Walker Funeral & Cremation Service

09/05/2025

Ann Nicely

Elva “Ann” Nicely, resident of Shawnee, passed away on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. She was 92 years old. Ann was born on May 25, 1933 in Sweet Water, Oklahoma to her parents, Tommy and Maggie Cole.

Ann married Merel E. "Buddy" Nicely on April 23, 1953 in Van Buren, Arkansas. The couple lived in Shawnee before moving to Ark City, Kansas where Buddy worked for the automotive industry for 37 years and Ann worked at a drug store. The pair returned to Shawnee following Buddy’s retirement.

Ann was known for her sense of style, which she developed while working at JCPenney. She had a flair for fashion and was always dressed to the nines with her hair done, makeup on, looking gorgeous. She was a very generous and kind soul with a sharp sense of humor and a contagious laugh.

As a faithful member of Shawnee Baptist Church, Ann believed in spreading the gospel message. Her faith drove her to gather with her church family and hand out gospel invitations, encouraging others to find their way to God.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Tommy and Maggie Cole and her husband, Buddy Nicely.

Survivors include her son, Jeff Nicely, daughter, Karen Corey, grandchildren, Na-Tosha Exley Flick, Keela Dibler, Amber Barger, Christopher Corey, Taylor Nicely, and Sable Nicely, as well as her church family.

A funeral ceremony for Ann will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 10:30 am at the Shawnee Baptist Church, 37651 W. 45th Street. Viewing for Ann will be held immediately prior to her funeral at the church, beginning at 9:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ann’s honor to the Shawnee Baptist Missions.

Ann was great company and will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

View Ann Nicely's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/05/2025

Josephine Leister

Josephine Bryce Leister passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend whose warmth, strength, and quiet grace touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, Lavell and Carrie Pinkston; all twelve of her siblings; her first husband, Dorice Bryce; her second husband, Bill Leister; her son, Dennis Bryce; sons-in-law, Don Sumpter and Ken Westervelt; and grandsons, Chanc Sumpter and Mitchell Westervelt.

She is survived by her loving children: son, Allen Bryce and his wife Nancy; daughter, Karen Westervelt; daughter, Regina Hacker; and son, Brian Bryce and his wife Janet. Josephine also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Her legacy is one of unwavering love for family, enduring faith, and a life well-lived in service to others. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all whose lives she touched.

Service details will be announced by the family.

May her memory be a source of comfort and strength.

View Josephine Leister's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/22/2025

Lela Evelyn Rutledge-Clark

Lela Evelyn Rutledge-Clark passed away peacefully in her home August 21, 2025. Lela, also known as "Lee" or "Chubby", was a strong woman to the end as she battled lung cancer for a year and a half.

Lela was born on November 20, 1938, to Johnie William Estep and Izetta Caldonia Butler Estep. She was born at the Carter Grisso Camp in Seminole, OK where her dad worked for the Grisso Oil Company. She attended Shawnee High School. She quit school in her senior year to pursue a career in country singing. During this time, she would travel to nearby towns to sing on stage and on local radio. After a short marriage to Ron Dixon, she became a single working mom to two children picking cotton and locally known as the "singing waitress" at Stokes's Cafe here in Shawnee. It was there she met her husband of 48 years, Gilford Rutledge. Upon marrying Gil, she stayed home raising her girls and having two more children, taking ironings for ten cents a shirt and then later in life working at TDK Mfg. After retiring from there, she cleaned houses for several prominent Shawnee residents. Throughout her life, Lela enjoyed fishing, sewing (often making matching outfits for her kids), ceramics, crushed glass pictures, quilting, crocheting and many more crafts that spiked her interest. After the loss of Gil, she rediscovered her love for country dancing and married her dance partner John Clark. She enjoyed cooking for family gatherings and her love for birds, flowers, and puzzles is obvious in her home.

Lela is preceded in death by her parents Johnie & Izetta Estep, husband Gil Rutledge, as well as her siblings Elaine, Betty, and Billy Rex. She is survived by sisters Leta and Janice, children Barbara (& Steve) of Traer, IA, Kay (& Mike) of Shawnee, OK Sherry (& Randy) of Farmington, NM, and Gil Jr. "Bubba" (& Kim) of Seminole, OK. Nine grandchildren: Kiera, Nate, Etheny, Chandler, Kasie D., Presley, Devon, Dalon, and Delaney. Seventeen great grandchildren and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at the funeral home from 12-7PM on Monday, August 25. A funeral ceremony to celebrate her precious life will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, in the Chapel at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service with Pastor Gary Nickerson of Hilltop Baptist Church officiating. Following the ceremony, she will be laid to rest next to her husband Gil.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

View Lela Evelyn Rutledge-Clark's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/22/2025

Lela E. Rutledge-Clark

Lela Evelyn Rutledge-Clark passed away peacefully in her home August 21, 2025. Lela, also known as "Lee" or "Chubby", was a strong woman to the end as she battled lung cancer for a year and a half.

Lela was born on November 20, 1938, to Johnie William Estep and Izetta Caldonia Butler Estep. She was born at the Carter Grisso Camp in Seminole, OK where her dad worked for the Grisso Oil Company. She attended Shawnee High School. She quit school in her senior year to pursue a career in country singing. During this time, she would travel to nearby towns to sing on stage and on local radio. After a short marriage to Ron Dixon, she became a single working mom to two children picking cotton and locally known as the "singing waitress" at Stokes's Cafe here in Shawnee. It was there she met her husband of 48 years, Gilford Rutledge. Upon marrying Gil, she stayed home raising her girls and having two more children, taking ironings for ten cents a shirt and then later in life working at TDK Mfg. After retiring from there, she cleaned houses for several prominent Shawnee residents. Throughout her life, Lela enjoyed fishing, sewing (often making matching outfits for her kids), ceramics, crushed glass pictures, quilting, crocheting and many more crafts that spiked her interest. After the loss of Gil, she rediscovered her love for country dancing and married her dance partner John Clark. She enjoyed cooking for family gatherings and her love for birds, flowers, and puzzles is obvious in her home.

Lela is preceded in death by her parents Johnie & Izetta Estep, husband Gil Rutledge, as well as her siblings Elaine, Betty, and Billy Rex. She is survived by sisters Leta and Janice, children Barbara (& Steve) of Traer, IA, Kay (& Mike) of Shawnee, OK Sherry (& Randy) of Farmington, NM, and Gil Jr. "Bubba" (& Kim) of Seminole, OK. Nine grandchildren: Kiera, Nate, Etheny, Chandler, Kasie D., Presley, Devon, Dalon, and Delaney. Seventeen great grandchildren and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at the funeral home from 12-7PM on Monday, August 25. A funeral ceremony to celebrate her precious life will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, in the Chapel at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service with Pastor Gary Nickerson of Hilltop Baptist Church officiating. Following the ceremony, she will be laid to rest next to her husband Gil.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

View Lela E. Rutledge-Clark's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/20/2025

Meghan Kathleen Jackson

Meghan Kathleen McCormick Jackson, age 44, of Norman, passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City.

She was born on Feb. 9, 1981 in Shawnee to Michael and Patricia (Gray) McCormick. She was raised in Shawnee, graduating from high school in 1999.

After high school, Meghan, following in her father's footsteps, pursued her passion for journalism at St. Gregory's College.

She graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Journalism. Her first assignment was as a reporter for the Lawton Constitution. After a few years, she moved to Norman to continue her career at the Norman Transcript.

As time continued, she left The Transcript and began working for the Cleveland County Sheriff's office as their Public Information Officer.

While working there, she met a deputy, and their paths aligned. On December 5, 2015, Meghan married Terry D. Jackson, Jr.

A few years later, their lives were blessed with the addition of their son, Liam. His presence brought so much joy to Meghan, and she left the workforce to focus on raising and teaching her son.

Meghan was selfless. She loved hosting others and found joy welcoming others into whatever event wherein she was involved.

Above all, she was fully devoted to her family as a caring and loving wife, mother, and daughter.

Survivors include her beloved husband, Terry, of the home; son, Liam, of the home; parents, Mike and Pat McCormick of Shawnee; father-in-law Terry Jackson, Sr., sister-in-law Holly Jackson and husband Jonathan; aunts: Nell Schoonover, Maureen Giese and husband Randy as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents James and Ruth Davis, paternal grandparents Mary McCormick, John McCormick and wife Roberta, and sister-in-law Heather Jackson.

A Memorial Mass for Meghan's life will be celebrated at 10:00AM, Saturday, August 23, 2025, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 632 N. Kickapoo, Shawnee, OK 74801 with Father Peter Shults of St. Gregory's Abbey officiating.

Contributions in Meghan's memory may be made to: Project Gabriel, 613 W. Benedict Street, Shawnee, OK 74801.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

View Meghan Kathleen Jackson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/19/2025

Mavis Jean Lupton

Mavis Jean Lupton (Campbell) went to her heavenly reward on August 19, 2025. Mavis was born in Shawnee on November 6, 1928 to Marvin Royce and Myrtle Inez Campbell. She graduated from Shawnee High School in 1947 and that same year married the love of her life, George "Allen" Lupton. They raised four children.

In her youth, she was the track queen for Franklin Elementary. She served as Worthy Advisor for the Rainbow Girls. She was a real life "Rosie the Riveter", working at an airplane plant in Torrance California during WWII. She also worked at Woolworths during high school years.

She returned to school and got her nursing degree. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Broadway Hospital and moved to the Shawnee Medical Center when it opened. She worked primarily in Labor and Delivery during her time and assisted in welcoming hundreds of Shawnee babies into the world. She retired in 1988.

Mavis loved the outdoors. Many weekends were spent with family at lakes across Oklahoma - swimming, fishing and water skiing. In later years, she and her husband traveled quite a bit to places such as Mexico, United Kingdom, etc. Her favorite trip was a trip to Hawaii she took with Allen and his brothers, sisters and spouses.

Mavis served as a Blue Bird and Camp Fire Girl leader for both of her daughters and as the camp nurse for several years at Camp Shahama. She also served as a den mother and was very active in the Scout program that both her sons were involved in. After retirement she volunteered in the church kitchen at Wesley Methodist Church for several years. She loved making cinnamon rolls and visiting with her church friends. She also went on a mission trip to Alaska.

Mavis was preceded in death by her husband of 72 ½ years, George "Allen" Lupton, her parents, Marvin Campbell and Inez Campbell, her brother Roy Norman and sister, Louise Langtry.

She is survived by her children, Robert Lupton (Sally); Judy Mowdy (Jack); George Lupton (Norma); and Donna Garren (Ken); her grandchildren, Julie "Christy" Avedikian (Jonathan), Kenneth "Allen" Garren, Robin Lupton, Jeremy Garren (Megan), and Rebecca Westerlage (Kent) ; and her great-grandchildren, Daniel Avedikian, Timothy Avedikian, Adyson Garren, Jace Garren, Felicity Clisby, Grayson Westerlage & Charlie Westerlage; and numerous nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to Amedisys Foundation, 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 in her memory. This is the Hospice organization that helped Mavis in her final days. If you do wish to send flowers, please request that they do not include any purple flowers or plants.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

A graveside funeral ceremony to celebrate Mavis's life will be held at 10AM, Thursday, August 28, 2025 at Resthaven Memorial Park where she will be laid to rest next to her husband George.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

View Mavis Jean Lupton's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/19/2025

Diane Loraine Lawerance

Diane Loraine Lawerance, age 73, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, August 18, 2025 in Shawnee.

Diane was born November 6, 1951 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, a daughter of Donald and Lola May Duvall. She attended Shawnee schools and married the love of her life, Billy Lawerance on May 30th, 1969. After living in New Hampshire for a short time while Billy was in the Air Force, Diane and Billy returned to their hometown of Shawnee, OK.

Family was everything to Diane. She was a loving and devoted mother to her two boys, Jeffery and Billy. She was also a dedicated member of the Central Church of Christ in Shawnee, OK. Animals were another passion of Diane's, especially her dachshund dogs, the most recent named Patches. Additionally, Diane was a loyal Sooners fan and also thrilled to see the Oklahoma City Thunder win the championship this year. When she wasn't rooting for the home teams, you could find her enjoying a good movie or dining at a local restaurant.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband Billy, son Jeffery, son Billy and wife Sarah, Granddaughter Kate, and sisters Cathy Harmon, Janice Walls and Teresa Story all of Shawnee, OK.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 8-5pm at the funeral home. A funeral ceremony to celebrate her life will be held at 10AM, Friday, August 22, 2025, in the chapel at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service. Following the ceremony, Diane will be laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Shawnee, OK.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

View Diane Lawerance's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/18/2025

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08/15/2025

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08/14/2025

Alta Leann Gleason

Alta Gleason peacefully passed away on August 12, 2025, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, leaving behind a legacy of faith and devotion to family.

Born on April 4, 1945, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Alta was the youngest daughter of Andrew and Eldora Ruark. She spent the majority of her adult life in Oklahoma City, where she dedicated herself to nurturing young minds as a beloved kindergarten teacher and later as principal of Preach Unto Them Jesus Academy. Her passion for teaching was matched only by her unwavering commitment to her faith.

Alta met the love of her life, Henry Gleason, while attending church—a place that remained central to her heart throughout her life. They were united in marriage on January 22, 1987, beginning a journey filled with love, laughter, and shared purpose.

Known for her fiery spirit and generous heart, Alta found joy in cooking and treasured every moment spent with her family. Her home was a haven of comfort, filled with the aroma of home-cooked meals and the sound of heartfelt conversations.

Alta Gleason will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her memory will live on in the lives she touched and the values she instilled.

Viewing will be available Friday, August 15, 2025 from 8:00-5:00 at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service. A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 10:00 am at Walker Funeral Chapel.

View Alta Leann Gleason's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/14/2025

James "Jimmy" David Stephens

James David (Jimmy) Stephens, a resident of McAlester, OK died on August 10, 2025 at the age of 61 in Norman, OK after a hard fought health battle. Jimmy was born on March 24, 1964 in Denton at Flow Memorial Hospital. His parents were Joe Stephens and Judy Stephens. He married Kim Dorado on October 22, 2022 in McAlester, OK. Jimmy grew up in Princeton, TX where he went to school, had numerous friends and excelled at many sports, including football, basketball, track and field and baseball and participated in several clubs. He attended college at McMurry University and East Texas State University, where he received a Bachelor's and Master's of Science degree in Biology.

Jimmy was a long-time resident of Desoto, TX where he was dedicated to public service, working for the City of Desoto for over 28 years and then for the City of Seagoville for an additional 2 years. Jimmy was also a Registered Sanitarian and a long-time member of the Texas Environmental Health Association. Jimmy was highly respected for his knowledge and commitment to public health and served on various boards, committees, and held a variety of certifications, and was a beloved and respected employee by all of his colleagues.

Jimmy was an active member of the Sac and Fox Nation and was involved in many tribal activities. He had a traditional native regalia and participated in native dances and attended annual functions relating to his tribe. He also served as the chairperson for the Dallas Intertribal Organization for several years, spoke in Washington, DC and had a passion for native sovereignty.

After Jimmy left public service, he retired to a picturesque location in McAlester with his beloved wife, Kim. He always had a love for the outdoors and the land where they lived provided a wonderful oasis with its variety of birds, deer, and large trees. In McAlester, one of his favorite pastimes was to take his boat out on Lake McAlester to enjoy his love of fishing. He also enjoyed tending to his chickens and honing his horticulture and cooking skills.

Jimmy is survived by his wife Kim; stepchildren, Rose Dorado, Maya Dorado, Soren Dorado and Oscar Dorado; mother, Judy Stephens; siblings, Jena Lynch and husband Clay, Jason Stephens and wife Tina and Jared Stephens; nieces and nephews, Jana Love and husband Justin, Jinger Stephens, Trent Stephens, Conner Lynch, Abigail Lynch, Charlie Lynch and Jared Stephens.

He was preceded in death by father, Joseph Stephens; grandparents, Clifford and Virginia Conallis, Joseph Stephens, Sr. and Caroline Turnell.

Tribal services for Jimmy will begin at noon on Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Sac and Fox Community Building. Viewing will start at 10:00 am the same morning. Following the ceremony, Jimmy will be laid to rest at the Sac and Fox Tribal Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be: Jason Stephens, Jared Stephens, Ricky Cullum, Clay Lynch, Shane Shepard, and David Betterton.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, Texas.

View James "Jimmy" David Stephens's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/13/2025

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