Reverend Rufus "Wagooli" King

Rev. Rufus King was born in Claremore, OK on June 25, 1941. His childhood and adolescent days were in rural northeastern Oklahoma around the Kenwood area. Being a full-blood Cherokee, Rufus grew up totally submerged in the Cherokee culture with Cherokee being his first language. He had a difficult time adjusting to public education due to this language barrier. He struggled in school eventually dropping out of high school to help take care of his mother and younger siblings. He did, however, obtain his GED later in life and attended MTI courses offered through Oklahoma Baptist University with his dear friend and mentor, Rev. Jess Stogsdill.

He married the love of his life and partner in ministry, Melvina Mae Watermelon King, in April of 1967. Together they built a life in the Jay area and raised three daughters there. He was a carpenter by trade and built many homes and buildings around the Jay area. He also worked for the Delaware County Friendship Homes and the Sam Hider Health Center while living in Jay. After the daughters were grown and grandchildren came, they move to the Tahlequah community to be closer to family.

During his adult life, Rufus had the opportunity to intertwine his top two passions, sharing the Word of God and perpetuating the Cherokee language. Rufus was ordained in the Baptist ministry in 1971. During his ministry, he pastored Keener Baptist Church in Lost City, OK; Pine Ridge Baptist Church in Jay, OK and most recently Round Springs Baptist Church in Eucha, OK. His sermons were spoken in both the English and Cherokee language. He led many to a relationship with Christ and preached numerous revivals. His ultimate desire was that everyone would receive Jesus as their Savior and his beautiful Cherokee prayers were evident of this.

Rufus was an active member of the Cherokee Baptist Association (CBA) and the Oklahoma Baptists, formerly the General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO). He served on various boards and committees in different capacities for each, including Assistant Moderator, Family Camp Director and as an Executive Board Member for the CBA. He also served on the BGCO Board of Directors in early 2000.

Rufus was always eager to share his knowledge of the Cherokee language and culture. Being proficient at speaking and writing in Cherokee, he tested at the Master level on the Cherokee Nation Proficiency Test in 2001. Rufus received his Cherokee Nation Teaching Certification in 2002. He taught in the Jay, Grove, Eucha, Wickliffe, Tahlequah and Lost City communities after he received his teaching certification. He enjoyed his interaction with the language department at Cherokee Nation participating in translation, attending the monthly Cherokee Speaker’s Bureau and assisting in word development for the Cherokee Immersion School, where he also was the President of the school board. As his health declined, Rufus still loved to attend all Cherokee singings and church services. He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing Cherokee hymns. He had a passion to spread the gospel and would preach, pray or sing to anyone who would listen, even during hospital and rehabilitation stays. Rufus loved being a child of God and counted it a blessing to be Cherokee. He heard the Lord tenderly call him home on June 19, 2024. He is now rejoicing in Heaven he preached about for many years.

He has gone on to join his parents, Martin and Lucy (Grass) King, two brothers, Don King and John King, two sisters, Betty King and Rita King, one brother-in-law, Harvey Nichols and one sister-in-law, Deloris King.

Those left to remember him include his wife Melvina Mae King of the home, three daughters, Brenda Koch and husband Pat of Cookson, OK, Betty Dry and husband Scott of Jay, OK and Loretta Keener and husband Mike of Tahlequah, OK as well as one special daughter, Sherry Gouge and husband Mario Dallas, TX. He is also survived by two brothers, Jimmy King and Roy King, both of Jay, OK, two sisters, Nancy Soldier and husband Richard and Grace Nichols also of Jay, OK, four grandchildren, Preslee Keener, River Koch, Abby Harris and Alexandra Stackhouse, two great grandchildren, Cooper Harris and Molly Harris, as well as many nieces, nephews, church family and loved ones.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, June 24, 2024 from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm with Wake Services from 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Reverend King will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 from 10:00am at Elm Tree Baptist Church with Reverend Gary Hawkins officiating and an obituary reading by Pastor DJ McCarter. He will be laid to rest at Grass Cemetery in Salina, OK.

Serving as pallbearers are Archie Vance, Caleb Vance, Marc Keener, Josh Galcatcher, Ross Hanes, Brett Pritchett. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pat Koch, Mike Keener, Scott Dry, River Koch, Chad King, Miles Harris and Terry Kingfisher.