Tahlequah, OK- Wanda Louise Blevins-Knapp-Jones was born on Sunday, March 3rd, 1946 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Odie Vernon and Eunice (Scott) Blevins. She grew up with four sisters and three brothers, Carol Ann, Ellen Rose, Vivian, Phyllis, James Edward, William Dean and Dennis “Rabbit” Blevins. She attended school and then began her college education. She had moved to Oregon and lived there, deciding to return to Tahlequah. She arrived back home with $4.34 cents in her pocket, and retired as the Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent for the Tahlequah Public Works, a job she held for over 36 years. She was never one to sit and watch the world go by, she worked a variety of positions from construction to bartending, ski resort employee, highway flag person and meter reader. She was the proud mother of three children, David Otis, Denise Kay and Kathleen Diane. She loved and nurtured the animal kingdom around her and taught her children the importance of caring for the homeless, the hungry and those simply needing love. She was intelligent and gifted, there was always a pot of beans and her Thanksgiving dinners and her pies were legendary. Her artistry with crocheting, knitting, quilting and peyote beadwork was unsurpassed and her grandson will treasure this beautiful gift of her homemade quilt for all time, it carries her love and care for her family in every stitch. She was proud of her Cherokee heritage and studied the Cherokee language in 1998. She was a strong woman, and adversity never held her down. She never gave in to fear, she met every new challenge in life on her own terms, including her time to pass from this life to another. Her smile would light up the room and she had a devilish good sense of humor. The hungry and homeless, be it animal or person, had a true friend in Wanda. They would be cared for, and even made to feel welcome. She was the grandmother you came to for love, support and sound advice, she gave all of these freely. The family was the center of her life and she adored every one of them and was so very proud of all their accomplishments. Her health began to fade, and like always, Wanda took on this challenge with a peaceful heart and much dignity. Wanda passed form this life on Sunday, November 24th, 2019 in Tulsa, OK. She was 73 years old and will be greatly missed.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Dennis and Ellen (Hammer) Scott and Julian M. and Bessie Mae (Gardner) Blevins. She also joins her mother, father, four sisters, Carol, Ellen, Vivian, Phyllis, and two brothers, James and William.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children, David Blevins of Portland, OR, Denise Knapp of Hulbert, OK, and Kathleen Bond and husband Albert of Cookson, OK. She also leaves one brother, Dennis “Rabbit” Blevins of Tulsa, OK. She lives on in her two grandchildren, Wesley Ryan Brehon of Tahlequah, OK and David Curtis Blevins of Mt. Helens, OR. She leaves very special friends, Cathy Schabloski, Allen Snow, and Pat White.
The family would like to take this moment to thank all of the 8th Floor Nursing Staff of St. John Medical Center for all the kindness and compassion shown to their mother and themselves in the past few days. In lieu of flowers, the family ask you consider a donation to the Humans Society Of Cherokee County, at their website humanecherokeecounty.org.
Per Wanda’s wishes, there will be no formal services, but a celebration of her life, held at a later date to be announced.
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