Lorene Morris-Drywater was born on June 19th, 1932 in Vian, OK, the daughter of Luther and Nancy (Leaf) Morris. She grew up with her brothers and sisters, George, Clay, Marie, Lizzie (Sue), Norene and Lou. She went to school at Morris-Vann until the third grade, and like so many children raised in that era she worked alongside her siblings to support the family. Lorene worked to pick acres of strawberries, green beans, and cotton, all of this back-breaking labor, in the Oklahoma heat. She met a very handsome young man, Jess Drywater, and together they raised a family of five daughters and two sons: Ida, Pearl, Raymond, Thomas, Elaine, Becky and Susie. Lorene was first and foremost a daughter, wife, Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, and friend. She loved her family and worked to make a better life for them than what she had experienced. She loved to cook for her family, and her cooking was extraordinary! Her family’s favorites were her light-as-air fry bread, beans, biscuits, cornbread, and her perfect fried chicken. The vegetables on the family table were often raised in her garden and home-canned by her and the kids. She was very active and enjoyed spending time outdoors. You could often find her roaming her thickly wooded property tending to her many projects and animals. She loved taking care of her chickens, ducks, geese, and guineas, and never hesitated to add another animal friend to her herd. A First Language Cherokee Speaker, she loved her Cherokee people, and never tired of following the traditions that her ancestors had started before her. Her talent as a seamstress not only supported her family, but also earned her many awards and accolades. She sewed beautiful traditional Cherokee Tear Dresses and Ribbon Shirts, many proudly worn by Cherokee Royalty, celebrities, and fans across the world. Her Buffalo Grass Dolls, a childhood toy her mother taught her to make because they couldn’t afford store-bought dolls, showcased her talent as a true craftsman. Lorene was honored as a Smithsonian National Treasure, a Cherokee National Treasure, a Cherokee Master Craftsman, and was featured in the 1995 National Geographic Magazine for her Buffalo Grass Dolls. She was consistently featured on television, in newspapers, and other publications such as Southern Living telling her extraordinary story. Her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and she had a wonderful sense of fun about her. She was never afraid to express exactly how she felt and told the best stories -- you were never ready for them to end. She always had the respect from her children, and her love was unconditional with every child and grandchild. Her husband Jess died in 1990, and Lorene carried on with all of her many hobbies, always working on her next project. The Lord called this gifted and loving Cherokee woman home from this earthly realm on Friday, July 30th, 2021 at her home, surrounded by the family she loved so very much. Lorene was 89 years, 1 month, and 11 days old.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, her mother and father, Luther and Nancy (Leaf) Morris, husband Jess Drywater, brothers George and Clay Morris, sisters, Marie Carey, Lizzy Sue Morris, Norene Teehee, grandsons, Billy Braymer and Caleb Isaac, niece Charlene Wilson and great niece Kaysey Crawford.
Those left to celebrate her life include her children, Ida Stopp and husband Fred of Westville, OK, Pearl Pettit Braymer of Sallisaw, OK, Raymond Pettit and wife Mary Louise of Muscatine, IA, Thomas Pettit and wife Martha Sue of Vian, OK, Jessie Elaine Haddox and husband Leonard of Olathe, CO, Becky Collins and husband Mike of the home, and Susie Matthews and husband Rodney of Keefton, OK. Lorene’s proud legacy lives on in her 20 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, lots of great-great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones who considered as family.
Funeral services for Lorene Morris –Drywater will be held on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 at 2:30 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel with her family and friends doing the eulogy. Pallbearers for Lorene will be her children. Her visitation will be held on Monday, August 2nd, 2021 beginning at 12:30 PM until 8:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Jess Drywater at Pumpkin Hollow Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.
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