Catherine Lynn Frank

Catherine Lynn Turk Frank, a devoted wife, mother, dear friend, and accomplished attorney, passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2026, leaving behind a profound legacy of love.

Funeral Service will be 10 AM, Tuesday, August 24, 2026 at Hart Funeral Home Chapel, burial to follow at Molly Fields Cemetery. The family will recieve friends on Tuesday, August 24, 2026 from 4 PM until 7 PM at Hart Funeral Home.

Cathy's journey began on Wednesday, September 21, 1955, at McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida. Born two months early to Clifford O. and Ida Windham Turk, she weighed a mere three pounds and a handful of ounces. As the second child in the family, following her older sister Cindy who was born in 1954 in Biloxi, Mississippi, Cathy proved from her very first breath to be a fighter and a survivor. This early introduction to the world instilled in her a vibrant zest for life and an enduring desire to live every moment to its absolute fullest.

After her father's time in the service was done, the family moved back to their hometown of Silsbee, Texas, where her brother Kyle was born at the hospital in nearby Kountze, Texas, in 1958. Her dad then enrolled at Lamar College in Beaumont, Texas, and in 1959, her brother Kevin was also born at the hospital in Kountze. Following graduation, the family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where her father worked as a bank examiner.

In 1965, the Turk family moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where her father served as Vice President of First National Bank. It was here that Cathy enrolled at Cherokee Elementary for the fourth through sixth grades. She met her favorite teacher, Mrs. Cloe Hunt, and more importantly, the love of her life and favorite guy, Robbie Frank. Throughout junior high and high school, Cathy's vibrant personality shone brightly. She was a cheerleader, active in numerous school clubs, and deeply popular among her peers, cultivating lifelong special relationships with so many.

After graduating from Tahlequah High School in 1974, she attended Northeastern State University before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her bachelor's degree in education. Driven by a desire to advocate for others, Cathy later obtained her Juris Doctor from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Cathy dedicated thirty-five years of her life as an attorney for the Oklahoma State Department of Mines, from which she proudly retired in June of 2021. Her passion for knowledge extended far beyond the courtroom; she found immense fulfillment serving as an Adjunct Professor for Connors State College and teaching at the Women's Correctional Facility-a cause that was truly close to her heart.

Cathy and Robbie were married on Friday, May 18, 1979, at Lavern's Wedding Chapel in Miami, Oklahoma. Together, they built a life filled with joy and shared passions. Cathy loved her pets and spoiled them endlessly with treats. She enjoyed eating out with friends, listening to live music with Robbie, and found great peace and happiness simply being in the pool. An avid sports enthusiast, Cathy was affectionately dubbed the "Sports Princess" by Robbie. While basketball legend Larry Bird was her absolute favorite athlete, her loyalty firmly belonged to Sooner Nation.

Cathy was also an insatiable reader and a film lover. She was a member of the Cherokee County Democratic Women and a strong supporter of the Humane Society of Cherokee County. Cathy and Robbie shared a deep love for travel, creating beautiful memories on trips to Mexico, cruises with family and friends, and regular excursions to their absolute favorite city, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cathy is survived by her loving family, including her husband, Robert "Robbie" Lee Frank Jr. of the home, and her son, Robert "Turk" Frank of the home. She also leaves behind her sister, Cindy Turk Steininger and husband Paul; her brother, Kyle Turk and wife Sammi; her sister-in-law, Marlene Turk; and her brother, Jacob Frasher and wife Kathy. Her memory will be cherished by her nieces and nephews, Max Steininger (Aaron), Misti Ballew (Jeard), Heather Turk Taylor (Danny), Gage Frasher, Mikayla Corn, and Blake Corn (Sierra), as well as her great-nieces and great-nephews, Kodi Ballew, Eli Ballew, and Emma Bates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford O. and Ida Windham Turk; her stepfather, John Frasher; and her brother, James "Kevin" Turk.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Cathy's memory to The Humane Society of Cherokee County.

Following the burial services, family, fans, and friends are warmly invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate Cathy's life at The Branch, located at 505 North Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah, OK.