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TAHLEQUAH — Services for John Ann Gritts will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, at Elm Tree Baptist Church in Tahlequah, with Rev. Robert Hogner officiating. Interment will follow at Pumpkin Center Cemetery.
A wake will be held at the home at 23323 E. 758 Road, in Tahlequah, on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010.
John Ann "Boonie" (Reese) Gritts was born in Cherokee County on Jan. 18, 1942, to George Reese and Bessie (Dreadfulwater) Reese. She grew up in Pumpkin Hollow and worked in Decatur, Ark., for 16 years. She was blessed with four children.
Boonie married Charles "C.D." Gritts in January of 1981, and they made their home in Briggs. She spent her later years as a child care provider for her grandchildren. She loved spending all her time with her family. Most of her summer days were spent on the Illinois River.
Boonie was a member of Cedar Tree Baptist Church, but she attended Trinity Baptist Church until health complications made it to difficult to attend.
John Ann passed away peacefully at her home on Nov. 18, 2010, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters. Frances Fields and Mary Ummerteskee; nephews, Larry and Thomas Fields, and Rance Smith; one niece, Debra Ummerteskee; and a stepdaughter, Darlene Deckard
Left to cherish the memories of John Ann include her beloved husband of 30 years, Charles Gritts, of the home; her son, Frank Reese and friend Amy Colburn; three daughters, Janet Hambleton and husband Mark of Tahlequah, Gay Lynn Vann and husband Pancho Fuentes of Briggs, and Angela (Gritts) Paz and husband Juan of the home; stepgrandson Rocky Gritts, whom she raised as a son; three sisters, Georgia "Seletha" Hogner and husband Robert of Briggs, Norma "Hobby" Yahola of Woodall, and Juanita "Heavy" Wacoche and husband Alex of Woodall; two brothers, James "Joe" Reese and wife Pat of Woodall, and George "Sooner" Reese of Briggs; 20 grandchildren, Samantha Jackson, Dustin Reese, Kirk "Hog" Reese, Kelly "Doo" Reese Shannon "Pooter" Reese, and Robin "Hootie" Reese, Marisa "Rissa" Hambleton, and Matthew "Chooge" Hambleton, Shawna Reese, Nathan and Ricky Deckard, Junior "Pete" Fuentes, Travis Fuentes, Zachary Fuentes, Sierra Gritts, Jose "Fat Boy" Paz, Jacob "Jake" Paz, Adrian "Andy" Paz, Bessie Paz, and Silas Gritts; 11 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and countless friends and loved ones. John Ann will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her.
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