Darlene Phillips Tyler

Darlene Tyler A beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend has left this worldly place to seek Heaven’s greater treasures. August 10th, 1938 was the day Ahama and Kahorkah Phillips changed the world for good and welcomed their precious daughter, Darlene. This Creek speaking Cherokee was raised in Gore, OK and spent most of her dedicated time helping take care of the family garden and most of her leisure time getting into mischief with her cousins Sally and Nancy. When Darlene was 16, she decided she wanted a life of her own and married Leonard Tyler, bought a lot on the backside of the malt shop in Braggs, Oklahoma and made that their home. Shortly after they welcomed five beautiful daughters all known around their small town as “The Tyler Sisters.” Darlene spent most of her life as a mother to all, raising and caring for extended family. She was famously known for her chicken and dumplins’ and fry bread but she really shined her brightest as a Granny. Her proudest moments and most of her stories were bragging on her grandkids and about the times she spent with her great grandkids. She was the most selfless woman who never stopped showing love and support to any of her family members no matter the circumstances, and was always the one to call if you just wanted to talk, and a bonus if you called and could speak in Creek. She was the backbone of our family and defeated all odds that stood against her. She proved how stubborn and strong she was one more time and passed away peacefully in her own home, surrounded by family on August 11, 2021, just one day after turning 83 years old. A world without our sweet mother and grandmother is one we never wanted to imagine, but we find comfort in knowing she was welcomed with open arms at the gates of heaven by other family members that she has longed to see. She was preceded in death by her mother, Kahorkah Phillips; father, Ahama Phillips; spouse, Leonard Tyler; daughters, Myra Tyler and Terri Terrell; grandson, Dustin Morgan; great-grandson, Dylan Terrell; sisters, Polly Phillips and Emma Deerinwater; and niece, Martha Millet. Darlene is survived by her daughters, Polly Tyler of Tahlequah, Cindy Tyler and Lisa Tyler of Braggs; sons-in-Law, David Morgan of Fort Gibson and Doyle Butch Terrell of Gore; grandkids, Phillip Terrell and kids Ethan and Aisha, Jarrod and Tiffany Bowley and sons Jaxon, Kasen, and Laken, Myrinda Morgan and daughter Aubri and niece Andria, Matt and Kaniowah Hare and daughters Matison and Hillary, Scotty and Logan Woodard and sons Adrian and Cameron, Jessica Terrell, Garrett Tyler, Jordon and Cherokee Burkhalter and daughters Mya and River, Kaycee Igert, Rianne Campbell and daughter Harper; nephews, Charlie and Sharron Deerinwater, Louie Deerinwater, and Ray and Renee Deerinwater; niece, Anna Lou Craft; great nieces, Rhonda Daniel, Bonnie and Shane Cook, Kay Romero, and JoLynn Moreno; and numerous great nieces and nephews; along with other family members. Funeral services celebrating Darlene’s life will be 10AM, Friday, August 13, 2021 at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Charlie Deerinwater Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Tyler Cemetery in Braggs, Oklahoma with Scotty Woodard, Garrett Tyler, Jarrod Bowley, Phillip Terrell, Matt Hare, and Jordon Burkhalter serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Adrian Woodard, Cameron Woodard, Louie Deerinwater, Ray Deerinwater, Charlie Deerinwater Jr., Shane Cook, and Butch Terrell.

Darlene Phillips Tyler

August 10, 1938 - August 11, 2021