Service held for Vera Tims
Proverbs 31: 25-26, “Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.” A loving mother, Florence Vera Tims, a full-blood Chickasaw, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at the age of 75. Known as Vera to all her family and friends, she lived in Union Valley, Oklahoma for the past 40+ years with her life partner, loving husband, Lester E. Tims. They spent time traveling together serving as pastor and wife to many Indian Methodist churches across the state.
Vera was born on December 28, 1945, to Andrew Walton and Ida Belle Porter Walton in Allen, Oklahoma. She grew up there and first attending Kullihoma Indian school until 3 rd grade then entering Allen Public Schools as a non-English speaker. She graduated from Allen High School and later studied at Oklahoma City University. For many years, as a Chickasaw first language speaker, she loved introducing the Chickasaw language to young children at the Chickasaw Nation child development center. The job was not “work” to her since she loved it so much. She spent some time teaching a Chickasaw language class at East Central University and assisted other states’ programs in the development of their language projects. Vera was an active member of Johnson Chapel Indian Methodist Church and enjoyed time with church activities and attending gospel singings.
Vera is preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Walton and Ida Belle Walton, and sisters Jean Carnes, Ella Walker, Sina Ogg, Sue Walton, and Belle Harjo.
She is survived by her husband, Lester E. Tims of the home; three daughters, Janice Hixson and husband James Hixson of Oklahoma City, Sharolyn Murphy and husband Jimmy Murphy of Oklahoma City, and Rachel Coon and husband Joseph Coon of Konawa; one brother, HB (Moshie) Walton of Allen; a cousin/sister Pam Holland of Tulsa; eleven grandchildren, Reed Hixson, Miza Hixson, Aubrey Hixson, Taloa Hixson, Himmita Ramsey, Shoney Blake, Jada Murphy, Josh Murphy, Brittany Murphy Pratt, Jalen Coon, and Madison Coon, along with seven great-grandchildren, Kaiya Pratt, Tawnee Murphy, Jael Ramsey, Aiyala Ramsey, Caelan Blake, Niall Blake, and Kieran Blake; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved friends.
Funeral services for Vera were held at 11:00 AM, Friday, February 5th , at the Estes-Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Ada, Oklahoma, with ministers Don Jacob and Tom Moore. Interment followed at Highland Cemetery in Stonewall, Oklahoma.