Charles Lee Head
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, February 03, 2013
2/03/13 at 6:00 AM
Charles Lee Head was born July 18, 1949, in Pryor to John and Wanda Head. He departed this life on January 30, 2013, in Pryor at the age of 63 years, 6 months and 12 days. Charles was a lifetime resident of Pryor and a proud Cherokee citizen. Charles often fondly recalled spending the summers of his youth squirrel hunting at his grandparents’ farm near Pryor. He attended Pryor schools and graduated from Pryor High School with the class of 1967. It was at Pryor High School where he would meet the love of his life, Frances. The two were married in 1971 and lived a happy life as best friends for more than 40 years. Charles spent four years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in December 1973. Following his military service, Charles attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah on the G.I. Bill, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He worked as an accountant for several companies before finding his passion in life, serving the Cherokee Nation and all Native peoples. Charles worked for Cherokee Nation in the 1980s and 1990s, before taking a position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the agency from which he retired. In 2012, Charles was asked by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker to leave retirement and serve the Cherokee people once again, this time as Cherokee Nation Secretary of State. Charles loved serving the Cherokee people and most recently directed that passion to bringing awareness and solutions to the problem of domestic violence against Native women. Although Charles played an integral role as Secretary of State to the Cherokee Na- tion, the role he will be remembered for most is that of a family man. He was steadfastly devoted to his family and dedicated to spending time with his wife Frances, their children Erin and Brian, and their six grandchildren. Charles loved reading, traveling and antique hunting with Frances and never hung up the phone without telling his children he loved them. His grandchildren were his world, as he showed that devotion by recently taking his three granddaughters to a Justin Bieber concert. Charles is survived by wife Frances of the home; son Brian Head and wife Heather of Bixby; daughter Erin King and husband Casey of Pryor; six grandchildren Ryder, Reese, Parker, Laura, Kadence and Gracelyn; father John Head of Pryor; brother Roger Head and wife Katrina of Dubai; sister Jauna Drake and husband Andy of Houston, Texas; mother-in-law Helen Foreman of Pryor; several nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his mother Wanda and brother Tom. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the Sequoyah High School Gymnasium in Tahlequah. A graveside service will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Pryor at 4 p.m. Services are under the direction of Stephens Memorial Chapel in Pryor. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, those choosing to do so consider supporting the Charles L. Head ONE FIRE Helping Victims Task Force, which is dedicated to reducing domestic violence and addressing mental health needs in the Cherokee Nation. Donations can be sent to Cherokee Nation Treasurer Lacey Horn, P.O. Box 809, Tahlequah, Okla., 74465. This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 2/3/2013.
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