Cherokee Sandra Blair Beatty

Cherokee Sandra Blair-Beatty was born on April 22nd, 1933, in the Bunch Community, OK , the daughter of Jesse Thomas and Katie Mayree (Evans) Blair. She grew up in a large family and attended Chilocco Indian School. Cherokee was the proud mother of two sons an d two daughters, George, Sherri, Michael and Donnah. She married James Beatty and they resided in California, later returning to Park Hill, OK to retire. Cherokee was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, grandmother and friend. She was always there for her family, always ready to give the love and support they needed to accomplish their tasks. She owned and operated Cherokee Landing Restaurant for years, and many people were customers not only for the delicious home cooking but Cherokee’s warmth and kindness. She was never in a hurry, but took the time to take to every patron like they were her friends. She was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke and laugh. She made any conversation colorful. When she was home, she like doing crafts like crocheting or cooking a special dinner for her family, like her wonderful chicken and dumplings. She was a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and served for years, working in the community, doing projects to help raise money to help children in need. She was the neighbor that always wanted to know if you were doing alright and if you needed anything. She was kind like that. Of all her many jobs, Cherokee loved caring for her family, they were a constant source of pride and happiness. She adored her grandchildren and any chance to spoil them was good. A Christian by faith, Cherokee attended church and loved the Lord she served by doing everything she could to make everyone around her happy. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her labors on January 31st, 2017 in Tahlequah, OK, with her family by her side. Cherokee was 83 years old. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Cherokee is preceded in death by her mother, father, her daughter Donnah Kaughman, brothers Tom Blair, George Blair, Jack Blair, Levi Blair, Jess Blair, Bill Blair and her sisters, Pearl Sissons, Eliza Usserey, Helen “Christine” Blair and Esther Watkins.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, James F. Beatty of the home in Park Hill OK, and her children, George Wayne Kirk and wife Ruth of Keys, OK, Sherri Collins of Vinita, OK, and Michael Allen Sanders and wife Linda of Cookson, OK. She leaves two sisters and one brother, Bob Blair and wife Bertha of Tahlequah, OK, Lucy Allen of Ft. Gibson, OK, and Margaret Nixon of Broken Arrow, OK. Her legacy lives on in her three grandchildren, Dustin Michael Sanders, Mikael Kirk, and Cody Wesley Sanders, and one very special great grandson, Redd Sanders as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.