Lorene Ross

Lorene Ross, 91, of Kenwood, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2022 at her home. She was born on December 21, 1930 in Teresita, Oklahoma; the daughter of Elwood Whittington and Arlene (Levi) Sac. She married Archie Leroy Leaf in 1947 and they were blessed with four children, Fred, Leroy, Sharon and Carolyn. In 1969, Lorene married Stanley Budder of Kenwood, and they married and together were blessed with 4 children as well, Stanley, Melissa, Sheila, and Briana. In 2007, Lorene married Woodrow Ross. Lorene loved her Lord and Savior. She attended Emmanuel Baptist Church with Woodrow and also attended Amazing Grace Church when it was open. She looked forward to spending time outdoors, especially when it came to cutting grass and tinkering in her flower garden. In 1985, she watched children at home and was offered a job at Kenwood Schools to watch the kids there. Lorene became a home health care giver to many Cherokee speaking elders. She spent time on the Tax Commission for the UKB. She loved spending time with family and friends, and having cookouts. In the fall, she would gather hickory nuts to make kanuchi. Lorene enjoyed watching TV and spending time sitting on her porch. She was also writing stories about things God was revealing to her and how her life was growing up as a child and the hardships they faced. She was a strong Christian woman, fluent Cherokee speaker, and was loving and kind to all she met. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 19, 2022 in the Little Rock Indian Baptist Church in Locust Grove with Pastor Doug Bryant and Pastor Greg Fields officiating. Burial will follow in the Little Rock Indian Cemetery with Keith (Bub) Jason, Jr., Brad Davis, Ashton Budder, Brian (Chooge) Proctor, Dakota Jackson, and Rob Chumwalooky serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be Paul Leaf, Bo Leaf, Braydon Thomas, Keelan Davis, TJ Cummings, and Josh Butcher. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Sunday, December 18, 2022 in the Shipman’s Funeral Home Chapel. To leave her family a message, please visit her Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

Lorene is survived by her sons, Leroy Leaf of Salina, Oklahoma and Stanley Budder, Jr., and Rose Lyman of Kenwood, Oklahoma; daughters, Sharon Proctor of Colcord, Oklahoma, Carolyn Chumwalooky of Kenwood, Oklahoma, Sheilah Thomas and husband Brandon of Pryor, Oklahoma, and Briana Lamb and husband Keith of Kenwood, Oklahoma; sisters, Joan Garnett and Ida Sac both of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 19 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, 31 great great grandchildren, ad 7 great great great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Elwood Whittington and Arlene Sac; husbands, Archie Leaf, Stanley Budder, and Woodrow Ross; sons, Baby Boy Leaf and Johnny (Fred) Leaf; daughter, Melissa Budder Davis; son in laws, William Chumwalooky and Dallas Proctor; siblings, Charley Sac, David Sac, Mary Sac, Marlene Sac Tiger, Juanita Sac Rice and Katherine Whittington Alderman; grandsons, Marwin (Boy) Leaf and Wes Proctor; granddaughters, Chassidy Butcher and Layla Leaf; great grandsons, Trifton Wacoche, Rylan Smith, Jordan Proctor and Shanendoah Leaf; and great great great granddaughter, Jovi Backwater.