Freddie Ferrell

A quiet, kind, patient, and humble man who loved his family, Freddie Gene Ferrell was born April 11, 1941 at Sugar Mountain in Caney, Oklahoma, and was the eldest of 7 children. He passed away in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on June 2, 2020 after a lengthy illness and was greeted in heaven by the love of his life, his wife Glema Lowee Ferrell, his parents Sam and Louella (Sanders) Ferrell,and his sister Susie Ferrell.

Left to celebrate his life are his son Freddie Gene Ferrell, Jr, and grandchildren Sarah Anne Ferrell, Hannah McKenzie Ferrell and grandson Cooper James Ferrell all of Tahlequah, as well as his brothers Jimmy Ferrell and Roy “Bud” Ferrell, and sisters Leona Ferrell, Alene Eddings, Linda Faye Pritchett, and extended family and friends.

Gene attended elementary school at Caney School in Cherokee County and graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1959. Gene established F&F Carpet Installation and successfully managed a 50 year career in residential and commercial floor covering in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was recognized by Sears & Roebuck as their National Flooring Installer of the Year.

On April 14th, 1962, Gene married Glema Lowee Ferrell and the two were devoted to each other for 57 years. Their only child Freddie Jr. was the main focus of their lives. Always eager to be in his son’s life, Gene volunteered numerous years coaching little league baseball and loved to take him deer hunting and fishing. Gene and Lowee were extremely proud of their grandchildren, never missing a soccer, softball, baseball or basketball game, dance recital or any other school event. The grandkids made their life complete and they loved them with all their hearts. Gene took great pride in teaching his grandkids about Cherokee traditions, especially cornstalk shooting.

A founding member of the Cherokee Cornstalk Society, Gene never wanted to miss a bow shoot. He was a master Cherokee bowyer and also a talented blacksmith making cornstalk points and gigs. Some of his fondest memories came from hanging out with the “guys” at the bow shoots. Cherokee Nation’s Community Games can be directly attributed to Gene. His suggestions and actions to implement a cornstalk shoot and blow gun event at the Bell Pow Wow is what started it all. Gene was also an avid deer hunter and fisherman. Life was always good when he was bow hunting on Sugar Mountain or wading Caney & Baron Fork creek catching brownies. He loved horses, raising cattle and living a ranching lifestyle.

Gene was just a genuinely good guy who never complained about work and demonstrated compassion and humility to all people. He had a smile that could light up a room and his dark eyes were always twinkly...Or mischievous as mom would say! J The world needs more people like Gene, and our community was a better place with him living here.