Amanda Yahola Martinez

Amanda Yahola Martinez was born January 29, 1952 to Lucille and Denny Yahola. She passed away at home surrounded by her large family and her husband, Harry Martinez.

Amanda was a loving mother and a devote Christian, she loved God, her husband, and her family. She enjoyed gathering family to spend time with everyone. Amanda spent her younger years with her family in Dallas, TX where she was actively involved in the community and church. Amanda enjoyed her community sports--she was a pretty awesome softball player and in the bowling alley, she could not be beat! She played ball and bowled with her husband and friends.

Amanda was a member of the Dallas Indian United Methodist Church where she was a Women’s Lay Speaker. Amanda lived and loved the way Jesus called her to do. If Amanda wasn’t playing ball or serving the church, you could find her on the dance floor with her husband. She enjoyed dancing at the local American Legion. Amanda was also a member of the Dallas Indian Community where she was a bus driver for the local schools and taught the youth. As a member of the Indian Community she helped her husband lead the Dallas Indian Elders group. Amanda and her family left Dallas and returned to Wetumka, OK to enjoy retirement and the closeness of their family.

In Wetumka Amanda was an active member of the Wetumka Indian Community Center, where she served as the secretary. She had a servant’s heart and did whatever she could to lend a hand. Amanda volunteered her time at the daycare, her love for the little ones lead her and her husband to becoming foster parents where they fostered their niece, Mia Anderson, and then adopted their daughter, Zoe Anderson. Amanda was an active member of Grace Baptist Church, always willing to help or cook. She loved cooking for her family and friends. Her and her husband were always willing to serve meals to the community, sometimes feeding hundreds at the local pow wows and the Creek Nation Culture day that they attended, her fry bread was the best. Amanda enjoyed spending her leisure time with her husband beading and watching her grandchildren play sports, her grandchildren held a special place in her heart.

Amanda was preceded in death by her son, Neville Barnes; her daughter, Anita Sanchez; grandson, Josh Sanchez; granddaughter, Jennie Yahola; and her parents Denny and Lucille Yahola. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Harry Martinez; her son, Lewis Yahola; her adopted daughter, Zoe Anderson; daughter in-law, Jennifer Yahola; her sisters, Stella Bear and Josephine Anderson; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Amanda Martinez were held on Thursday, October 8 at 1:30pm at Grace Baptist Church in Wetumka, Oklahoma. Rev. David Dunson officiated. Pallbearers were J.P. Powell, Jon Bear, Leroy Martinez, Chris Yahola, Mark Anderson, and James Martinez. Honorary pallbearers were Travis Yahola, Terrence Yahola, Chris Flanagan, and Henry Sanchez. Interment followed at Salt Creek Indian Baptist Church under the direction of Williamson-Spradlin Funeral Home.