On July 5, 1955, Eddie James Vann, Sr., was born to the late Floyd Vann, Jr., and Havanah Vann. He was the sixth of thirteen children.

Eddie was born at home, in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma. At the age of 17, he was baptized by Reverend Loney at the Four Mile Branch Church, east of Ft. Gibson, where he was later ordained as a Deacon. A few years later, he moved his Church membership to Old Agency Baptist Church in Muskogee and subsequently to Praise Center Family Church, where he faithfully served until he departed this life.

He was educated in Ft. Gibson at Thompson Elementary School from grades 1 - 4, Norwood Elementary School from grades 5 - 8 and Ft. Gibson High School from grades 9 - 12. After high school, Eddie studied Agriculture at Langston University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree.

Eddie worked as an insurance agent for Walter J. Smith Agency. He was also an independent realtor and licensed electrician.

On May 26, 1978, he married the love of his life, Brenda Faye Lee, whom he met at a party. It was love at first sight.

Eddie loved fishing, hunting and gardening. He was also an excellent electrician. He was a very honest and dependable son, a loving, devoted husband and patient father. He was always smiling and was a hard working, prosperous and self-sufficient man.

On Thursday, December 29, 2005 from Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Lord saw fit to call his loving servant home from labor to reward.

He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers, Edgar and Johnny.

Those left to cherish his memory; his loving wife of 26 years, Brenda Vann, of the home in Muskogee; his mother, Havanna Vann; two children, Faith and Eddie Jr. [E.J.], both of the home; four sisters and six brothers, Bonnie McCarroll, Floyd Vann Jr., Joe Vann [Joyce], Savannah Vann, Agnes McCann [John], Merilyn Vann, Clifford Vann [Frankie], Deborah Vann, Reginald Vann and Rhonda Jones [Ron]; three loving sisters-in-law, Sandra Johnson, Juliette Lee and Angela Walker; three devoted brothers-in-law, Willie Lee, Kevin Lee and John Walker; a great father-in-law, Willie Robert LEe; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

The service of memory for Mr. Vann will be on Saturday, January 7, 2005 at 11:00 A.M. in the Praise Center Family Church, 7th & Court Streets in Muskogee. Pastor Stephen Wiley will officiate. The Christian Committal will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery in Muskogee. You may visit Mr. Vann on Friday from 12 Noon until 5 PM at the funeral home and the wake will be from 6 PM to 7 PM at the Church.