Florence Wanda Sanders Queenan

Funeral Services for Wanda Queenan, 91, Clinton resident will be held 10:00 Tuesday, August 26,2014 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latte-Day-Saints, officiated by Bishop Dan Turner. Burial will follow in the Elk City Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee funeral Home. Florence Wanda Sanders Queenan was bom August 30, 1922 in Cherokee, Oklahoma to Cyrus B. and Florence Mae (Tharp) Sanders and passed from this life on August 23,2014 in Clinton, Oklahoma. Wanda was the 5th daughter in a family of 7 girls. Her family moved frequently during her life as did many families during this era we call the Depression. Following her birth in Cherokee, the family lived many different places in western Oklahoma: Hext, Ocina and Willow to name a few. Cyrus sharecropped, working for various farmers during Wanda's early childhood. Florence was known to say, " We may not have had much, but we were always clean and made sure our girls had something to eat and clothes on their backs." Wanda played outside and pretended she was a cowboy riding on the open range. She loved being outdoors and watching the cloud shapes in the sky. This would soon give way to a favorite pastime of reading which would become one of her greatest pleasures in life. During the 1930's Cyrus moved his wife and four youngest daughters to Arkansas; the first two girls having been married and remaining in Oklahoma to start their own families. Wanda's fourth sister Grace Roseanne had been stillborn due to the influenza epidemic of 1918 that was rampant from US troops returning from WWI. Arkansas was always a happy memory to Wanda. Life in Arkansas was a huge adventure of which her children never tired hearing. She would later read the works of Gene Stratton Porter who was a author that set her stories in beautiful country locales reminiscent of Wanda's experiences in Arkansas. Wanda was her father's closest thing to a son, she loved to work with him and preferred outside work all of her life. She even helped her father build a log cabin in Arkansas. While living there the family was contacted by missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. After having been converted to the faith Cyrus and his three daughters were baptized. Florence was ill and could not be be baptized in Arkansas and was baptized later in a farm tank near Erick, upon their return to western Oklahoma. Wanda moved next to Carter, Oklahoma graduating from high school there in 1942. It would be later that same year that Wanda met and married Maurice "Reese" Grattan Queenan while working as a waitress at Bill's Lunchroom in Elk City. Reese was of early day Elk City settlers and the young couple made their home in Elk City. August 27th, 1944 they became parents of a daughter, Tonia Lou. They lived in downtown Elk City in the upstairs part of Reese's grandfather's furniture store/mortuary. Wanda and Reese began trading with the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes in the area and selling from the downtown building. Around 1946 they built Queenan's Indian Trading Post located west of town on old Rt. 66. The exciting life that emerged from this business is more than can be imagined. The friendships forged with the members of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribes were priceless and continue to this day. Wanda, Reese and Tonia made trips "out west" to New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, even as far as Needles, California doing business with the Navajo and Pueblo people and numerous traders. Swapping the handmade treasures of the Oklahoma tribes for those of the Navajo and Pueblo tribes. Moccasins and all kinds of beadwork as well as all kinds of artwork from Oklahoma for the prized turquoise and silver jewelry, woven rugs and baskets of the tribes of New Mexico and Arizona. All up and down the Mother Road they went meeting people and making a good living while Cyrus and Florence held down the Trading Post as well as their Cider Stand- as their cold drink stand was known next door. On September 5th, 1960 Wanda, Reese and Tonia welcomed daughter Sandra Lynn into the family. Life was going along well, but a huge change was coming. In 1962 Reese was admitted to the hospital by his friend and family doctor. L.V. Baker, Sr. With the diagnosis of a bleeding ulcer. Ultimately, Reese suffered a heart attack and passed August 25th of 1962. Plunging Wanda into the new life of widow. Wanda perservered running the store and raising her girls. Her parents living next door was a blessing, they helped out with Sandra. Wanda provided for both of her girls educations. Incidentally out out of Wanda's children and Grandchildren there are four bachelor's degrees and 3 master's degrees and an ongoing degree in Nursing with a 4.0 average! In 1979 after 1-40 had crushed the years of Rt. 66, Wanda took a job at the Old Town Museum and later moved to the Rt. 66 Museum on the complex working full time until she was overcome with CHF in February resigning from her position in 2014 at the age of 91. The last six months have been bittersweet and moments together have brought peace and even more of an understanding of unconditional love. Wanda never seemed to think she accomplished that much. She is only an icon of the Mother Road, friend of historian Michael Wallis who has written many books and filmed documentaries of Rt. 66 which have included Wanda, She is the character of Lizzie in Cars. John Lasseter Pixar Director has consulted Wanda for her views and life story on the Mother Road; look at the end of the credits, you'll see her name there! If you Google her, there's her picture. Look at the museum grounds you will see the two giant totem poles Myrtle and Yatahey (aka Don't Shoot Me, I'll Marry your daughter) that once stood proudly on the grounds of the trading post. They were purchased by the city of Elk City when the Route 66 museum was coming to fruition. Myrtle is an international celebrity along with Wanda who has been interviewed by International and National organizations extensively. The most important part of her life was her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day-Saints (Mormon/LDS). She has always been a steadfast member, bearing her Testimony and encouraging others to be dedicated to the faith. She raised two daughters in the Church who married wonderful husbands ("the boys" as she called them)who both took their priesthood duties they held seriously and loved her daughters. She has held many callings during her life as Sunday School teacher, song leader, Relief Society President, just to name a few. The Gospel has always been her heart. She has been preserved on so many occasions by a loving Heavenly Father and His precious Son, Jesus Christ as well as a host of Angels that most certainly adored her. We thank our Lord every day for her. As Tonia said, " We could have never asked for a better mother." Wanda leaves behind, Daughters: Tonia and husband Dan Turner and Sandra Wright and the late Andrew Wright all of Clinton, Granddaughter: Jordan Mosby of Cordell, Grandsons: Jason Turner of Elk City and Christian Wright of Weatherford, Nephew: Bill and wife Elaine Burk of Elk City, Like a son: Brent and wife Nancy Baker of Elk City. Three Great Grandchildren: Joey, Gunner and Bridgette Mosby of Cordell. A host of nieces and nephews scattered across the west coast, and many, many friends, including the horse in her life: High IQT "Cutie". Wanda is preceded in death by her husband: Reese Queenan: Her parents: Cyrus and Florence Sanders. Her sisters: Agnes Watson, Euretha Watson, Vona Love, Grace Sanders, Guinevere Gardner and Peggy Burk and each of their respective husbands. Son-law: Andrew Wright and beloved fiirbaby: Mocha We would like to thank Doctors: Nicholas Twidale, Robert Wood, Mohammad Ghani, Brian Bluth, Robert Blakebum, William Tordzro and the ER Staff and floor staff of Integris Regional- Clinton, the Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Shepherd Home Health, Mike's Medical, Mandy Parkhurst hairstylist, the beautiful delivery girls of Salisbury Pharmacy and last but not least the wonderful, caring staff of Grace/Bridges Skilled nursing. All of these good people helped us with totally professional care and respect. And when someone takes care of our Mama, You have to be the best. Quote from JACK starring Robin Williams- I don't have very much time these days so I'll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. Please, don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you're ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day... make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did.