Wilma Vann

Wilma (Mim) was born December 9, 1935, in Moody, Oklahoma, to Harris Rusty Vann and Jane Chaudoins Vann. She attended Moody School through the 8th grade where she also worked as a janitor. She would go each morning and start the wood fire to warm the building ans she would sweep. She was paid $10.00 a month and used these funds to buy her first saddle.

When Wilma started high school, she moved to Tahlequah and lived with her big sister Wanda and her family. After graduating high school , Wilma attended Northeastern State College. As a student she worked at Ozark Nursery and paid her own way-never having to take out a school loan.

Wilma earned both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Northeastern, and upon graduation took her first teaching job in Navajo, New Mexico. After working there for a year, with her parents aging, she decided to return to Oklahoma. She taught in Inola, Oklahoma for three years.

In 1966, a Recreation Director job opened at Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah. She applied and got the job. During her 18 years at Sequoyah, she held many positions-girls' basketball coach, golf coach, counselor and several other teaching positions. Her last two years of Civil Service work was at Riverside School in Anadarko.

Those rejoicing to see her are her parents, her brother, Watie Vann, sisters, Wanda Harless and Pocahontas Vann, nephew, Dean Harless and niece, Janice Vann Trower.

She is survived by nephew, Joe Harless and his wife Dawn; her niece, Sandra Long and her husband George; foster daughter, Cynthia Thomas Dreadfulwater and husband Dale; and foster grandson, Rusty Thomas and his wife Tasheena; and foster great-grandson, Gavin. Great nephews, Lance Harless, Jesse Harless, Brian Long, Michael Long and great nieces, Lori Harless and Jaime Harless; and of course, her faithful dog, Loki.

Memorial services will be held private by her family.