Harris Cully

Harris Cully, age 87 and a longtime resident of Konawa, Oklahoma passed away Thursday, May 14, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loved ones.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 18th at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Konawa.  Edwin Jimboy and Joe Coon will officiate, and burial will follow at Vamoosa Cemetery.  Casket bearers are R.D. Coody, Stanley Coody, Darryl Chosa, George Tiger, III, Bruce Cully, and Thomas Lindsey.  Honorary bearers are Brandon Cully and Grant Cully.  Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Harris was born in Sasakwa, Oklahoma March 23, 1933 to Sam and Eunice (Bear) Cully.  Mr. Cully had a highly successful career that included serving the military - Army 45th Division and later dedicated himself to the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a guidance counselor, and vocational specialist.  Later, he retired from the Wewoka Agency after thirty-one years of service.  He was a coach of independent Indian basketball teams that were full of young Indian males, and he also left a positive impact on lives of many Indian youth.  He married Elsie June Harjo on November 11, 1960 in Oklahoma City.

He graduated from Northeastern State University with Bachelor’s degree.  After accomplishing his education and career, he then began his most enjoyable years of being a father and grandfather.  Harris enjoyed visiting with family and friends and will be well remembered for his witty jokes and was always able to provide some laughs.  Some activities that he enjoyed were playing golf (trophies to prove it), exercising, and being active.  He would look forward to competing in the Seminole Nation Senior Olympics annually, and was a longtime active member of the “Wewoka IHS walking club.  Throughout his life, Harris attended church, read his Bible, and loved to sing the Seminole and Creek Hymns.  He taught himself to read and to write the Seminole language and was a member of a committee that translated the Bible scriptures into the Seminole language.  Like all native men, he loved to eat, and he loved eating fry-bread and beans!  In May of 2019, Mr. Cully was inducted into the Sequoyah Alumni Association Hall of Fame for recognition of his personal accomplishments and career achievements.

He is survived by one daughter, Connie Cully of Konawa, Oklahoma; one son, Harold Cully of Moore, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Cordell Tebe whom he raised, Chelsa Porter, Masie Cully, Madison Cully and McKenna Cully; sisters, Joyce Cully of Konawa, Leona Chosa of Albuquerque, New Mexico; brothers, Leroy Cully of Spencer, Oklahoma, and Joe Cully of Seminole, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; sisters, Lana Cully, Edith Coody, and Mary Tiger.

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