Shirley Jean Tudor

Shirley Jean Rotramel-Tudor was born on Tuesday, February 8th, 1938, in Eldon, OK, the daughter of Stan Watie and Hazel (Boswell) Rotramel. She attended school and then she met and married Donald R. Tudor on July 10th1954. They shared 58 years of love and happiness with one another and raised their daughter, Donna. Shirley and Don owned and operated Don’s Restaurant in Keys, and was the “go to” place for the best catfish and homemade pies that couldn’t be matched by anyone. They also operated the Dairy Bar and Speedy Freeze prior to that. People came from all over to eat at their establishments. Many times you would be greeted by Shirley or Don in person and there was just something about the way they made you feel right at home like visiting old friends. When she was at home, she loved playing the old Gospel favorites on her piano, working in her flower garden and tending to the various wildlife that were frequent visitors to her yard. She was feisty and fiery, all wrapped in a petite little bundle that earned her the nickname “Peewee “or “Granny Grits” from her family. With Shirley and Don, it was always about their family. They loved the time spent together and never tired of seeing what the others were up to. Shirley was a Christian by faith, and she and Don would attend almost every church in the area and be in fellowship wherever they were. The Lord called Don Home from his labors in 2012, and Shirley remained at home, spending time with the family she adored. You would find her working around the house in her signature flip flops, on the phone with one of her sisters, or out junkin’ with her daughter and granddaughter. The Lord called Shirley home on Sunday, June 7th, 2020 at her home in Tahlequah, OK, surrounded by loved ones. She was 82 years old and will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her Mother, Father, her husband, Don, four brothers (Toy Rotramel, Junior Johnson, Calvin Rotramel, and Johnny Rotramel); Sisters (Wanda Hasbrook, Almeda “Speedy” Moore, Sharon Hipp, Mamie Bryan, Maggie Griffin, Rosalie Rotramel and Linda Young); one granddaughter, Jennifer Talavera, and one great- granddaughter, Ava Salazar.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Donna Matthews of Tahlequah, OK; two grandchildren, Amanda “Mandy” Salazar and husband Fabian of San Antonio, TX and their children, Aaliyah Garcia, Diego Salazar and Noah Salazar; Jason Talavera and wife Kristen of Richton, MS and their children, Jordan Talavera, Austin Talavera, Evan Uggen, Gavin Uggen, and Lincoln Uggen; Two sisters, Patsy Trammel and husband, Duane Trammel of Tahlequah and Nadine Bryan of Tahlequah, as well as many nieces, nephews and other family members; and a very special friend and caretaker, Johnny Lewis, whom she loved like a son. She will live on in the hearts and memories of all who knew her.