Elvin Ray Rich

Funeral services for Elvin Ray Rich will be held on Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Reverend Harry Standley officiating. He will be laid to rest next to wife in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa. Friends and family may pay their respects on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019 beginning at 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Elvie include Shawn Standley, Colby Reed, Donnie McDonald, Cole Reed, Christian Taliaferro, and Jesse Mote and honorary pallbearer, Brandon Taliaferro.

Elvin Ray Rich, or Elvie to his many friends and family, was born on March 22, 1932 in Watts, OK, the son of Toney and Clara (Seabolt) Rich Sr. Elvie only completed the 10th grade in High School, but did complete his high school education after joining the Air Force while stationed in Germany. While in public schools, he was an active member of the Boys Scouts of America. It was in 1952 that Elvie went into the US Air Force and served as an Aircraft Mechanic and was stationed in Korea during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1961, for a total of eight years, seven months and twenty-six days. Elvie left the air force and continued working as a mechanic through the years. He was the proud daddy of two daughters, Debbie and Tabi. Elvie always said they were his biggest accomplishment. On June 28th, 1970, he married Joe Ann Kiddy-Hayes, in Las Vegas. They enjoyed each other’s company immensely and loved each other fiercely. In 1972 he went to work for Pepsi Cola Bottling group as a fork lift mechanic and later as a supervisor of the shop in Tulsa, before retiring from this job as a Sales and Distribution Manager in Ft. Smith in 1989. Fishing was a favorite hobby. He was fiercely proud of his Cherokee heritage, and after both his girls were grown, he and Joe Ann would travel the pow wow circuit. When he was home, he loved doing intricate beadwork, making collectible canes, walking staffs, ceremonial dancing staffs, and dream catchers. He loved to watch old westerns on TV and watching the Yankees play baseball. You could always find him in the company of his canine companion, Skoshe, listening to gospel music, and resting his eyes. He was a member of the Sellers Mission Church, where he served as a deacon for the last 8 years. He was blessed with a resilient personality, and made it a point to never speak ill of another. He possessed a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He loved to spend time with his daughters, grand, great and great great grandchildren any chance he had. He adored them and loved to see them smile. He lost his wife in 2015, and continued staying with his family until the Lord called this good and faithful servant home on September 19th, 2019 in Park Hill, OK with his loved ones by his side. He was 87 years old. He lived a full life, and was loved by many.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Albert and Pliney (Gardenhire) Seabolt, and John and Molly (Whittle) Rich, his mother and father, three brothers, Edgar Rich, Onial “Dink” Rich and Roy Rich, and one sister, Frances Greene.

He will be lovingly remembered by his daughters, Debbie Cook of Rogers, AR and Tabi Salom and husband Michael of Claremore, OK. He leaves one brother and one sister, Toney Rich Jr. of Sperry, OK, and Ruby Degraw also of Sperry. He lives on in his six grandchildren, Shawn Standley and wife Susan of Tulsa, OK, Gloria Reed and husband Colby of Siloam Springs, AR, Charity Standley and companion Ashley Pryor of Siloam Springs, AR, LeeAnn McDonald and husband Donnie of Claremore, OK, Brandon Taliaferro and wife Lindsey of Claremore, OK and Christian Taliaferro of Claremore, OK. He leaves 16 great grandchildren, Autumn, Shawndra, Anthony, and Shawn (Jr.) Standley. Jesse and Cheyene Mote, Cole Reed and wife Tayllor, Nicole, Bryon, Brookelynn, Levi, and Lucas Reed, Peyton and Vinny Taliaferro, and Miah and Nolan McDonald, and two great great grandchildren, Brayden and Kyndell Reed, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.