Watie "Chebon" Wacoche

Watie Wayne Wacoche was born December 16th, 1941 in Tahlequah, OK, the son of Johnson and Katie (Towie) Wacoche. He grew up in a large household with four brothers and six sisters: Benjamin, Isaac, Allen, Alex, Nancy, Bonnie, Susanna, Mona, Helen and Jonie. Watie attended school and developed his love of sports, especially baseball! He loved to pitch often using his wife Margie as his catcher. He would later go on to become a co-ed coach. These two young lovers tied the knot on January 17th, 1962 in Stilwell, OK. They would go on to raise a family of five sons, two daughters and sixty years of love, loss, and laughter, all of it done together. He worked all of his adult life at the nurseries including Midwestern, Tri-B, and Park Hill where he served as supervisor. When he wasn’t working, he loved to go golfing, bowling or gig for fish. Sundays were spent watching one of his many football teams he loved such as the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, or the OU Sooners. He was proud of his Cherokee heritage and spent many hours learning to speak the language, a talent he was still working on and singing the old gospel favorites in Cherokee. A Christian by faith, he served as an ordained Deacon for the First Indian Baptist Church and most recently served at Cedar Tree Baptist Church. He loved the Lord and served Him all of his days. He was never tired of hearing “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again”. Watie was a man that appreciated the simple things in life, the love of his family, time spent watching his grandkids compete in sports, and sitting on his porch, telling stories of the old days and the fun times he shared with his family. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from all his labors on May 10th, 2022 in Tulsa, OK, surrounded by the ones who loved him. He was 80 years old.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, his mom and dad, one brother Isaac, two sistersNancy Howze and Susanna Martin, two brother-in-laws Douglas Twoshields and Glen Thompson, three grandchildren Kimberly Sands, Trifton Wacoche, and Lisa Morgan, and two great grandchildren Isaiah Allen Wells-Ott and Jathen Blossom.

Those left to celebrate this wonderful man’s life include his wife, Margie of the home in Tahlequah, and his seven children: Johnson Wacoche and wife Mandy of Tahlequah, Billy Wayne Wacoche of Tahlequah, Robert Leon Wacoche and wife Donna of Tahlequah, Tracy Wacoche and wife Jacqueline of Pryor, Stacy Wacoche and companion Louise Sanders of Tahlequah, Kipp Sands of Tahlequah, and Merry Smith and husband Eric of Tahlequah. He leaves his brothers and sisters: Benjamin Wacoche and wife Clarissa, Allen “Bun” Wacoche, Alex “Chuck” Wacoche and wife Juanita, Bonnie Faye Twoshields, Mona Lisa Thompson and husband Edwin, Helen Wilder and husband Sidney, and Jonie Wacoche all of Tahlequah. Watie lives on in his 27 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones far too numerous to mention. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the many wonderful people of DaVita Dialysis for all the kindness and care they have shown Watie over the course of his treatment. You are appreciated more than you will ever know.

Funeral services for Watie Wayne Wacoche will be held on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Bill Pettit officiating. His family will receive guests at a visitation on Monday, May 16th, 2022 beginning at 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. He will be laid to rest at Towie Cemetery with his family. Pallbearers for Watie include his grandsons, Brett Sands, Nathan Sands, Derick Smith, Christian Wacoche, Coleman Wacoche, Trejen Wacoche. His honorary pallbearers include Timothy Wells, Jordan Sands, Matthew Wacoche, Darrian Kingfisher, Jakob Rider, Kobe Rider, BJ Taylor, Keyton Livers, Regan Grayson, Stacey Roy and Sam Bardell.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Wacoche family.