Rick Welbourne

Funeral services for “Rick” Welbourne, 59, formerly of Clinton and later of Shawnee, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Community Building. A traditional all-night wake service will be held Thursday in the Community Center.

Welbourne died Friday, April 22, 2016, at Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Richard Dean “Rick” Welbourne was born Jan. 3, 1957, to Thomas Welbourne and Elsie (Birdchief) Welbourne  in Clinton. He was raised in Clinton and graduated from Clinton High School in 1976. He continued his education at the University of Oklahoma, and later transferred to and graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in business.

On Nov. 15, 1996, he married Tamera Rena Enyart at Shawnee.

As a young adult, Welbourne was a member of numerous fast-pitch softball teams. He traveled across the state and country with his teammates, which often included his younger brother, Charlie. He enjoyed playing golf, watching his loved ones play sports, and cheering on his beloved Oklahoma Sooners and Alabama Crimson Tide. His lasting legacy will be the love, charisma and determination he instilled in his family and friends.

Welbourne worked many years for the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, in several capacities. He later moved to Shawnee, where he worked for the Sac and Fox Tribes. He was a member of the Southern Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents Pete and Nancy Birdchief; brothers Thomas Welbourne II, Thurman Welbourne and Elgene Welbourne; and sister Nancy Herrod.

Survivors include his wife; son Bryant Welbourne; step-daughters Kecia Nesvold and Lacy Vanantwerp; brothers Charlie Welbourne and Tennyson Welbourne; five step-grandchildren; and 40 nieces and  nephews.

The services will be officiated by Delferd “Bunny” White Crow. Interment will be in the Clinton Cemetery under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.