Johnnie Backwater

Johnnie Dewayne Backwater, 69, of Kenwood, passed away on Friday, March 9, 2018 in Tulsa. He was born on May 31, 1948 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma; the son of Leroy Backwater, Sr. and Polly (Johnson) Backwater. Johnnie worked most of his life at Heston as a machinist. He married Sally Ballou on December 22, 1982 and were married for 35 years. Johnnie had a passion for helping people, he started the Kenwood Fire Department in 1970 and started the Rural Water Department in Kenwood. Johnnie earned the Sequoyah award from Cherokee Nation for his volunteer service and went to North Carolina to receive his award. He coached basketball teams around the Salina and Kenwood area for many years and, he and Sally ran basketball tournaments in Kenwood many years. He was a member of the Kenwood School Board for many years and was also on the Cherokee Nation Rehabilitation, working to fix the houses around the area. Johnnie was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kenwood and looked forward to attending church services and activities and was a member of the Cherokee Baptist Choir. Johnnie loved the outdoors; especially when he was able to go fishing, hunting and to work in his vegetable garden. Most of all, he loved his family. He cherished each moment he had to spend with his wife, children and grandchildren and enjoyed having family gatherings. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who leaves behind many memories for his family to cherish.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in the Kenwood School Gymnasium with Reverend George Teehee officiating. Burial will follow in the Emmanuel Cemetery with Dennis Phillips, Jarrod Proctor, Ben Backwater, T.J. Scott, Vince Ross, Brad Phillips, Gerald Sapp and Kevin Backwater officiating. Honorary casket bearers will be Anthony Proctor, Dale Scott, Greg Butcher, Anthony Ross, Mike Ross, and Adrian Black. Visitation and wake service will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in the Shipman's Funeral Home Chapel. To leave his family a message, please visit his Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service.

Johnnie is survived by his wife, Sally Backwater of the home; sons, Greg Backwater of Kenwood, Oklahoma, Darrin Budder and wife Nelda of Kenwood, Oklahoma, and Travis Budder and Delaynia Horton of Kenwood, Oklahoma; daughter, Pamela Budder and Anthony Proctor of Kenwood, Oklahoma; sisters, Louann Scott and husband Robert of Kenwood, Oklahoma and Nancy Buckskin of Kenwood, Oklahoma; 7 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Polly Backwater, and brother, Leroy Backwater, Jr. and sisters, Lula Budder and Joann Ross.

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