Raymond Vann

Funeral services for Raymond Vann will be held on Friday, September 15th, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Souls Harbor Church in Chewey, OK with Reverend DJ McCarter officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 14th, 2017 beginning at noon until 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Raymond include Jackson Hummingbird, Albert Ketcher, Sidney Wilder, and Jerry Gallop. Honorary pallbearers include Daniel Ray Vann and Larry McIntyre.

Raymond Vann was born on August 15th, 1943 in Watts, OK, the son of Pete and Nanny (Gibson) Vann. He joined a family of three brothers and seven sisters, Ross Vann (D), Jackson Vann (D), Billie “Woody” Vann (D) Mary Jane Beach (D), Leoma Gourd (D), Leona Crittenden, Thelma Forrest, Willie Mae Vann, Elsie Marie Vann(D), and Linda Vann Stopp (D). Raymond attended school at Oaks Mission and Collinsville High School. On October 13th, 1966, he was enlisted into the US Army, serving in B Battery as a Pershing Missile Crewman He was honorably discharged in September of 1968 at Ft. Dix New Jersey. Upon leaving the military, he attended University at Mountain View College, TX, attaining his Associates degree. He began his career at General Motors, retiring after 30 years of faithful service. Raymond served as the Chair for the 501 (C) 3” Warpony “for 19 years and served as the Outreach Coordinator at the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center for 5 years, and was still employed at his death. He has served as the Cherokee Nation Election Commissioner for 4 years, he ran for Principal Chief, Deputy Chief, and Cherokee Nation Council. Raymond co-owned and co-operated Vann Gallery and Gifts for several years. He was honored as the AARP Elder of the Year in 2010, and was awarded the Cherokee Nation Medal of Leadership in Washington, DC in 2013, Grounds Up from the Cherokee Heritage Center and served as curator for “Deferring To The Elders” art show. His talents were varied and many, including clay sculpting, stone sculpting, co-authoring a Native American book, and watercolor. He loved long drives in the Cherokee Communities and time spent with the people. He is a Cherokee Treasure, loved and honored by the Cherokee people, his family.

He passed from this life on September 9th, 2017 in Tulsa, OK, at the age of 74 years. He leaves a loving son, Daniel Ray Vann of Ft. Worth, TX, and a second son, Larry McIntyre, who preceded him in death. He also leaves three grandsons, and other grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. He leaves Pamela Dodd-Ramires, constant companion, caretaker, “partner in crime” and faithful friend. Sidney “Dean” Wilder, partner in his 501 (C) 3 “Warpony”, who never ceased to be available to help. He leaves loving faithful pets, his dog” Angel” and his cat of fifteen years, “Sissy”. He will be remembered by his ex-wife, Sioux Smith-Vann, whom he loved, and she returned his love, always.