Rev. Frank Harjo

Rev. Frank Harjo , age 84 and longtime resident of Konawa, Oklahoma passed away at his home January 17, 2022.

Viewing is scheduled for Thursday January 20,  2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home in Konawa.  A small graveside service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.  Friday, January 21st for family members at the Emarthle Family Cemetery.  Rev. Skip Foster of High Springs Church and Rev. Bill Hobia, Jr. will officiate.  Casket bearers are Bruce Douglas, Jeremy Alberson, Chebon Emarthle, James Batman, Afvske Locust and Rick Harjo.  Honorary bearers are Harry Douglas, Thomas Yahola III, David Lankford, Amon Burgess, Danny Tiger, and Billy Alberson.   The family will be taking precautions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  Masks and social distancing will be required.

Rev. Frank Harjo was born on March 13, 1937 in Konawa to Wisey Emarthle.  He attended school in Konawa for a short time and later attended Jones Academy where he made many life-long friends.  He was employed in the dry cleaning business and lived in Oklahoma City for many decades.  Rev. Harjo was a self-taught musician.  He was a guitar player for the gospel singing group, “The Seminole Boys”, and they traveled the nation.  Rev. Harjo was a man of faith, and it was through the gospel singing circuit that he met his wife of  37 years, Liza Bucktrot.  He loved to play the guitar for his wife as she sang the gospel.  He was a longtime Deacon and Sunday School teacher for Cold Springs Church, and on March 19, 2006 he was ordained as their minister by Rev. Wayne Harjo and Rev. Bunny Carpitcher.  He served as the minister of Cold Springs Church until his death.  He was an avid storyteller and shared many stories of family history.  Rev. Harjo was bilingual and was fluent and literate in the Seminole language.  He will be remembered for the love and encouragement that he showed to his family.  Rev. Harjo’s family knew him affectionately as "Puwv", and he always carried bubble gum to pass out to his young nephews and nieces.

He is survived by his wife, Liza Harjo of Henryetta, Oklahoma; one son, Chris Harjo of Tulsa; three grandchildren, Natasha Jamos, Dana Serrano, and Josh Harjo of Idabel, Oklahoma; six great-grandchildren, Jace Serrano, Jeremiah Harjo, Cruz Serrano, Daniella Jamos, Isabella Jamos, and Adriel Serrano; one sister, Lucy Tiger of Tecumseh, Oklahoma; one niece, Cindy Hudson of Konawa; and a host of other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Wisey Emarthle; one son, Wayne Harjo, and three brothers, Eastman Harjo, Leroy Keeno King, and Dave Walter; and two sisters, Emma Jean Harjo and Geneva Douglas.