William "Willie" Joseph Bowlegs

Seminole resident William Joseph Bowlegs passed away Friday, April 8, 2022 in Seminole.  Although he wasn’t in his house, Willie was with his wife, Jo by his side.

Willie, the son of Billy Joe Bowlegs and Georgia (Harjo) Day, was born October 16, 1951 in Wewoka. After graduating from high school, Willie joined the US Marine Corp.  He spent many happy years in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where he made friendships too many to count. On June 10, 2006, he married Jo Chacon at St. Luke’s, in Irving Texas.  According to Jo that date was a long time coming.  They met in Texas, where they were next door neighbors.  She says he and Fernando helped Jo carry boxes up to her new apartment.  She thought he fell for her quickly, but that it took her a while.  Months later she heard a whisper in her ear “give him a chance”, she felt that was a message from God.  So that morning when she saw Willie, she said that she would give them a chance.  He jumped up and said that she had made him the happiest man in the world.  Well God had a plan, because Willie made Jo life happy as well, his love was pure and true and forever.  

Willie loved OU; he loved spoiling his pets, particularly his beloved Florentino; he enjoyed watching westerns; sitting outside on the deck and watching nature pass by; and he was a proud Marine; but nothing was more important to Willie than his family, whom he loved very much.

Willie is survived by his wife, Jo; 10 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; a brother, Kenny Bowlegs; and two sisters, Virginia Cunningham, and Gail Bowlegs.

Preceding death by Billy Joe Bowlegs, Lana Bowlegs, Georgia Harjo, Pete Wolf, Maryann Wolf.

Services will be Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at Swearingen Funeral Chapel in Seminole, with Larry Hawkins officiating.  Interment will follow at the Seminole Nation Cemetery and Veteran’s Memorial.  Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole. Pallbearers are Fernando Evaro, Ben Gravatt, Treven Harjo, Curtis Larney, Bam Martinez, Jesse Martinez, Edward Arevalo.  Honorary pallbearers are Tip Underwood, Curtis Frazier, John Thomas, Randall Blakemore, Herman Hill

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