Tonja Deneece (Nail) Raper

Tonja Deneece (Nail) Raper, 59, was born March 7, 1958 in Muskogee, OK to Ray and Betty (Smith) Nail and entered Heavens Gates on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family. Tonja was a lifelong Fort Gibson resident where she attended school and worked various jobs. Not one to shy away from work, she helped her family in the plumbing business, working at her sister’s gas station, at the local grocery store and working on the line at Griffin Grocery. But her most important job was taking care of her family, friends and especially her son, Jamie. Tonja married William Raper on June 2, 2016 and they made their home in Fort Gibson. She loved to fish and camp. You could always count on Tonja for help with anything. Jamie memories are that mom always told me she loved me to the moon and back and I loved her to the moon and back. She was so good at taking care of people. It didn’t matter what she had going, she would drop everything to help someone in need family, friend and sometimes even strangers. She put up with me playing my drums never once complaining. She always came to my band events and shows, cheering and whistling the whole time. She could whistle louder than anyone I ever knew. I know the loving and caring side of me came from her and I’m so lucky to have gotten that from her. She had more sayings than you could shake a stick at and OH the goofy faces she could make, she was so crazy sometimes. I will never forget how much she loved me and done for me. Love you Mama to the moon and back 4-Ever. Glenda recalls Tonya was a very caring person, I can remember growing up she would always try getting out of washing dishes, she would go to the bathroom and sit until she thought the dishes were done. I think she learned that from our cousin Janiece. If she was to go to someone else’s house, she didn’t have a problem doing their dishes or cleaning their house. Tonja liked to help people, didn’t matter what it was, she would help. She would do anything from digging ditches with daddy to pumping gas, washing windows and checking oil in vehicles when she worked for me. If someone needed help with a sick friend or family member, she was there. She and I would go fishing and I would make her bait my hook or if I caught anything she would have to take the fish off the hook. Once we went to a covered dock to fish, while we were there a snake pops its head up, after screaming, I got on a chair and told Tonja I was going to try to catch it on my hook. I caught it and yes, Tonja had to get it off. She did this, by me putting the snake on the dock and beating it, then we cut the line and threw it in the water. Tonja was a very head strong person, she was stubborn but she was also a very loving person. She had tons of friends and family that loved her and will miss her. I love you my sweet sister. I’m so glad you are now a peace. Christi’s fond memories of Tonja, she was a very loving and caring person, if she saw someone that needed help she would help them. She was a very neat person and took a lot of pride in her penmanship. One day my dad had a flat and she saw him on the side of the road and she stopped to help him. My dad said she was always really friendly every time he saw her uptown, she would talk to him and he said that he was glad to get to know her better. She always told me and Jamie she loves us to the moon and back. Tonja was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Jack Nail. She is lovingly survived by her husband, William Raper of the home; son, Jamie Nail and wife Christi of Fort Gibson; brother, Bill Nail and wife Brenda of Fort Gibson; sister, Glenda Fausett and husband Bill of Muskogee; sister, Debra Carlton and husband Ron; granddaughters, Lillian Nail, Raylee Nail, Jasmine Torix, and grandsons, Blaizz and Hunter Torix; Williams children, Misty White and husband Gil, Rever Easterling and husband Keith, Debra Taylor and husband Darius, Kelly Raper and wife Brandi many nieces, nephews, cousins her dog Gretchin and many friends. A family conducted memorial service of celebration will be held 1:00PM Saturday, September 30, 2017 in the Fort Gibson Community Center with Reverend Don Rhyne and Family officiating. The family of Tonja Deneece Raper has entrusted her cremation to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service Fort Gibson, 918-478-2555. Online condolences may be left at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh.com

Tonja Deneece (Nail) Raper

March 7, 1958 - September 24, 2017