On September 21, 1955, Ella Lorraine Dan was born from the union of Willie and Minnie [Walls] Dan in Checotah, Oklahoma. She was the seventh of ten children in this family.


Ella accepted Christ into her life at an early age and united with Mount Calvary Baptist Church, where she began her work for the Lord, up until her health began to fail her.


She grew up in Checotah, and received her formal education at Douglass Elementary School and later graduated from Checotah High School with the Class of 1973. In the fall of 1980, Ella met and later married Alfred Gilyard, of Kansas City, Missouri and this marriage was later dissolved.


On October 10, 2011, Ella answered the Lords call to come home and rest. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and a brother.


She leaves behind to cherish her memory; two daughters, Constance Dan Mike [Jack David], of Checotah and Ashley Gilyard Miller [John], Muskogee, Oklahoma; two special daughters, Rashanna Oakley, Oktaha, Oklahoma and Noelle Striblen, Rentiesville, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Dyrrius Dan, Taryn Milton, Shayla Robison, Trenton Dan and Brooklyn Miller; four brothers, Homer Dan [Ester] Checotah, Oklahoma, Michael Dan [Vickie], Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Willie Dan [Lanorma], and Reginald Dan, all of Checotah; two sisters, Vicki Escoe [General], and Tema Warrior [Duane], all of Checotah, Oklahoma; two Aunts, Lorraine Wright, Dallas, Texas and Alice Walls, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; along with a caravan of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Her life will be celebrated on Saturday morning, October 15, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. in the Sanctuary of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Checotah, 212 East Park. Rev. George E. Johnson, is the gracious host Pastor and Rev. Jerry Maddox, Pastor of East Star Baptist Church of McAlester, Officiant.

Burial will follow in the Paradise Cemetery, east of the City.

You may visit Ella, as she slumbers in sweet repose at the funeral home on Friday from 12 Noon until 6 PM.