Briartown Cemetery

Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Richard & Lucy E. West

photo © Sue Tolbert

written & © by Cookie

Lucy Ella West

July 27, 1904 ~ February 22, 2005

CENTENARIAN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My dear Aunt Lucy -

Lucy Ella West was the first born and only daughter of Richard West and Mattie Vandalee Jones. She was the granddaughter of Franklin Pierce West, noted Indian Police Officer killed in the line of duty in a gunfight with Sam Starr who also died, and his wife Nancy Ella Brewer.

Lucy was our family historian and genealogy expert. She helped people who wanted to trace their roots to Nancy Ward/Nanyehi. Lucy was 1/4th Cherokee and very proud of her heritage. Dawes Roll #1350M, Miller Roll #28901. She was honored as one of the last 10 surviving original enrollees in a parade during the Cherokee Festivals' 50th anniversary in 2002 in Tahlequah.

Lucy served as the last postmistress of the Briartown Post Office before it closed in 1967. She had previously worked as a nanny for a child in Muskogee. Lucy was an accomplished seamstress. She made quilts, dolls, clothing, crocheted doilies and afghans & sock monkeys. She had a fruit and vegetable garden & canned homemade jams and jellies. She also had a beautiful flower garden and was very proud of it!

Her family honored her with a 100th birthday reception on July 24, 2004. We had asked that people from around the area send her birthday cards so she could receive 100 cards for her 100th birthday. Oklahomans are so kind-hearted that she received over 800 cards from all over Oklahoma! She also received quite a few from California, Texas, Missouri, Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

Lucy was fortunate to have been able to visit the Arizona WWII Memorial in Hawaii and the Holy Land in the 1970's. She had always wanted to meet Billy Graham & was finally able to at a crusade in San Antonio in 1994.

Lucy passed away on February 22, 2005 at home, where she wanted to be when she passed. Her father had also passed away at the home.

We love you Lucy! 

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