Billy Ray "Cherokee Warrior" Turtle

© Reed-Culver Funeral Home, Tahlequah, OK
February 16, 2014
Submitted by: Annajo Cantrell Limore

Watts, OK - Funeral services for Billy Ray "Cherokee Warrior" Turtle, will be held on Friday, February 21st, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Souls Harbor Church in Chewy, Oklahoma with Adam Turtle and Pastor Vencie Hilderbrand officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 20th, 2014 at Reed-Culver Funeral Home from noon until 7:00 PM. Interment will be held at Chewy Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for his family at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Billy include Waylon Davis, Brad Davis, Chooge Proctor, Brush Loco, Bub Turtle, and Casey Crittenden. Honorary pallbearers are Mitch Chewey, Gary Manning, Joel Sands, Kody Brough, and his grandchildren, the Hunting Club, and Russell & Perry VanBuskirk.

Billy Ray Turtle was born on April 6th, 1954 in Drumwright, Oklahoma, the son of William and Della Mae (Kelly) Turtle.

He finished school and began working as both a carpenter and a rancher. He was an avid outdoors man. He never gave up the opportunity to do a little hunting, especially deer and hog, and loved to spend a day at the water, fishing with friends and family. There was nothing better than riding horses and spending time working his cattle. The most important thing to Cherokee Warrior was the time he spent teaching his children and grandchildren the important things of life. He always had time to tell them a story or to share a cold drink and a laugh or two.

A Christian by faith, Cherokee Warrior was a Baptist. Cherokee Warrior's health began to fail him and he was no longer able to work at the pace he had. He enjoyed spending his final days in the company of the family he held so dear.

He went home to his eternal rest on February 16th, 2014 in Tahlequah, OK. He was 59 years old. He will be missed for all the love and support he showed his family and friends while on earth.

Billy is proceeding in death by his mother and father.

Those left to cherish his memory include two sons, Adam Turtle and wife Tammy of Moorehaven, FL and Jack W. Turtle of Brighton, FL; and two daughters, Melanie Turtle and husband Osceola Billie of Big Cypress, FL and Jessica Turtle of Hollywood, FL. He also leaves three brothers, Paul Turtle of Proctor, OK, TJ Turtle and Dean Turtle both of Chewey, OK; one sister, Phyllis Turtle also of Chewey, OK. His legacy lives on in his fifteen grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.