Delores Donnette (Murk) Walker, age 82, passed away on June 29, 2025, at her home in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 2, 1942, in San Diego, California, to Donal C. Murk and Eileen Buckholts.
Delores moved to Oklahoma at the age of seven, where her father began teaching at Russett School and later at Milburn Schools. She completed her education and graduated from Milburn High School in 1962 as the Salutatorian of her class.
On December 17, 1960, Delores married the love of her life, Wayne Walker, at Milburn First Baptist Church. Together, they shared over 64 wonderful years of marriage and built a life full of love and happiness in Tishomingo.
Delores was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She spent her early years as a stay-at-home mom, while working various jobs including ironing, cleaning homes, babysitting, and sewing. She was a seamstress at a local factory for 12 years, then worked for Tishomingo Head Start for 2 years. In 1988, she began working for Tishomingo Public Schools preparing meals for students and teachers, where she remained for 18 years until her retirement in 2006. Mom always told us how much she hated food to go to waste in the cafeteria and would give extra servings to any child or football player who asked for more. She said the amount they were supposed to give was just not enough sometimes, especially for those big football players.
She was a faithful member of Milburn First Baptist Church and treasured her Monday card games with her “card girls”— some being lifelong friends from her childhood in Milburn. These dear friends included Louise Elrod Vestal, Bobby LaFevers, Elaine Hogue, Reatha Beals, Linda Landrum Brant, Barbara McGuyer, Jerry Standifier, Cindy Matheny, and Doris Mead. Mondays were sacred for Delores—doctor appointments or errands could wait, as Monday was card day.
Delores found great joy in camping at Lake Texoma, watching the houseboats at Catfish Bay, traveling, camping and playing dominoes with her and Wayne’s best friends, Woodrow and Eva Cobb and Bob and Wanda Stoddard. She taught her daughter how to sew and made many of her clothes growing up. More recently, she loved to scrapbook and using her Cricut to create crafts. She cherished old family photos and any time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her pure joy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Donal C. Murk and Eileen Buckholts.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Wayne Walker; son, Danny Walker; daughter, Donna Kay Walker Powell and husband James Powell; sister, Jacqueline Murk; grandchildren, Brittany Walker Maxey and husband Daniel, Bryan Walker, Mitchell Powell and wife Jennifer Scarberry Powell, and Brysen Powell and wife Amy Forbes Powell; great-grandchildren, Keilee Maxey, Crimsyn Maxey, Bracelyn Walker, Camden Walker, Eli Walker, Olivia Powell, Elijah Powell, Aysa Powell, and Holdyn Powell; former daughter-in-law, Tina Ann Willenborg Walker; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and dear friends.
Obituary provided by DeArman Funeral Home.