Willa Earlene Marts

Willa Earlene Marts, 87, of Checotah, Oklahoma, passed away on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the Checotah Nursing Center. Earlene was born on October 8, 1935, in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, the daughter of Auzie Holmes and Sadie Chloera (Ryals) Hunter. When growing up on the farm near Bernice, Oklahoma, Earlene loved to take care of all the farm animals the family had. She preferred to spend her time outdoors as much as possible.

She attended Cleora High School and graduated in 1953. She attended one semester of college at Northeastern A & M College in Miami, Oklahoma. She became very unhappy there and decided to quit college. Soon after that, Earlene married a man named David Marts. They lived most of their marriage in DeQueen, Arkansas. To this union, three sons were born: Howard Wayne Marts, Gregory Allen Marts, and Stephen Marts. David preceded her in death.

After David died, Earlene met Lawrence, a really nice man from Missouri. Earlene and Lawrence loved to travel, especially in the wintertime where they would go to Mission, Texas. They enjoyed meeting and being with all the other snowbirds, who would make their way down to the border town. After Lawrence died, Earlene went through some training and became a Job Coach for disabled young adults. That seemed to give her some purpose in life at the time. But not long after that, Earlene met and dated for a few months and then married Milton Tupper. He was a farmer from Nebraska. That marriage only lasted a few years.

Earlene was a member of the Cherokee Nation tribe. Earlene's grandmother, Mary Jane Thompson Ryals, at age 6 years old along with her family, traveled on the "Trail of Tears" from Georgia to Oklahoma. Earlene loved her female Jack Russell dog named Margo. Margo would travel with her everywhere she went. It hit her very hard when Margo passed away. One of Earlene's favorite past times was reading books, magazines and newspapers whenever she could. Earlene also had the gift of gab. She loved talking about old and current events with family and friends. She was always very comfortable striking up a conversation with anyone she met in public.

Earlene is survived by one sister, Imogene, son, Howard W. Marts and wife Glenna, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands David Marts and Milton Tupper, three brothers, Travis Hunter, Dean Hunter and Dwight L. Hunter, who died at 9 years old, and a sister Glenda, a sister-in-law, Mary Hunter, brother- in- law, Charlie Hamilton, and two sons, Gregory and Stephen.

Rest in peace Earlene, until we see you again. She is probably having a wonderful family reunion in Heaven.