Mary Frances "Fran" Waterdown

Mary Frances “Fran” Waterdown was born on December 28th, 1949 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Bow and Sadie (McLemore) Waterdown. She attended school at Horn and Cave Springs School. Following school, she worked at various jobs from nurses aide to a kitchen assistant at Rocky Mountain Public School. She adored her family and was so very proud of her children, Frances, Jimmy, Calvin, Leisa, and Mary Christina. She enjoyed cruising around and visiting friends and family. She liked watching TV at night and loved game shows, cooking shows, and Walker Texas Ranger. She felt comfort in listening to Gospel music and Cherokee singing. She enjoyed hanging out with her favorite people. She always thought of her grandkids as being special to her heart. She had a beautiful smile, a delightful laugh and a sense of humor that didn’t stop. She loved people and it showed. A Christian by faith, she attended both the Sequoyah Baptist and Tender Mercy Church. Her health began to decline and she passed from this life on May 17th, 2023 in Muskogee, surrounded by the family she adored. She was 73 years, 4 months and 19 days, and will not be forgotten.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Thomas and Ollie Mae (Hopper) McLemore, Green Lynch and Lizzie (Duncan) Waterdown, her mother and father, six brothers, Houston, Woodrow, Jack, Bob, Melvin, and Byrl, two sisters, Louise “sis” Foster and Ollie Mae Waterdown, one son, Jimmy Miller and one great grandchild.

Those she leaves to celebrate her life include her children, Frances Flute and husband Archie of Bunch, OK, Calvin Wells of Tahlequah, OK, Leisa Waterdown of Tahlequah, OK, and Mary “Christina” Waterdown of Tulsa, OK. She leaves her brother Thomas Waterdown and wife Deana of Stilwell, OK. She lives on in her 8 grandchildren, Felicia “Hoddie” Flute of Tahlequah, Ashley “Bee” Flute of Tahlequah, Indian “Chooge””Boy” Flute of Tahlequah, Isiah Sam of Stilwell, OK, River Sam of Stilwell, OK, Harmony Waterdown of Tulsa, OK, Naashon Waterdown of Tulsa, OK, and Adrian Waterdown of Tulsa, OK. Her great grandchildren include Chujah Flute of Tahlequah, Lyley Teehee of Tahlequah, Rayleigh Teehee of Tahlequah, Ahksas Flute of Tahlequah, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.

A visitation for Mary will be held Monday, May 22, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 West Delaware Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Mary will be laid to rest in Clear Springs Cemetery, Stilwell, Oklahoma.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Waterdown family.