Nathaniel "Earl" Joe Handle

Nathaniel Joe Handle or better known as Earl by his friends and family, was born on May 27th, 1950 in Tahlequah, OK, the son of Dick and Georgia (Christie) Handle. He was the only boy, raised in a household with his sisters Yvonne and Eugenia. He was a graduate of Sequoyah High School before perusing his passion for working on cars. Being a mechanic was more than a career for Earl, it was a hobby. There wasn’t a day he couldn’t be found tinkering around under a car hood. If any of his friends or family had a rattle or a clank, he was willing to help fix it and provide a helping hand to anyone that needed it. In July of 1969, he married his best friend and sidekick through life, Linda Carlene Shade. Together, they were blessed with five children, Nathan, Randle, Kyle, Sheila and Cartayah. He had a great love for his family; their door was always open. When he wasn’t working, he liked nothing more than clowning around, sharing jokes down by the creek. He was a catcher for fast pitch softball for a short while and a pro at noodling for catfish. It was never a dull moment around Earl. He would make people laugh everywhere he went. Earl’s health began to fail him and on Monday, December 21st, 2020, he closed his eyes on earth and to share in a great reunion with his wife, Linda. He passed from this life at the age of 70 years, 6 months and 24 days. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Earl is preceded in death by his wife, parents, one sister, Yvonne Bunch, nephew, Todd Bunch and one great grandchild, Madison Handle.

Those left to cherish his memory include his three sons, Nathan Handle and wife Lawanda of Stilwell, OK, Randle Handle and wife Monica of Tahlequah, OK and Kyle “Bugsy” Handle of Muskogee, OK, two daughters, Sheila Moran of Muskogee, OK and Cartayah Handle of Bixby, OK and one sister, Eugenia Hill of Bunch, OK. His memory lives on through is eighteen grandchildren, Heather Handle, Robyn Wilson, Cassie, Tyler and Kayla Handle, Blake, Bridgette and Harley Handle, Neshamah Newcomer, Ashton and Courtney Philemonof, Blake Parfait, Bethany, Devin, Jalen and Keiton Handle, and Serenity and Mason Crossland; ten great grandchildren, Chaleigh, Talia and Elijah Handle, Aubrey Points, Lily and Danny Houston, Jordan and Shyann Craker and Trevin and Nene Burns as well as many nieces, nephews and numerous friends and loved ones.

Funeral services for Nathaniel “Earl” Joe Handle will be held on Tuesday, December 29th, 2020 at 11:00am at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Sam Keener officiating. He will be laid to rest at Keener Cemetery in Lost City. Pallbearers for Earl will be Blake Handle, Blake Parfait, Tyler Handle, Elijah Handle, Hondo Houston, Aaron Olivares, Sammy Allen and James Keener. Honorary pallbearers are Richard “Rick” Shade, Carl “Terry” Shade Jr. and William “Blue” Bluebird. A visitation will be held on Monday, December 28th, 2020 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com.