Dora Rita Bradford

She was born Dora Rita Mouse on February 6, 1933, in the Wickliffe area of Mayes County, Oklahoma, and passed away on January 10, 2025, at her home in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, at the age of 91.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom Bradford Sr., her parents John Mouse and Jane Cabbagehead Six, siblings Eva Chancellor, Tony Mouse, Louie Mouse, Geneva Hogshooter, Bobby John Mouse, Lucinda White, Leona Dry and J.B. Mouse. She was also preceded in death by her sons, Dwight Gene, John Willis Jr., Clay Leon, David and Milton Buffington; as well as a grandson, John Lee Gunter; and great granddaughter, Mia Tanner. 

She leaves behind her brother Richard Littledave of Spavinaw, OK. And her children: Dan Buffington of Claremore, OK, Randy Buffington and wife Lola of Spavinaw, OK, Doreen Breeding of Skiatook, Ok, Sophronia Buffington of Lenepah, OK, Glen Buffington of Strang, OK, Jaqueline Fencer of Jay, OK, James Buffington and wife Lela of Eucha, OK, Connie Melton of Oklahoma City, Mark Buffington of Claremore, OK, and Tom Bradford Jr. of Spavinaw, OK. As well as her 24 grandchildren who have always held their special places in her heart and being; her 30 great grandchildren and 2 great- great grandchildren.

Dora’s life began just less than 2 miles from her final earthly home where she lived for 37 years. It would seem she didn’t go far, but if you could give her an afternoon at her dining room table, you would begin to know that she was indeed a woman of the world. Define “woman of the world”: someone who has a lot of experience of life and people and can deal with most situations; so, says the online Cambridge Dictionary. This definition along with the words, strong, independent, humble, compassionate, helpful and curious may sum it up, but probably not. She was so much in many ways to many different people.

Her elementary education began at Wickliffe school, she would go on to attend Strang school and a short time at Chilocco Indian School. She never did graduate with a high school diploma, but she would see her children one after the other walk across the stage. I don’t think she missed a one. She would continue her own education by the shelves of books she kept and peacefully read at her leisure.

It would be her working career that excelled her talents. Like the family of women she was part of, she made her living as a seamstress. (Although her first career aspiration would have led her to become a nurse in the rehabilitation field—but you would need an afternoon at the table to hear about that.) From the early 1970’s to the late 1980’s her work as a seamstress took her to supervisor status with her first company in Oklahoma City, then a short time working alongside her sisters in Mayes County, and then as the sole seamstress for Warren Ramsey Interiors, creating and dressing the finer homes of Oklahoma City. She was proud of her work, and it showed. If you’d ever been to her home, you’d seen her work was just about in every room.

To say she’d seen the world, would not be accurate, but to see the world through her eyes and to hear her stories of life experiences, you might be in awe. She married young and started her family at the age of 17. Times were hard and to make a living she and her first husband would participate in the Indian Relocation program moving the family to Denver, Colorado, Cleveland, Ohio and Washington state. But home is where the heart is, and they would return to stay in Oklahoma.

It was in Oklahoma City where she would meet her second husband of 24 years and complete her family. In 1987, they would move into their unfinished house, completing it and establishing a beautiful homestead where she loved to garden flowers, grow vegetables and fruits, and raise her animals. She enjoyed caring for her beagle hounds until they faded, then her love of cats took over. Needless to say, she loved nature and animals, and the land she was part of.

The one thing though that was prominent in her, was her love of music. She talked of the times her dad would gather with his buddies and play fiddle and sing early on in her childhood. She talked about going to the square dances with her husband where he would call the dances, and she would dance. Then as that independent woman she became, she enjoyed going to see her favorite country and western entertainers, some you’ll hear today. But her favorite musicians were the closest to her heart, her boys; she would go listen just to be with them when they would gather to play. And at other times you could find her humming as she worked around her house, and sometimes she would just stop what she was doing and sing.

She enjoyed her life, and you could tell. Even through the tough unforeseen times she faced, she was the foundation and the rock we as her family would depend on to be there. We know she is free now of any of the tough times and is looking upon the glory she has always believed in to be there for her. Rest in peace our great and wonderful mother.

Funeral services for Dora will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 17, 2025, in the Shipman's Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Cullus Buck officiating. Interment will follow at the Spavinaw Strang Cemetery with Dwight Buffington Jr., Jonah Breeding, Jonathan Caldwell, Alex Melton, Anthony Buffington, and Wade Buffington serving as casket bearers. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m, Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Shipman's Funeral Home. To leave a message, please visit her guestbook at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.