A precious life began in Clarksville, Oklahoma near Porter, in Wagoner County on the third day of February of 1953. The fifth of fifteen children born from the union of L. D. Borens and Lillian Walton was a baby girl, and this beautiful new daughter was named Norma Gean.


She grew up in the area and attended Carter G. Woodson High School in nearby Tullahassee, Oklahoma, graduating with the Class of 1971.

In 1972, she gave birth to her first son. She married Ralph C. Atkins in 1973 and this union produced five more children; four more boys and a girl. She lived in Tullahassee, Oklahoma until 1976 before choosing to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Norma was a natural caregiver and mother to all who needed her.


In Tulsa, she worked as a manager in the restaurant industry and also in nursing as a health care provider.


In 1993 she met a gentleman, Herman Walker and they were smitten with each other. They were married in 1995 in Oklahoma City, adding his five children to her brood. She and Herman retired to live in Red Bird in 1996. They loved the country life, enjoying the peaceful, rural environment.


Her love for her neighbors showed by her involvement in the community she lived in. She served as the town clerk and treasurer of Red Bird. Sister Norma also had an affinity for the Native American Culture, she was a humanitarian and a believer in family values.


After sharing 55 years with us, Norma Gean Walker, with her loving family near her side, dozed into the peaceful slumber of eternal rest on Monday morning, July 14, 2008 from her home in Red Bird, Oklahoma.


She leaves in God's care; her husband of 13 years, Herman Walker, Sr.; her children, Dwan Borens and wife Mercy, Coweta, Oklahoma, Ralph Atkins Jr., and wife, Dolly, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Twyla Atkins, Oklahoma City, Marvin Atkins, Sr., and wife Makeysha, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Shaun Atkins, Sr., and wife Robin, Wagoner, Oklahoma, Chris Atkins, Sr., and wife Lynndi, Coweta, Oklahoma, Michael Walker, Alicia Walker, Latasha Walker, Herman Walker, Jr., and Dewayne Walker, all of Oklahoma City; her mother, Lillian Borens, Wagoner, Oklahoma; eleven brothers; three sisters; twenty-three grandchildren; over sixty nieces and nephews; and a caravan of cousin, countless friends and other loved ones who will miss her presence.

The final tribute will be on Thursday morning, July 17, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. in the Greater Rayfield Baptist Church. Reverend Leroy Walker, Sr., will officiate. Burial will follow in the Clarksville Cemetery at Porter, Oklahoma.

You may visit Mrs. Walker, as she slumbers at the funeral home in Muskogee on Wednesday from 12 Noon to 6 PM.