Wanda Frances Grace's Obituary
Wanda Frances Morgan Grace was born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1921. A funny story about her arrival into the world is that her birth certificate reads Saturday, March 26th, because the doctor filled out the paperwork before he came. Apparently he expected her to be born on Saturday and forgot to change it on the certificate. She was born in a little farmhouse in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma on the land her mother had received for being a member of the Cherokee Nation from the Dawes Commission allotments. Wanda was very proud to be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.Wanda attended Webbers Falls public schools. While in high school she played basketball and sang in the glee club before graduating in 1939. She eventually left Webbers Falls and moved to Tulsa where she met and married Paul Grace. Wanda and Paul ran a store, a laundry, and eventually a trucking business called ABC Trucking and later on Paul Grace Trucking. They moved around a lot in the early years of the business before eventually opening a joint sand and trucking company on the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa where the River Spirit Casino now sits. Many construction company owners knew of and utilized Grace Sand Company. She and Paul were much respected for having good business sense.Wanda and Paul were fortunate to retire and travel the country in a motorhome. They would spend winters in Mexico, summers in Canada, and travel all the states in between. The only states they missed were Alaska, New Hampshire, and Maine.When not traveling, Wanda enjoyed fishing at local and regional lakes. In her spare time she liked to bowl, sew, read, play games, and listen to music. She was a longtime member of Glenwood Baptist Church and later Jenks First Baptist Church. She was very active in her church community.Wanda was preceded in death by her son Don, her husband Paul, and her parents Fowler and Susie Morgan. She was also preceded in death by her sister Geraldine Morgan Lacey and her brother Billy Thomas Morgan.She is survived by her daughter Lucy Murphy of Glenpool and son David Grace and wife Vicki of Ketchum. She is also survived by granddaughters Vicki Gwartney and husband Tim of Glenpool; Monica Webb and husband Todd of Jenks; Mandy Grace and husband Robyn Wagstaff of Pukalani, Hawaii; and Melissa Smith and husband Seth of Tulsa.Wanda is also survived by great grandchildren: Brad Gwartney and wife June of Tallahassee, Florida; Chad Gwartney and wife Wendi of Glenpool; Ashley Ross and husband Ronnie of Checotah; Zander Wagstaff and Lilly Wagstaff of Pukalani, Hawaii; and Ryker Smith and Sadie Smith of Tulsa. Also great-great grandchildren: Lydia Gwartney and William Gwartney of Tallahassee, Florida; Austin Gwartney of Glenpool and step-great great granddaughter Brooklyn Ross of Checotah. She is also remembered by her life-long friend Rita Sanseverino. Wanda also leaves behind a great number of family, extended family, and friends.Honorary pallbearers are Dewey Gillham, Brad Gwartney, Chad Gwartney, Tim Gwartney, Jerald Lacey, Seth Smith, and Todd Webb.In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate in Wanda’s memory to Animal Rescue Foundation-Tulsa (www.arftulsa.org for donation information) or your favorite charity.Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Floral Haven Funeral Home from 2 pm to 8 pm with family to greet friends from 6 pm to 8 pm. Wanda’s Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 pm, June 10, 2015 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
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