Edith Fourkiller

Edith Fourkiller, 85, born March 22, 1932 in the Peavine Community, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Edith is survived by her loving children, daughters Rita Bunch and husband Robert, Diane England, Clara Bighorse and husband Mark, Michelle Kee and husband Norman, and Melissa Turman and husband Thad all of Stilwell, Oklahoma; sons David Pruitt and wife Sandy, George "Foof" Fourkiller, Jack Fourkiller and wife Diana, Will Fourkiller and wife Kerrie, all of Stilwell, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Melanie, Nathan, Stacy, Starla, Trey, Corey, Shayla, Chelsea, Kyle, Candice, Autumn, Kristin, Josh, Broc, Brooke, Zane, Dalton, Toss, Mason, Tallee, Eadee and Eli: great-grandchildren, Meisha, Rylan, Daythan, Keller, Chelsea, Asher, Cobie, Slade, Corbin, Athan, Lyla, Anna, Charlotte, Leah, Kaelee, Carlee, Jaycee, Averee, Jaxon, and Ivy; great-great-grandchildren Alexa and Ryker; nieces, Debra Nelson, Jan Muskrat, Shirley Wright and Everette Bean.

Edith was preceded in death by her infant son, Grant Fourkiller; parents, William and Laura Bell Shell, her siblings; sisters, Virginia, Irene, Florence, Minnie, Ella and Callie, and brothers, Edgar, David, Elmer, John, George and Tom.
Edith attended Peavine Elementary School. She graduated from Stilwell High School in 1950. Her sister, Virginia Crittenden and she served strawberries at the first Strawberry Festival. After high school, she attended Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. She came home for the summer break and married Eugene Pruitt in June 1951. Eugene was the father of Rita, David and Diane. Eugene died in a car accident July 19, 1958. She remarried July 1961 to George D. Fourkiller. George was the father of Foof, Jack, Nese, Michelle, Will, Grant and Liss.

In 1975 after the birth of her 10th child, Edith returned to college. She earned her bachelors degree in elementary education in 1978 from Northeastern State University. In 1980 she earned a masters degree in school counseling. She later earned a Reading Specialist degree. Edith was baptized April 1986 and became a member of Antioch Baptist Church located in the Peavine Community.
Edith was a homemaker until 1970 when she started work at Cherokee Nation Industries. She became a classroom assistant in 1973 and worked at Peavine Elementary School until she earned her teaching degree. Edith retired from Bell Elementary School in 1997. She taught school at Rocky Mountain Elementary School for a year after retirement, then she loved and babysat grandchildren for the next 17 years. Her last employment was as a Foster Grandparent at Maryetta Public School.
Edith's passion was her family. Her family knew her to be protective, loving, generous, kind and devoted. She was dedicated to being a loving mother and grandmother seeking to infuse a love of God, a joy for life into her family and was the glue that held everyone together. She will be remembered with love by her many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Graveside services held at 10 am on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Reese Cemetery, Peavine, Oklahoma with Bro. Wilson Hitcher officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home, Stilwell, OK.

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