed-Culver Funeral Home on Monday, October 28th, 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM. She will be laid to rest with her husband Sanford Cummings at Bill Batt Cemetery at Rocky Ford Community.
Pallbearers for Lelah include Nathan Soap. Jaron Soap, Craig Cummings, Reuben O’Field, Luke Henry, James Squirrel, Josiah Henry, and T.J. Cummings. Honorary Pallbearers include Mathew Cummings, Maquel Cummings, Codey Soap, Isaac H., Wyatt Cummings, Sanford Cummings, and Jack Vogel III. Her Flower Girls include Rhyiah Soap, Tinzlii Soap, Ashlynn Soap, Elsie-Mae Cummings, Renaya Soap, Jessie -Mae H., Emilee-Mae Cummings, Addilynn Soap and Halen Vogel.
