Julia Mae Langan

Julia “Tiny” Cheek Langan was born June 29, 1941 to Nora and Weaver Cheek at the Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore, Oklahoma. She was the second oldest of ten children. She was raised outside of Okemah by her grandmother, Susie Foster. Julia was a proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nation & the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. She grew up farming, raising crops and livestock. She learned what hard work was at an early age. When work was available and within walking distance, she worked fields from early morning to late evening. Her and her siblings’ hands ache to this day when they pass a cotton field.

She grew up with the basics with no extravagance. Her grandmother made sure she had access to education, warm meals, a strong work ethic and integrity. She enjoyed sports and singing growing up. She and her eldest sister Wanda were always tasked with singing at any function. She babysat her siblings when needed, various cousins and nieces and nephews. She had written once, because of caring for children she learned to expect the unexpected and not to panic too much. She also learned there would be times she would need to ask for help and be appreciative of advice received.

After completing high school at Bearden in May of 1959, she attended Haskell Indian College in Lawrence, Kansas. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration but more importantly with life-long friendships.

Upon graduation, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1961 and began her federal career with the Social Security Administration. She transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1962 with whom she retired in 2012 with 50 years of service.

She married Barry Langan from Scranton, PA at St. Clements Catholic Church in Lakewood, Ohio in 1966. Little did she know, a love of cars would be a large part of her life from this point on whether she liked it or not.

In 1970, they moved to Denver, Colorado where she continued her BIA career. They raised and showed their pre-babies, two Doberman Pinschers until their daughter Suzanne came along in 1979. Her plan was to move back to where her roots began in Oklahoma. Leaving Denver in 1985, they moved to Hiawatha, Kansas. She became the Superintendent of the Horton Agency. In 1987, when the chance to move back home to Oklahoma came up with the possibility of becoming the Superintendent of the Pawnee Agency she jumped at that chance.
The family resided in Stillwater from them on. One of her daughter’s fondest memories was finally wearing her mom down to get a dog. They began their affinity of the Rottweiler breed in the early 90s. Her husband Barry succumbed to cancer in 1994. She and her daughter became a smaller but an even tighter family. They have been a packaged deal ever since for every holiday and most vacations. Julia was very proud when her daughter followed in her footsteps and began her federal career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Nashville, TN.

She loved to travel, read, sew, paint, live music and Broadway productions. More than anything she loved the fellowship she shared with her family and friends. She loved to attend Bearden and Haskell reunions, and attended as many family functions as possible. She was more than elated when her daughter moved home, met her husband Stephen and gave her the two twinkles in her eyes; Julia Lucile and James Landry. She attended every event her grandchildren participated in. After a scare with cancer and kidney removal, she had another chance at life. She moved to Norman to be closer to her grandchildren and was able to spend time with them daily until her last.

She was a very proud mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. Although she had very humble beginnings, she created a very rich life of relationships with family and friends that she cherished beyond measure.

She was preceded in death by her husband Barry, her parents, and two sisters Cindy and Mary “Sis”.

Survivors include her daughter Suzanne Mitchell and husband Stephen with two grandchildren Lucy and Landry; Sisters: Wanda Weaver, Brenda White, Grace Bunner, Nina “Tootie” Ozment; Brothers: Weaver “Sonny” Cheek, Perry Cheek and Tim Cheek; and numerous nieces, nephews, & cousins.

A Celebration of Life & Visitation will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, July 1st at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Okemah. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 2nd at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Stillwater. Services are under the direction of Tribute Memorial Care in Norman, OK. Condolence messages may be shared with the family at www.tribute.care.