Lucille Walker

Funeral Services for Vera “Lucille” Walker will be held on Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Brother Mat Lawrence officiating. She will be laid to rest at Walker Family Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 15th, 2020 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.reedculver.com

Pallbearers for Lucille include Chase Vanover, Chris Kizzia, Cody Bell, Paul Walker, David Manus and Braxton Rooster. Honorary Pallbearers include Joe Cummings, Charles Lawrence, Jeff Manus, David Walker and Mike Sadler.

Vera “Lucille” Walker was born on February 27, 1936 in Oaks, Oklahoma, the daughter of John Blackbird and Lydia (Kingfisher) Blackbird Cummings. Lucille grew up and attended school in the Cherokee communities of Oaks and Rocky Ford, in Oklahoma. Her favorite childhood memories were of those tagging along with her older brothers, and getting into mischief. Lucille delighted in sharing those memories often. She loved to play basketball, and was a skilled catcher. According to Lucille, she had to be good at sports in order to follow after with her brothers, whom she affectionately referred to as her childhood “idols.”

Having experienced a childhood encompassed by segregation and assimilation, Lucille lost the ability to speak her Native tongue fluently in the second grade, but continued to preserve and uphold her Cherokee heritage all of her life. She was a gifted artist, shared her life and Native American experiences through storytelling, embraced the traditions of her beloved Cherokee Nation, and advocated for Cherokee artists to be received by the world as more than craftsmen and craftswomen. She believed wholeheartedly that Native artists should be celebrated as FINE artisans.

In 1952, Lucille married William Alonzo Walker, the love of her life. The story of William and Lucille is a love story that will last beyond forever. Considering that Lucille grew up throwing rocks across the creek bed at the non-Native students walking the opposite way, it might seem impossible that she would meet and fall in love with a Non-Native man completely untied to her culture. Yet, she did. And, so did he. In the eyes of her devoted husband, Lucille was the most beautiful woman to ever grace the earth. Together, William and Lucille brought into this world one son and six daughters, all of whom share the same spirit of orneriness, but compassion for others that was passed down to them from their parents.

Lucille was a devoted Christian and member of the Baptist Church for most of her adult life. She frequently supported mission trips. In her 70’s, she embarked upon a mission herself and surprised her daughter in Africa. Always ready for an adventure, it was on this trip across the globe that Lucille went on Safari and made an unplanned and expensive stop in Dubai. To her children, she often sang “At the Cross,” in Cherokee. Lucille loved taking her grandchildren to Sunday School and will be remembered as singing “How Great Thou Art” as she worked in the kitchen. She genuinely loved serving the Lord Jesus Christ and never hesitated to share the Word of God.

A lover of fishing, traveling, cooking, reading, shopping, sewing, and art. There was really nothing that Lucille could not do or would not try. She loved her grandchildren and each held a significant and unique place in her heart. She had a way of making everyone feel as if he or she was her “favorite.” The truth is she loved everyone the same. She simply appreciated the different attributes that each encompassed.

The Lord embraced Lucille in his arms on Monday, October 12, 2020, surrounded by her loved ones, in Tahlequah, OK. She was 84 years old, and will be forever missed for the love she gave, the joy she brought to others, her smile, and her infectious laugh.

Lucille was welcomed at Heaven’s gate by her beloved husband, William, a daughter Karen, granddaughters-Hannah and Jeanette, her parents Lydia and John, and her childhood best friends and her older brothers William and Dave, as well as sisters Mary Jane, Annas Lee and Ella Mae, and a younger brother Wayne.

Those left to cherish Lucille’s memory and carry on her legacy are her children, son Gordon Walker and wife Barbara of Tahlequah; daughter Angela Manus and husband David of Braggs; daughter Sheryl Kizzia of Park Hill; daughter Janet Lawrence and husband Mat of Park Hill; daughter Marla Walker of Tahlequah and daughter Carla Clark of Tahlequah. She will be missed for eternity by her eleven grandchildren, whom she adored, and will live on through the eyes of her great and great-great grandchildren. Lucille will also be missed by her sisters Sara and Florence, her brother Joseph, as well as a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Lucille will be remembered as a warm conversation, that her children and grandchildren will forever miss, and be eternally grateful to have had.