Willie Jo (Mitchell) Suddath was born June 30, 1949 in Wagoner, Oklahoma to Carl Willard and Mildred (Shorty) Mitchell.  She grew up on a working cattle ranch where she and her siblings worked alongside their parents with whatever was needed to be done.  This learned work ethic and Willie's caring nature were expressed in her professional career as a registered nurse for forty years.  Willie specialized in emergency room nursing.  She was employed at the Wagoner Community Hospital for fifteen years.  After that, she and her husband, Jim, also in the health care industry, travelled in their work to many locations.  She was employed at St. John Medical Center where she worked in oncology, and numerous other settings, including Tulsa Regional Medical Center, Rio Grande in McAllen, TX, Hastings in Tahlequah, Taft in Muskogee, the Zuni Indian Reservation in New Mexico, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Pasco, Washington.  She later worked in home health care.

Willie's Cherokee Nation heritage led her to study many of the Native American Nations and their history from all over the country.  She enjoyed so many hobbies; she had a creative talent that found expression in many kinds of crafts, including the designing of silver and turquoise jewelry as well as jewelry with other precious gems.  She was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed sewing all kinds of things, including clothes for her family.  Willie's family has many wonderful memories, in particular her great sense of humor.

Willie Jo departed this life early Saturday, December 26, 2015 at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Mildred Mitchell, and her mother-in-law, Bertha Esther Suddath.

Her loving family will miss her dearly.  They include her husband, James Edwin Suddath of Wagoner; a son, Willard Lee Kendall and his children, Codi Kendall, Bethany Kendall and  Cheyenne Kendall; two daughters and their families:  Tammy Widener and husband, Brad, their children, Amber Kendall and Laura Ashley Brown; Sarah Brown and husband, Rich, and their children, Mekhaila Kendall, Alexandria Canoy, Christian Joel Canoy, and Brendan Canoy; five great-grandchildren and two on the way; also, a sister, Anita Kay Carey; a brother, Johnny Mitchell; many other relatives and friends.

A Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Monday evening at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner, Oklahoma.

The Funeral Service will be at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Mallett Funeral Home Chapel in Wagoner, with the Reverend Will Smith officiating.

Interment will be Tuesday at Noon at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.  Pallbearers will be C.J. Canoy, Brendan Canoy, Codi Kendall, Brad Widener, Rich Brown, and Jason Johnson.