Bill Spann

Services for Willie Junior "Bill" Spann, 74, of Ada are 2:00 p.m. Friday at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Byng, Rev. Rodger Arter will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakman Cemetery. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.

Mr. Spann passed away Saturday, November 24, 2018 at his home. He was born May 18, 1944 at Dumas, TX to Willie Paschal Holmes Spand and George Ana Davis. He graduated from Sasakwa High School in 1962. Mr. Spann graduated from welding trade school in Dallas, attended East Central University and Haskell Indian Nation University in Lawrence, KS. He moved to Ada about 1968.

He married Virginia Reed July 5, 1968 in Ada. Mr. Spann was the Supervisor for housekeeping/linen at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center until his retirement. He was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Byng, a founding member of the Chickasaw Honor Guard and a proud member of the Cherokee Nation. He served in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia, of the home; a son, Randy Spann, of the home; a daughter, Lisa Clark; his grandchildren, McKenzie Clark and Destiny Soden and husband Cody; his great-grandchildren, Jayden Soden and Jaina Soden; his step-mother, Maxine Spand; sister, Vickie Wise; sisters-in-law, Alice Reed, Gloria Reed and Wanda Cochran; an honorary daughter, Emily Cooper; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, many dear and loved friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandmother, Sallie Toney (who was a great-granddaughter of Sequoyah); brothers, Leo Cochran, Max Bear Cochran and Homer Lee "Snooks" Cochran; and a sister, Christine "Little Belle" Yahola.

Bearers will be Shaun Axton, Erik Green, Roy Worcester, Kenneth Walker, Tony Frazier, Jimmy James, Rick Guyton, Kenton Dale Self and Jeff Cali. Honorary bearers will be Howard Cooper, Cody Soden and Randy Spann.