Russell F. "Frank" Powell

Russell Francis Powell, 71 of Muskogee, passed away Wednesday evening, December 30, 2015. He was born July 21, 1944, in Cherokee, North Carolina, to Homer Holmes and Fannie (Oocumma) Powell. He grew up and attended schools in North Carolina and graduated with the class of 1963 from Chilocco Indian School. After graduation, he enlisted with the Army National Guard and served his country faithfully, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1964. He then attended welding school in Houma, Louisiana. Frank, as his family and friends knew him by, married his best friend, Lucille Quapaw, on November 27, 1968 at the First Indian Baptist Church in Muskogee, OK. They have celebrated over 47 years of marriage together. A welder by trade, Frank worked with American Foundry in Muskogee, OK from 1987 to 1999. He then went to work with Superior Linen Service, working with them until his retirement in September 2011. His hobbies included spending time with family and friends, but especially with his grandkids and great grandchildren. Frank also loved to do wood carving. His family remembers that every January and February, he took them wild onion picking. They enjoyed and loved Frank very much and he will be greatly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, John E. Oocumma, Richard Holmes Powell, Joseph Powell, Phillip Eugene Powell; and his sister, Jean Powell. Frank is survived by his wife, Lucille of the home; his daughter, Marta Lynn Powell-Starr of Muskogee; his sisters, Sarah Anne Powell-Bradley and Sarah Lynn Powell of Cherokee, NC; his brother, Jackie Powell of Cherokee, NC; his grandchildren, Eric A. Starr of Gainesville, TX, Brittny A. Bell and husband Keith of Fort Gibson, OK, Cheyenne A. Chalakee, Autumn M. Chalakee, Winter T.S. Chalakee, Spring S. Chalakee, Seneca D. Chalakee, and Dakota G. Chalakee all of Muskogee, OK; two great grandsons and three great granddaughters; four nieces, four nephews, five great nieces, three great nephews and many other family members and friends. A celebration of Frank’s life will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 4, 2016, at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Dry officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Robert Chalakee, Keith Bell, Jerry Dry, Leroy Soap, Bill Bailey, and Victor Wildcat. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Starr, Winter Chalakee and Dakota Chalakee. Interment will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Muskogee, OK. Funeral services are under the direction of Cornerstone Funeral Home, 1830 N. York Street, Muskogee, OK. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.cornerstoneofmuskogee.com.

Russell F. "Frank" Powell

July 21, 1944 - December 30, 2015