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Ahnawake (Wilson) Dawson, 87-year-old resident of Claremore, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. She was born on November 29, 1937, in Vinita to Archie William Wilson and Lena Lanoe (Phillips) Wilson.
Ahnawake graduated from Vinita High School, then went on to college at Lindenwood College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Christian Education.
After college she started working for the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church. She worked at many campgrounds in the state and then moved to Joplin where she was the youth director at First United Methodist Church and then Byers Avenue United Methodist Church.
Ahnawake married Robert Clifton, who was a Joplin Policeman, killed in the line of Duty in 1967.
On June 12, 1970, she married Adolphus Ray Dawson and they moved to California where she was active in the League of Women Voters, worked as a resource specialist at Brookvale Elementary School, and was very active in the Fremont First United Methodist church.
In 1980, the Dawson family moved to Oklahoma.
In 1983, Ahnawake started working for Claremore First United Methodist Church as the Director of Christian Education. She found great joy in working for the church. She was very involved within the local church, as well as at a district and conference level. She served on the Board of Ordained Ministries, and the District Committee on Ministries, along with being a delegate and page for the Oklahoma Annual Conference and the United Methodist Church General Conference held in locations around the US.
Ahnawake had a great passion for working with children and also wanted all children and youth to experience church camp. She helped create Sonshine camp for the Oklahoma Conference so that even the youngest children would have an opportunity to experience camp. Ahnawake was also a board member at Egan Camp and Retreat Center for many years. Camp Egan held a special place in her heart.
Ahnawake loved to talk with people and was very gifted in communicating with others. Her office door was always open and she was never too busy to visit. She touched the lives of many with her open heart and giving spirit. The energy and passion in her desire to live out her faith was never-ending. Ahnawake retired in 2003, but found it hard to stay away, and after a short time became the Director of Senior Adult Ministries. She involved the seniors of the church in many local activities, and also was involved in many mission trips in the US and around the world, Ahnawake was a member of the PEO Chapter BM – Claremore.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Robert Clifton, her parents, Archie and Lena Lanoe “Mrs.” Wilson.
The family includes her husband Ray of the home in Claremore, children, Sacheen Platten and husband Michael of Claremore, Seth Dawson and wife Tina of Aurora, Missouri, a brother, Charles Wilson and wife Connie of Charleston, South Carolina, four grandchildren, Spencer and Bailey Dawson, Preston and Sophia Platten, nieces and nephews, Kimberly and David Kascak and their daughter Sadie, Chaz and Kirstin Wilson, and their children Charley and Elyse, cousin Del Wilson of Tulsa, and many friends who were definitely like family to her.
The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. on January, 2, 2025, at the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel in Vinita.
The graveside service will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Fairview Cemetery in Vinita, with Pastor Ray Crawford officiating.
The celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Claremore First Methodist Church, 1615 N. Hwy 88, Claremore, Ok 74017, with Pastor Ray Crawford officiating.
Online condolences can be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home funeral home Facebook page.
Friends may give to the Claremore First Methodist Church Children’s Ministries or the Egan Camp and Retreat Center in Tahlequah.
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