Nancy Gail Kihega

© Reed-Culver Funeral Home
February 6, 2015
Submitted by: Annajo Cantrell Limore

Funeral services for Nancy Gail Sands- Kihega will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Illinois River Baptist Church on highway 10, with Wayne Forrest "Boolie" officiating. Her Wake service will be held on Monday, February 9th, 2015 beginning at 7:00 PM at the Illinois River Baptist Church. Interment will be held at the Sands Cemetery in Chewey, OK. Online condolences may be left for her family at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Nancy include Skylar Kihega, Joel Sands, Cody Caughman, Steve Sands, Dennis Lamb Jr., and Chris Pickup. Honorary pallbearers include Jason Pickup, Emerson Pickup, Nathan Sands, and Brett Sands.

Nancy Gail Sands-Kihega was born on October 27th, 1942 in Proctor, OK, the daughter of Tom and Nannie (Reese) Sands. Nancy came from a very close and loving family. She attended school at Tahlequah Sequoyah and then began her career as a registered nurse, attending school in Tahlequah and Oklahoma City. She dedicated 45 years of her life to Indian Health Services. She was a dedicated nurse and took great care with the patients entrusted to her care. She completed her career as nursing supervisor over the Medical-Surgical Ward at Claremore IHS. Whenever she wasn't working, Nancy could be found with those she loved most, her family. She raised three sons and one daughter, Lisa, Darrell, Darren, and Kendall. She was happy just to be with her children and grandchildren, supporting their efforts in sports or any activity they chose to participate in. She loved going for rides to see the countryside, going out for a hamburger, or just out to visit with her friends and family. She liked working on the computer or spending the day with her friends. A Christian by faith, Nancy was a Baptist, and was devoted to prayer.

Nancy went to her Eternal Home on Friday, February 6th, 2015 surrounded by her loved ones. Nancy was 72 years old. She will be missed by her family for her unending love, her smile and all the encouragement she gave.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Geraldine Turtle.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Lisa Kihega-Grant and husband James of Ponca City, OK, Darrell Kihega and wife Jamie of Red Rock, OK, Darren Kihega of Claremore, OK and Kendall Kihega also of Claremore. She leaves three brothers and one sister, Floyd "Sonny" Sands of Chewey, OK, David Sands of Chewey, OK, Woodrow "Red" Sands of Chewey, OK, and Charlene "Gaya" Pickup and husband Richard "Duke" of Kenwood, OK. Her legacy lives on in her six grandchildren, Jennifer Tehee and husband Heath, Lauren Lamb, Dennis Lamb, Skylar Kihega and wife Megan, Sierra Kihega, and Shelby Kihega. She also leaves three great grandchildren, Caleb Tehee, Bailey Tehee, and Emalyn Lamb, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.