Cherry Bedford, 88, of Muldrow, Oklahoma died Tuesday, January 26, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Cherry was born April 1, 1932 in Braggs, Oklahoma to Bill and Mabel Steele. She married Dean Bedford September 22, 1951. Their early life together was an adventure of tending cattle and traveling to rodeos for Dean to compete. Through the years they lived on several ranches where she spent many hours tending to stock, horses, cow dogs and ranch cats. She often fondly recalled her time spent cooking and cleaning for young cowboys, many of whom thought of her as their second mom. In her later years she became an avid PBR Fan.
Cherry is survived by her beloved friend Leo Bland; her sisters Linda Stockstill (Harold), Jan Gabriel (Don) and Kathy Tisdale; her sisters-in-law Helen Steele, Betty Kellogg, and Dorothy Gardner; as well as the children of her sister Billie Bedford (Don) who shared their children with her: Donna Green (Eddie), Carole DeWitt, Dianne Shewmaker, Keith Bedford (Dayna) and Lee Bedford (Carol). She also has a host of loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dean Bedford, her parents Webster "Bill" and Mabel Steele, her sister Billie Bedford (Don) and her brother Don "Bud" Steele.
A walk-through viewing will be held Monday, February 1 at 10 a.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, Arkansas followed by a graveside service at 1 p.m. at Muskogee Memorial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma. It is requested that you wear a mask if attending; Cherry was extremely careful during this time and managed to stay clear of the virus. She would want us to protect ourselves and each other now.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that you donate to Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assoc. Attn: JCCF, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919, www.justincowboycrisisfund.org
