Shirley Ray Cummings

Shirley Ray Fitzer was born March 18, 1940, to Raymond (Judge) Fitzer and Myrtle (Pulse) Fitzer in the Lona Valley community of Haskell County, OK. She attended school in Kinta, where her family owned a grocery store. After graduating high school in 1958, she married Billy Harold Cummings on June 2 of that year, making their home in Fort Gibson, where Billy was teaching school. On their first anniversary, their first son, Blake, was born. Three years later, David was born, and the family moved back to Kinta soon after. Shirley was a homemaker for many years, looking after her boys and her husband. She was a member of the Choctaw Nation, as her father was an original Dawes Commission enrollee. She became very active in the Choctaw culture and served for many years as a Board member of the Choctaw Nation Housing Authority, appointed by Chief Hollis Roberts. Current Choctaw Chief Gary Batton was a young intern when Shirley was a board member, and she maintained close ties with the Choctaws and Chief Batton the rest of her life. She was always proud of her native Choctaw heritage. Her home was adorned with native American art, and she was so proud of the tribal facilities in Haskell County and attended many tribal events over the years. She counts her opportunity to see President Obama address Choctaw citizens in Durant in 2015 as one of her favorite moments. In her later years, after Billy retired, they would spend lots of time visiting friends, going to Branson, and especially spending quality time with their granddaughter Abigail. Every year seemed to bring them closer together with more fun things to do. Shirley saw more than her share of loss in her life. When she was a toddler, her older brother Joel passed away at 19. Her brother Joe died when Shirley was 31, then she lost her younger brother Larry when she was 36. Her mother passed when Shirley was in her early 40s, then she helped take care of her widowed father in his final years. He passed away in 1992 when Shirley was 52. Billy had a stroke in 2015, which led to dementia, and was confined in a nursing home for almost 5 years, with Shirley visiting him almost every day. Blake and wife Donna took Billy to their home in Seminole County in late 2019, just before Covid. Shirley was relieved that Billy was finally back home in a sense and came to visit him regularly until his passing in April 2022. Until Shirley had an accidental fall on July 1, 2023, she was one of the most vibrant, healthy 83-year-old women anywhere. She loved dancing, working in her flower garden, visiting kids and grandkids, and had a special love for Everlynn, her only great grandchild. She was always buying clothes for Miss Ever and enjoyed their visits. She had a positive effect on everyone she met and will be missed greatly. We take great pride in knowing that she is back with her husband and her immediate family. What a reunion! She is survived by her 2 sons, Blake Cummings and wife Donna of Maud, David Cummings of Stigler; 3 grandchildren, Abby Cummings of Shawnee, Billy Peixotta and Kolisha of Seminole, Paulette Vong and Andrew of Shawnee; 6 great grandchildren, Dylan, Jillian, Lauren, Nolen, Keifer, Everlynn. She is preceded in death by her parents, Judge and Myrtle Fitzer; her husband, Billy Harold Cummings; 2 brothers, Joe and Larry Fitzer; one sister, Sybil Brown. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, November 13, 2023 at Faith Community Church with Reverend Bill Fitzer officiating. Pallbearers include DeWayne Farriell, Keith Hall, Elden King, Johnny Patterson, Billy Peixotto, Kyle Champion. Honorary Pallbearers David Burgess, OJ Fouch, Gary Reasnor, Glen Rogers, Gary Tucker.

Shirley Ray Cummings

March 18, 1940 - November 6, 2023