Georgia Pearl Gallegos, 99 year old great great granddaughter of Black Beaver, and great granddaughter of Lucy Jane Black Beaver, was born September 7, 1922 in the home of her grandparents in Verden, Oklahoma to Emory Oscar Taylor and Grace McClain Taylor. She passed away on March 9, 2022.
She graduated from Verden High School in 1942 and attended Cameron College in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Soon after high school she met Joshua Peterson VanDeman, they married, and a son was born. World War II raged the world over and very soon J.P. was shipped off to the war in Europe for a period of three years. Upon his return another son was born. Time passed, and the marriage ended.
Georgia then attended nursing school in Lawton and became an LPN. But instead of becoming a nurse she became a social worker/counselor at Riverside Indian School and worked there until retirement. The native american kids, who knew her as Miss Chrismon, loved her and she loved them. Of the many things Georgia did in her life, above all, she was a strong and proud member of the Delaware Nation and a great friend to native americans of all tribes.
After her retirement from Riverside, she worked for a short time at Wal-Mart, then became the AOA director for the Delaware Nation and eventually retired from that position.
She liked painting, beadwork, knitting, sewing, and she was very good at those things.
Georgia was a member of the First Baptist Church of Anadarko, and during her sons adolescence she taught Sunday School classes.
Georgia is survived by her two sons: Jim R. VanDeman and wife Delores, of Sickles, Oklahoma and Charles E. VanDeman and wife, Barbara of St. Louis, Missouri; 3 grandchildren and a great granddaughter, and great grandson, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Georgia is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; sister, Mattie Lou Taylor and brothers: CW Taylor and Charles C. Taylor.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the Memory Lane Cemetery in Anadarko, OK. Rev. Dennis King will officiate. Services are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Anadarko, Oklahoma.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.smithfuneralservices.com
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