Akie Mae (Drywater) Gourd

Akie Mae Gourd was born on February 22, 1940, in rural Sequoyah County to Robert and Euna Bell (Coleman) Nofire. She grew up in the Belfonte community and later attended school in Briggs. A fluent Cherokee speaker, Akie fondly remembered walking miles to school with family and friends, sharing stories, lunches, and laughter beneath the trees. She learned the values of family, hard work, and faith while helping her mother with household chores, cooking, and tending animals.

Akie married Pumpkin Drywater, and together they raised four children. They made their home in Muskogee, where they worked at Denton Nursery, Muskogee Floral, and later Ricketts Piano Company. Akie developed a deep knowledge of flowers and enjoyed working alongside her husband, polishing pianos and traveling throughout the state making deliveries. She often recalled these times as some of the happiest of her life, especially when they listened to their favorite country music along the way. Throughout her life, she also worked as a cook, seamstress, and factory employee.

Akie and Pumpkin shared a love of softball. She enjoyed playing on the women's team he organized in the late 1960s and later took great pride in supporting their sons, Bodie and Bossie, as they competed in fastpitch tournaments throughout the state. One of her most treasured memories was traveling to Gallup, New Mexico, to watch them play.

Following Pumpkin's passing in 1994, Akie married Loyd Key Gourd on May 12, 1996. They were active members of Johnson Prairie Church in Moody, where Akie served as a deaconess, assisted with the Lord's Supper, and joined the women in sewing quilts. She loved gospel music and singing Cherokee hymns. In her later years, she attended Elm Tree Baptist Church with her daughter and sang with the Cherokee choir whenever she could.

Above all, Akie loved her family. She treasured family gatherings, listening to her nieces and nephew, the Nofire Gospel Singers, and holding her grandchildren and great-grandchildren close, as proud fifth-generation grandmother. She shared her love through sewing, baking pies, making frybread and biscuits, and preparing her famous dumplings. She also enjoyed visits to church, Golden Corral, and Braum's. Her warmth, faith, and love for her family will remain in the hearts of all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, Reverend Robert and Euna Nofire, Akie was preceded in death by her husbands, Pumpkin Drywater and Loyd Key Gourd; her son, Phillip Drywater; her daughter, Brenda Daniels; her grandsons, Kerry Adair and Zach Adair; her great-grandson, Ethan Daniels; her six brothers, Robert Jr., Jerry, Mose, Abel, James, and Jackson Nofire; and her sister, Margaret.

Akie is survived by her daughter Linda McCulley of Gore, and son Elvin “Bossie” Drywater and companion Rhea D Bearbow of Tahlequah; 10 grandchildren: Ryan and Chad Adair of Sallisaw, Phyllis Drywater, Felicia Drywater of Hobart, Lindsey Drywater of Tahlequah, Erica Valencia of Rudy, Arkansas, and Carmen Daniels of Tahlequah, Matt and Kamisha Daniels of Tahlequah, Alec Daniels of Colcord, and Nikki Rae Herrera of Tahlequah. She is also survived by 31 great grandchildren: Hope Adair, Darian Adair, Kristen Adair, Trinity Adair, King Adair, Steeler Adair, Destin Adair, Angel Adair, Kialan Daniels, Talon Daniels, Alevia Springwater, Araya Dry, Brant Russell, Eyan Russell, Cam Russell, Nakoah Russell, Noah Daniels, Genesis Daniels, Elsy Daniels, Dean Nunez Varela, Dontrell Bailey Drywater, Ecari Bailey Drywater, Ryden Bailey Drywater, Nyliah Bailey Drywater, Dakota Savage, Blaizee Savage, Victor Drywater, Kealum Vester, Kaylee Vestor, Damien Valencia, and Ezekiel Valencia and 11 great-great-grandchildren: Kaius Daniels, D’maari Adair, Cylah Adair, Daycee Adair, Copelyn Adair, Oakleigh Cain, Saige Cain, Bella Ross, Kingston Adair, Cherokee Hooten, and Salem Hooten and a host of nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held at Reed-Culver Funeral Home on October 12, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will take place at the funeral home on October 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor DJ McCarter officiating. Burial will follow at Agent Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Daniels, Darian Adair, Kialan Daniels, Talon Daniels, Damian Valencia, Ryan Adair, and Brant Russell.

Akie's legacy of faith, family, and love will live on through the many lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.