Weynema Smith

Weynema Webber-Smith was born on May 13th, 1932 in Notchietown, OK, the daughter of Richard Webber and Martha Locust. She had six brothers and seven sisters. She grew up in the Gore Sequoyah County area, and early on began developing her love of Cherokee Artistry. She met and married Charlie Smith, together they raised their daughter, Wanda. When she went into the kitchen, you were assured of something delightful, from her fry bread, to her Indian Tacos, pancakes to raisin pie, she made it all. She was a grandmother at Tenkiller School and loved working with and teaching the students. In 2023 she was awarded as a Cherokee National Treasure, this meant everything to Weynema. She was a member of the DD Etchieson Methodist Church, and loved singing in the Cherokee choir. She was Granny to everyone and was a servant to everyone she met that needed her. Life posed difficulty for Weynema, yet you would never know it. Even when she lost her husband, parents, and siblings, she continued on, making the most of each day. She started every new day with a smile on her face and made everyone around her happy. She never tired of the time spent with her family, she adored every one of them. The sun set on Weynema on Monday evening, May 12th at her home, one day short of her 93rd birthday, surrounded by those that loved her.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Smith, grandparents, John and Wuttie Locust, her parents, and her siblings, Raymond Webber, Joseph Webber in Infancy, Samaria Weese, Kittie Bloomer in Infancy, Josephine Scott in Infancy, Ella Mae Webber, Nancy Smith, Leroy Webber, CW Webber, and Johnny Webber.

Those left to cherish her memory include her beloved daughter, Wanda Robertson of Cookson, and her siblings, Andrew Webber, Alene Mose of Poteau, OK and Pauline Horse of Tulsa, OK. She lives on in her three grandchildren, Charla Nofire of Cookson, Crystal Gregory and husband Ethan of New Hampshire, and Chelli Asbill and husband Neil of Sallisaw, OK. She also leaves four great grandchildren, Zach Nofire and wife Kathryn of Cookson, OK, Zeb Nofire of Cookson, Gage Asbill of Dallas, TX, and Nickolas Asbill of Ft. Smith, AR. She also leaves three great great grandchildren, Mila Gomez, Harley and Conner Nofire all of Cookson, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of people that have far more knowledge of the Cherokee Language and Art than they will ever know.

Funeral services for Weynema Webber-Smith will be conducted on Friday at 10:00 AM at Reed Culver with Bishop David Wilson officiating. Her family will receive guests on Thursday beginning at 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Reed-Culver Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Cookson-Proctor Cemetery in Cookson, OK.

Pallbearers for Weynema include Shelby Noel, JC Diemert, Brad Anderson, Jerald Smith, and Zach and Zeb Nofire. Her honorary pallbearers include her great grandsons Gage and Nickolas Asbill.