Mattie "Liz" Walker

Mattie Elizabeth (Keys) Walker, or affectional known as Liz or Lizzy by her family and friends, was born on August 30th, 1949 to Kale Star and Edna Maye (Alexander) Keys. Liz shared a home with three sisters, Mary, Norma and Irene. She would later met and marry the love of her life, James Earl Walker. Liz and her husband, James were raised to appreciate the product of hard work and aspired to carry on that same work ethic in their children. Liz working the 74 acre farm, milking cows for 30 plus years. She grew up loving every aspect of the outdoors; hunting, fishing, an occasional coon hunt and picking wild onions. You name it, she could do it anything she put her hands to. She had a soft spot for animals and was always willing to bring them in for rehabilitation, from deer, to opossums, to squirrels. There wasn’t a time when you couldn’t find good home cookin’ prepared at Liz’s house. Everyone looked forward to her chicken and dumplings, eggs and wild onions, and homemade buttermilk biscuits. Moreover, she was known by all the Keys community for her homemade pies and cakes. After she hung-up the farm life, she opened Keys Family Diner for a few years before officially retiring. Even still, this hard-working gal kept at it, selling her famous pies and helping out at the kennel for All Paws Inn. Liz was full of life and even touched a bit on the ornery side in her later years. When she wasn’t working, she could be found traveling anywhere the road took her, preferably to the Mountains somewhere to enjoy the scenery and brisk mountain air. More than anything in the world, she loved her family and all these joys of life were made better because of the memories made with them. Whether a gathering for the holidays or out to some of her favorite restaurants like Golden Corral, she had a heart of gold, such a sweet and caring soul to anyone she met. There was no such thing as a stranger to Liz. With not a shy bone in her body, she wasn’t afraid to spark up a conversation and was funny without even meaning to be. After 73 wonderful years of life, her health began to fail and was called to her eternal rest on February 7th, 2023 with family by her side. Liz was so loved and will be greatly missed by the many she has known her through the years.

Those that have gone on before her include her husband, her parents, one son, James Walker and two sisters, Mary Epperson and Norma Jo Harper.

Left to cherish her memory include two sons, Argus Walker and wife Brandie of Keys and Toby Gibson and wife Samantha of Tahlequah, one daughter, Carol Marie Enkey and husband Brigham of Keys, and one sister, Irene Palmer of Hulbert. Her legacy lives on through her six grandsons, Corin Enkey, Mark Enkey, Robert Enkey, Nolan Walker and Tristan Gibson, one granddaughter, Gracee Walker, along with five great-grandchildren, Duke, Abi, Wyit, Stetson and Bailey Enkey, as well as many nieces, nephews and other friends and loved ones that meant so much to her.

Graveside services for Liz will be held on Friday, February 10th, 2023 at 10:00am at Tahlequah City Cemetery with Pastor Bobby Musgrove officiating. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband, James. A time of visitation will be held on Thursday, February 9th, 2023 from 1:00pm until 5:00pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

A reception for family and friends to gather will follow the graveside at Cherokee Masonic Lodge #10, located at 121 West Choctaw Street in Tahlequah. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Walker family.