Sue “Hokte” Whitetree

Funeral services for Virginia Sue “Hokte” Whitetree will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Salt Creek Indian Baptist Church of Wetumka. Wake services will be Monday 7:00 PM also at the church. A prayer service will be Monday, 6:00 – 7:00 PM at the Parks Brothers Funeral Home Chapel of Wetumka. Interment will be held at the Scott – Fish Family Cemetery of Wetumka.

Virginia Sue “Hokte” Whitetree was born in Wetumka, Oklahoma, to John Brown Fish and Edna Mae Scott-Fish on October 6, 1944. She passed away on June 6, 2025, at the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, with family by her side, she was 80 years old.

Virginia attended Wetumka School and Jones Academy in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. She would later receive her GED.

She was baptized by Rev. Simon Severs at 12 years old, at the Sand Creek Baptist Church. In her early years, she was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU), helping raise funds for their cause. She just recently re-dedicated her life back to the Lord. Virginia moved to Los Angeles, California, where she met, and married the love of her life, Chester Arthur Whitetree. The couple moved back to Oklahoma, to be closer to family in 1974. She was a homemaker, and nursing home care provider. She experienced a traumatic life-changing event in 1981, at the age of 35. She would spend the rest of her life being a paraplegic. Even though, Virginia faced many adversities that did not prevent her from doing what she loved. Virginia was blessed to be able to travel from coast to coast, she enjoyed spending time with family! She was an avid OU Sooner, and Thunder fan.

Virginia helped raise her grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whom will all miss her dearly. She had a special relationship with her grandson, Ghastin Harjo whom was also her caretaker and best friend. One of her greatest accomplishments was to watch and know that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren graduated high school. Virgina was known for her frybread making skills, and sweet tea by all her family! She was hospitalized numerous times over the years, but despite the medical diagnosis, she always over came the battles. She faced her life with resilience, courage, and faith in God, never complaining, and rolling with the punches. One doctor said, “She was like a cat with nine lives!” Years ago, the doctor wanted to put her on hospice because of her physical ailments, but the family chose not to, simply because of her will to live, and was with us for many years after! Virginia was blessed to have a family that cared for her at home until her recent hospitalization.

She is preceded in death by her parents, four brothers: Andrew, Maxey, Alex, and Kenneth Fish, four sisters: Mary Jane Buckley, Winey Mae Davis, Kathryn “Gas” Fish, and Helen Diana Moppin, one daughter, Mary Whitetree; one granddaughter, Sheena Harjo and special cousin, whom she thought of as a sister, Amelia Brown.

Survivors include her children, Ronnie Whitetree of Wetumka, Bernadette Whitetree and husband Stephen Harjo of Wetumka and Donna Piper of Pauma Valley, California; one brother, Rev. J.B. Fish and wife Carolyn of Wetumka, brother- in-law, Leo Moppin Sr. of Wetumka; sister-in-law, Emma Fish of Okeechobee, Florida; 6 grandchildren, Felicia Whitetree, Adrian Harjo, Julia Whitetree, Jessica Whitetree, Ghastin Harjo and Gavin Harjo; 11 great-grandchildren, Sincere, Tru, Brea, Ian, Warrior, Lyndin, Aiden, Aniyah, Jace, Dash and Nancy; 1 greatgreat- grandson, Arthur and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Virginia was the matriarch of her family, the center of their world, the glue that held everyone together!

Serving as active pallbearers will be Stephen Harjo, Adrian Harjo, Ghastin Harjo, Gavin Harjo, Tru Berryhill, Ian Berryhill, Aiden Harjo, Jace Harjo, and Dash Martinez.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Kenneth Buckley, Michael Fish, John Fish, Jeremy Fish, Jon Fish, Alex Fish, Jr., Dom Jack, and Marsey Scott.

Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Wetumka, Oklahoma and officiated by Rev. Mark Smith and Rev. J.B. Fish.