Richard Lee Vann Sr. departed this life on Monday, December 6, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 82 years. No services are planned at this time.

Richard was born on July 14, 1939 in Arkansas City, Kansas. In addition to attending elementary school in Arkansas City, he went to fifth and eighth grades at the public school on the campus of Chilocco Indian Agricultural School where his father and stepmother were teachers. In 1957, he was one of 13 students who were the last high school class to graduate from Bacone in Muskogee, Oklahoma before it became all college classes. After high school graduation, he went on to serve for nearly five years in the United States Army and National Reserves. He then began working in construction and manufacturing as a general laborer, mainly doing roofing and carpentry work.

Richard was known as "Chief" to many friends and was a proud member of the Cherokee Nation. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing and camping. He also liked reading western, military and general history books and solving Sudoku puzzles. He was also a talented artist.

Richard was a supporter of his favorite teams, no matter which sport was being played. He loved to cheer for the Wagoner Bulldogs, OU Sooners, OSU Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs, but his greatest joy came from being a grandpa.

Richard was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Josiah and Zelma Vann; mother and stepfather, Mildred and Robert Miles; sister and brother-in-law, Beverly and Wayne Pool; brother-in-law, Richard Sparks; his former wife, Betty Vann; son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Michelle Underkofler; daughters, Patty Spaulding and Nancy McConnell; grandsons, Garret McConnell and Ashton Ladd; nephews, James "Bubby" Sparks and Brian Bridges; and cousin, Phyllis Begay.

Those left to cherish Richard's memory are a son, Richard Ladd Jr.; son, Rick Vann Jr.; daughter-in-law, Cra Bennitt all of Wagoner; seven grandchildren, K.B., Nathan, Tara, Randy, Amanda, Avery and Brooks; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Cynthia Sparks of Arkansas City, Kansas; many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.