Graveside service held for Nadene Violet Qualls

Nadene Violet (Summit) Qualls passed from this life on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, surrounded by her family. Nadene was born in Sims, Arkansas on July 16, 1924, to Walter Roy Summit and Lucinda Jane (Trapp) Summit and was the younger twin to Nolene Pansy (Summit) Bobo.

Nadene married Raney Everett Qualls in Mt. Ida, Arkansas on December 26, 1947. To this union was born four children, Travis Everett, Afton Merle, Anita Gale and Sheila Joy.

Nadene loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Wewoka. She also loved music. She was a musician, singer, songwriter and radio personality. Her preferred instrument was the guitar which she played in the style of Chet Atkins and Les Paul. She also played the fiddle, banjo, bass guitar, mandolin and piano. She and Nolene, who also was a musician, singer, songwriter and radio personality, began performing as teenagers for relatives and friends. In the early 1940’s she and Nolene had their own radio program out of Hot Springs, Arkansas, called “The Summit Sisters”.

After Nadene and Raney married and moved to Wewoka, Oklahoma in the 1950’s, Nolene soon followed and the three of them began a radio program on KWSH called the “Saturday Night Hoedown.” Nadene and Nolene began writing gospel as well as country songs at an early age and continued to write throughout their lives. In the 1950’s they each had a number of songs recorded by the Lonesome Drifter. Nadene’s song “Teardrop Valley” was his biggest hit and is currently a fan favorite in Europe for people who enjoy the classic country (rockabilly) music genre. “Teardrop Valley” was also featured in the opening scene of an episode of the TV show, NCIS, which aired on May 1, 2018.

In 1963, Nadene began giving music lessons. She mainly taught guitar, piano and fiddle, but on occasion also taught bass guitar and banjo. Through the years she taught hundreds of students of all ages. She continued teaching until she was in her mid-eighties.

Nadene was someone who always stayed busy. She made a garden every year. Raising not only vegetables, but flowers as well which she used to make beautiful bouquets. She sewed and made clothing for herself and family members. She designed, sewed and hand-quilted many quilts. She was an artist and painted pictures using different mediums such as oil, acrylic and water color. She also loved to work logic puzzles, making scrapbooks and playing music with her family.

Nadene was preceded in death by her husband, parents, eight siblings and their spouses, including her twin, Nolene.

She is survived by her children and their families, Travis Everett (Suzanne) Qualls of Wewoka, their son, Travis Landon (Kristen) Qualls, and their children, Aubrey, Avery and Austin of Tecumseh; Afton Merle (Lynda) Qualls of Maumelle, Arkansas, and their two sons, David Michael (Ginea) Qualls, their daughter Savannah of Little Rock, Aransas, and Kevin Lee (Kim) Qualls and their children, Olivia and Wesley of Maumelle, Arkansas; Anita Gale (Benjamin) Larney of Holdenville, and Sheila Joy (Jerry) Spring of Wewoka, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express our gratitude to Wanda Wright and Gloria Janes and Linda Davidson, as well as the nursing staff of Heartland Hospice for their kindness toward their mother and the care they provided for her.

Graveside services were held at Oakwood Cemetery in Wewoka, at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 ^th , with Rev. Jim Benedict and Rev. Earl Scroggins officiating.

Services were under direction of Fisher Funeral Home of Holdenville. www.fisherfh.net