Melody Z. Haney

Melody was born on January 20, 1977 to Lou Ann Lacy Haney and Robert Haney. She grew up in the Woodall community where she attended Woodall school. She then went to Sequoyah high school where she lived in the dorm and made lifelong friends. After graduation, she followed in her mother’s footsteps and went to LPN school but that was not her calling. She then went to beauty school and became a hairstylist, just like her momma too. Throughout her 26 years of being a hairstylist she owned and operated several shops in town. Many of you know your secrets were safe with her. Melody loved to read and she loved to listen to music and dance. She enjoyed her yearly Rocklahoma concerts with her son Joel and most recently she loved to watch Joel “Thunder Hawk” wrestle with the Native American Wrestling. Mel loved sports, especially when her son Christian played basketball as a kid, Joel playing football and her niece Mikah playing softball. Melody loved people, she met and befriended friends from all walks of life, she never judged you and taught her sons to do the same. Her favorite quote when she knew she should do better was to sing “he’s still working on me”.

She was a true survivor in this world and she taught her sons how to do the same, this will live on in her sons. She was the funniest person ever, she loved to laugh and make you laugh. Mel had many talents. She loved to cook, her meat pies, chili, and frybread were the best. Mel especially loved to cook at the river. She loved to swim and then cook up the best burgers and hot dogs. Mel took up sewing, she made beautiful ribbon skirts and was working on ribbon vests before she got sick. Mel cherished the most in this life was the love of her sons. She was so proud of them both. She is dearly missed.

Melody is joined in heaven by her parents, grandparents-James and Carrie (King) Lacy, her husband, Joel David Sands who passed in 2016, Aunts Louise Lacy, Judy Lacy, Betty Lacy, and Lula Bird. Uncle George Lacy, Mother-in law Jonita Faye (Oakball) Sands.

Her memory and love will live on in those she leaves behind; her sons, Christian James Haney and Joel I. Sands of Tahlequah. Her stepchildren, Sarah Pilcher - Thompson and Jonathan Pilcher. She leaves her brother and sisters, Robert “Gator” Haney of Stilwell, OK, Carrie Haney and Richard Vann of Tahlequah, OK, Crystal Hammer of Tulsa, OK, and Roberta Haney of Shawnee, OK. She leaves three nieces and one nephew, Mikah Vann, Kyah Vann, Lakota Vann and Kialo Vann, all of Tahlequah, OK. She also leaves behind a host of family and friends.

A Celebration of the Life of Melody Z. Haney will be held on Friday, November 3rd, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel.

Her honorary pallbearers include loved ones close to her heart: Richard Vann, Ellen Leflore, Monica Flynn, LaDonna Cantrell, Mary Bell, LeighAnn Quinton, VonCile Grogan, Janelle Adair, Karen Bell and Dawna Bell.

Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.