Obituary of Wanda Harley

Wanda Lee (Burchett) Harley, age 60, of Coweta departed this earth on Tuesday evening, November 4, 2008 at the Clarehouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born at Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on July 16, 1948. Wanda graduated from Porter High School in 1966, and graduated from the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas in 1968. It was at the Haskell Institute that Wanda met James Harley. Upon his return from Vietnam, they married in May 1969 and made their home and a family in Coweta. James preceded her in death on February 8, 2007. After graduation from Haskell Institute, Wanda relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota and worked as secretary stenographer at the Social Security Administration. She was last employed as an assistant director at Community Action Head Start for 12 years. Wanda loved her family, friends, church, her 1966 classmates, her Head Start family, and going to gospel singings with Harley. She was a proud member of her church, Cedar Creek Baptist, and she was an active member of the Coweta community. Wanda is the daughter of the late Wesley Burchett, and she is survived by her mother, Mary Burchett of Coweta. Wanda is also survived by her son, Shawn Harley and his wife, Donna, of Coweta; her daughter, Dawn Austin and her husband, Nate, of Coweta; 1 nephew, J.B. Johnson and his wife, Rachell, of Bristow; 5 grandchildren, Shannon Harley, Zach Bolding, Justice Austin, Chase Johnson, and Cassidy Johnson. She is also survived by her brother, Eugene Burchett and his wife, Louise, of Coweta and her chosen sister, Carol Hansen of Indianapolis, Indiana; 2 nephews, Steven Burchett of Coweta and Chad Burchett of Broken Arrow; 1 niece, Crystal Burchett of Coweta; and numerous cousins and other family members. Harley was Wanda’s first nurse, and after he died, Wilma Berryhill took excellent care of Wanda and took her back and forth to the hospital for her appointments and chemotherapy treatments. Wanda wanted Wilma to know how much she valued her precious friendship. Her sister-in-law, Louise Burchett, also assisted in caring for her. Wanda’s hobbies included sewing and enjoying her grandchildren as they grew up. Her pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Coweta with Rev. Bert Robison officiating. Committal prayers and burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008 at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Wright Funeral Home in Coweta. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences to the family online at www.wrightfh.net. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mrs. Harley to Wright Funeral Home, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429, (918) 486-5515. Casket Bearers are Larry Essary, Marion Schauffler, Steve Staner, Steve Peck, Garry Felix, and Carl Miller. Honorary Casket Bearers are Mike Berryhill, Freddie Lewis, and Junior Lang.