Reba H. Shunkey

Reba Helen Vaughn Shunkey was born May 22, 1926, to Owen T. Vaughn and Ida E. Bradley in Milton, Oklahoma. She was one of 6 children and the oldest daughter. Reba grew up in Bokoshe, Oklahoma and graduated from high school there. Reba moved to Tulsa after high school to work at McDonald Douglas during WWII. She later moved to Muskogee and met Carl Homer Shunkey when he was a customer where she worked at Purity Drug Store. Reba and Carl married in 1947 and were married 26 years. They had one daughter, Carla Sue Shunkey Dunlap. After being a stay at home mother for many years, Reba became a beautician and enjoyed her time with her customers and friends. With the death of her husband Carl, in 1974, Reba began her favorite job, babysitting her only grandchild, Sarah A. Dunlap Dennis, for several years. She eventually opened and operated Miss Abigail’s Dress Shop for 3 years. Reba went to Connors State College and took classes in accounting, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She later entered the mortgage lending business working at Modern American Mortgage, Phoenix Federal Savings and Loan, Victor Savings, and Commercial Bank. After retiring from lending, Reba was instrumental in helping her son-in-law, Gary A. Dunlap, start his own real estate company that is now RE/MAX of Muskogee. She obtained her real estate license and worked as a sales associate, office manager, secretary, and bookkeeper at RE/MAX for over 20 years. Reba’s family was the most important aspect of her life. She helped care for and raise her granddaughter, Sarah, and great-grandchildren, Jacob and Haley, who filled her life with joy. Reba was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Ida Vaughn; her husband, Carl H. Shunkey; brothers, Norman Vaughn, William Vaughn and his wife Wilma; and brother-in-law, Jewel Gamble. Left to celebrate her life are her daughter, Carla Shunkey Dunlap and husband Gary; granddaughter, Sarah Dunlap Dennis; grandchildren, Jacob Hartman and Haley Dennis, all of Muskogee; sisters, Thelma Gamble and Jean Hammond of Texas, Margaret Barnett of Muskogee; and many nieces and nephews, all of which loved “Nonnie” very much. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 218 N 6th St, Muskogee, OK, 74401. The family will receive friends from 2-4PM, Sunday, October 6, 2019 at Cornerstone Funeral Home. Reba’s life will be celebrated at 2PM, Monday, October 7, 2019 at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bob Wickizer officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.

Reba H. Shunkey

May 22, 1926 - September 30, 2019