Dorothy Ellen (Hulse) Walkingstick

The world lost an incredibly strong woman, Dorothy Ellen Hulse Walkingstick, 86, Sunday morning, September 10th, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Porta Caeli Hospice House. Dorothy was born April 19th, 1937, in Wheeler, Arkansas and the youngest daughter of Rosa M. Ratliff Hulse and Russell Charles Hulse. Dorothy graduated from Farmington High School in 1954 and began work as a telephone operator at SW Bell Telephone company. In July 1956, she met her future husband, Ralph E. Walkingstick, and they married on January 25th, 1957, before he started college. Dorothy helped support her husband’s college education by continuing work with SW Bell and through the birth of two daughters. Upon Ralph’s graduation from the University of Arkansas, the young family moved to Dallas, Texas where Ralph began his engineering career. A third daughter was born in 1969 shortly before Ralph accepted a job in Tulsa, Oklahoma and a son was born in 1970. Dorothy continued to care for her growing family and started work for the Jenks Public School System in 1978. She later worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Nursing School at Bacone College in Muskogee. Dorothy was a Camp Fire Girl leader for 15 years, loving the retreats, outdoor cooking, friendships, and fun. Dorothy loved watching and feeding birds, especially hummingbirds. She was a weather watcher all her days and would text her children the latest weather report to make sure that we knew what was going on. She was fiercely independent and self-reliant, a trait she passed on to her children. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was extremely proud of them all. She will be missed by everyone including the local hummingbirds, racoons, deer, stray cats, and probably a possum or two. Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, Russell Charles Hulse and Rosa Mae Hulse (Ratliff); her husband of 58 years, Ralph E. Walkingstick, her sister, Margie I. Ball, and two brothers, Howard Hulse and Harold Hulse. Dorothy leaves behind to cherish her memory three daughters: Tamara Walkingstick and husband Jack Gazin of Yale, OK, Marci Walkingstick and husband Jeff Dixon of Tucson, AZ, Danita Walkingstick Cox of Tahlequah, OK, son, Sean Walkingstick and wife Amy (Smith) of Tulsa, OK and her brother, Doug Hulse and wife Joyce, of Lincoln, Arkansas. She leaves behind seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren plus numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. The family would like to thank the caregivers at The Springs Nursing Center, the Good Shepherd Hospice and especially the caregivers at Porta Caeli House in Tulsa. Donations can be made in her name to the Porta Caili Hospice House or the Humane Society of Cherokee County in Tahlequah. A celebration for Dorothy will be 11AM Monday September 18, 2023, at Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home Chapel in Muskogee, OK with Andy Vargas, Caleb Cook, Zachery Cox, Rob Hulse, Jamie Hulse, and Tim Ball serving as casket bearers, and Brother Justin Kinman officiating. A visitation for Dorothy with family accepting friends 4PM – 6PM Saturday September 16, 2023. The family of Dorothy Walkingstick has entrusted her care and service and burial to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home and Crematory 1020 West Okmulgee, Muskogee, OK 918-910-8883. Online condolences may be left for the Walkingstick family at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh.com

Dorothy Ellen (Hulse) Walkingstick

April 19, 1937 - September 10, 2023