Twyla LaRue (Tyon) Hooper

Twyla was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. As a child, many of her favorite memories came from her time with her grandparents at Ash Creek in McAlester and Nebraska. She also loved visiting family at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Twyla graduated from Sequoyah High School in 1965, alongside her high school sweetheart; J.D. Twyla married J.D. on November 22, 1965. She would then go on to pursue her degree. She obtained an associate’s degree at Connors State College but had to stop going to college due to being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at 23 years old. She would then go back to Sequoyah High School to do a job she loved and spoke highly of, being a dorm matron, until the day she retired.

Twyla was a strong and resilient woman when it came to her rheumatoid arthritis. You would never know she had RA. As an elderly woman with RA, she fought hard against doctors who would tell her the odds were against her. She wanted to be actively involved in everything and did what she could to make that happen. She fought until the end.

Twyla was big on cherishing each moment life gifted you. Twyla was known for her peaceful and welcoming spirit. She was the calm in any storm. When not spending time with her family, you could find Twyla painting ceramics, watching a crime show or horror movie, and playing her slot machine, her favorite was moneybags. She also loved her personal bodyguards, Bagheera and D-Trix. They were not just two dogs to her, they were family. Her favorite things were the holidays. No matter the holiday, she always made sure there was a big dinner and some type of celebration. 4th of July, Easter, and Christmas were always over the top, they were her favorites. While Twyla enjoyed all these things, her favorite thing of all was spending time with her family, grandchildren, and great-grandson. They were everything to her, and she was everything to them.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, J.D. Hooper; daughter, Tanya Hooper; and brothers, Oliver C. Tyon, Robert C. Tyon, and Harry Glen Tyon.

Twyla is survived by her brother, Bruce Tyon, of Tahlequah; sister, Pam Green of Kansas City; sons, J.D. Hooper Jr. and John Hooper of Tahlequah; daughters, Tonya and Tara Hooper of Tahlequah; grandchildren, Ashley Poole and husband Jessie of Tahlequah, Ashtin and Ashlynn Barnoskie of Tahlequah, Chloe Hooper of Tahlequah, Cody Hooper of Arkansas; one great-grandson, Sekani Poole of Tahlequah; Nephews, Warren Tyon and Wife Jennifer of Mobile, Alabama, Robert C. Tyon of Tulsa, OK; Niece, Jennifer Tyon of Tulsa, OK; one great-grand nephew Hunter G. Tyon of Mobile, AL; as well as a host of other loved ones and friends.

A visitation for family and guests will be held Tuesday, July 5, 2022, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Funeral Services for Twyla Hooper will be held on Wednesday, July 6 2022, at 10:00am at Reed-Culver Funeral Home with Pastor Gil Hooper officiating. She will be laid to rest at Greenleaf Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK.

Pallbearers will be Jessie Poole, Donny Girdner, Timmy Walters, John Hooper. Serving as honorary pallbearers include Anthony Hunnicutt, Bruce Tyon, Stoney Barnoskie II, Warren Tyon, J.D. Hooper Jr.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the (Tyon) Hooper family.