Soweka Family History & Genealogy

Josephine "Lesta" Soweka, lifelong Henryetta area resident, died October 24, 2004 at Henryetta Medical Center. She was 84 years of age. Josephine was born April 4, 1920 in Hanna, Oklahoma to Jim and Jennie (Deo) Pigeon. She worked as a dry cleaner and was a member of the Ryal Community Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bunnie Soweka, two sisters, Mary Soweka and Lucy Fixico and two brothers, Turner Pigeon and Bennie Pigeon.

Survivors include her daughter, Bonnie Soweka, a son, Chad Hill, both of Henryetta and a brother, John Pigeon of Okeechobee, Florida.

A wake service will be held 7-8 P.M. Tuesday evening at the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home Chapel and 7 P.M. Wednesday evening at the Ryal Community Baptist Church. A funeral service will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, October 28, 2004 at the Ryal Community Baptist Church with Reverend John Tulsa officiating. Interment will follow in the Soweka Cemetery. Casketbearers will be George Hill, Rocky Pigeon, Harry Tulsa, Jimmy King, Bud Soweka, and Chubby Soweka. Arrangements are under the direction of the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee.


OKEMAH - Judy Mae ASBURY was born April 4, 1933. She died November 1, 1991, in Okemah. Wake services were November 3 with funeral services following on November 5 at the Ryal Community Baptist Church. Rev. Robert Jones officiated the service. Pallbearers were George HILL, Lewis TULSA, John Wayne TULSA, Chubby SOWEKA, Richard SOWEKA, and Harry TULSA. Interment was in the Soweka family cemetery.
She was active in church work. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Wysie Scott SOWEKA, and one brother, Jacob SOWEKA. Her survivors include her husband, Willie ASBURY; her son, Norman ASBURY of Tulsa; two brothers, Bunnie SOWEKA and Robert SOWEKA; and two sisters, Billie SCOTT and Alice TULSA, all of the Ryal community.

RYAL - Willie ASBURY was born November 30, 1923, in Eufaula. He died March 5, 1994, in Okmulgee. Funeral services were held March 9 at Ryal Community Church, where he was a member. Officiating the service were Rev. Bunny SOWEKA and Rev. Raymond BEAVER. Interment was in the Soweka Family Cemetery.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the son of Johnson and Hattie Sulphur ASBURY, both deceased. His survivors included his son, Norman ASBURY of Kansas; nieces, nephews and other relatives.


RYAL - Walter TULSA was born November 24, 1928. He died January 24, 1994, at Henryetta Medical Center. Funeral services were held January 28 at Ryal Community Baptist Church, where he was a member. Rev. Bunny SOWEKA and Rev. Eugene HARJO officiated the service. Pallbearers were his nephews. Interment was in the Soweka Family Cemetery.
He was a laborer and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Sallie King TULSA, and a brother, Kenneth TULSA. He married his wife Alice TULSA on June 1, 1954, in Okmulgee. She survives. His other survivors include his four sons, Lewis TULSA and George HILL, both of Henryetta, Harry TULSA of the home, and John TULSA of Glenpool; two sisters, Nora FACTOR of Henryetta, and Katie TULSA of Tulsa; seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

HENRYETTA - George WALKER was born February 15, 1915, on his homestead in Henryetta. He died April 29, 2001, at Hillcrest Medical Center. Funeral services were held May 2, 2001, at Roger's Funeral Home with Rev. John Wayne Tulsa Officiating. Pallbearers were Newman Taylor, Roley Taylor, William Frye, Walter Taylor, Jr., Gary Walker and Tommy Walker. Interment was at the Soweka Cemetery.
He belonged to the Bird Clan and had lived in the Yardeka/Ryal community most of his life. He enjoyed the outdoors, and was dedicated to his family.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Digie and Manda Harjo WALKER, and his wife, Mary TAYLOR; five of his children; two brothers, Robert WALKER and Alex WALKER; and three sisters, Ella TAYLOR, Hepsey FIFE, and Minnie WHITLOW.
He is survived by his son, Barney WALKER, one daughter, Helen WALKER of Henryetta; two grandchildren, Elliot WALKER and Norma WALKER, both of Henryetta; and two great-grandchildren, Jake WALKER and Aaron WALKER, both of Henryetta.

YARDEKA - Jess HARJO was born March 27, 1921, in Paden. He died October 9, 2000, at Hillcrest Medical Center. Wake services were held October 12, followed by Funeral Services on October 13 at Hickory Ground No. 1 Baptist Church with Rev. Mitchell TAYLOR officiating. Burial was a Soweka Cemetery.
He was employed for many years with Page Van Lines in Tulsa.
He was survived by his wife, Darcille HARJO, his three daughters, Helen MURIE of Pawnee, Betty JAKE of Hominy, and Margaret HARJO of Tulsa; his three sons, Billy HARJO ad Reuben HARJO, both of Tulsa, and Bruce FRYE of Henryetta; one sister, Mary Jane BLACK of Pawnee; one brother, Virgil HARJO of Wichita, KS; fourteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.