Loretta Votaw

Loretta Nellie Votaw, 79 Loretta Nellie Votaw, longtime Seminole county resident, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2015 at Seminole, Oklahoma at the age of 79. Loretta was born May 28, 1936 in Seminole, Oklahoma to parents John Allen McGirt and Alice (Bean) McGirt. Loretta attended school at Justice, Wewoka and Carr City Schools. Loretta married Essie Nixson Votaw, Jr. on June 3, 1956 in Wolf, Oklahoma they raised six children of their own and one daughter from Loretta’s previous marriage. All of their children graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in Seminole county, Oklahoma. Loretta worked as a Certified nurse’s aide and Certified Medication aide for 17 years working at Maud Nursing Home, Seminole Pioneer nursing home and New Horizon Nursing Home in Konawa, Oklahoma, she also worked as a part-time dispatcher for the Maud Police Department. Loretta also was the JOM Project Manager, CMA and a nursing assistant. She was a member of the High Springs Church of Konawa, Oklahoma. Loretta served on the Johnson O’Malloy Committed and the Oklahoma Indian Rights Association. Loretta is half Creek and half Seminole Indian and is a member of the Rewalke Band. Loretta is survived by three sons; Curtis Votaw of Seminole, Oklahoma, Cecil Votaw and his wife Rebecca of Wolf, Oklahoma, James Votaw and his wife Brenda of Maud, Oklahoma; three daughters, Katherine McGirt of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Ramona Johnson and her husband Ronald of Seminole, Oklahoma and Carol Votaw of Wewoka, Oklahoma; 11 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and a host of great-great grandchildren and a number of nieces, nephews, friends and family. Loretta loved her family and her Lord. She would always pray for them everyday. She was surrounded by her family, when she went to be with her Lord and Savior. Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, John and Alice McGirt; husband, Essie N. Votaw, Jr.; one son, Charles Votaw; one daughter, Lucy Fisher; one grandson, Christopher Harjo; two brothers, Issac Foster, George Walker and two sisters, Geneva Jones and Dianne Notah. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 30, 2015 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Houston Tiger and J.C. Simpson officiating. Burial will take place at Wolf Cemetery, Seminole county, Oklahoma. Wake services will be held Sunday, November 29, 2015 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The family would like to express their appreciation to all the staff of Pioneer Nursing Home for the care they gave their mother, also all the physicians that took care of her. The Faith Hospice nurses and the Seminole Hospital. God bless each of you. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: November 30, 2015, 1:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips, Seminole, OK 74868