Sandra Sue Maple

Sandra Sue (Seabolt) Maple, 87-year-old longtime Vinita resident, passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. She was born on September 23, 1937, in Bernice, Oklahoma to James Frances Seabolt and Lydia Mozell "Moze" (Shields) Seabolt. When she was 2 years old the family moved to Nowata, for a few years, before moving back to Craig County, where she started school at Blue Bell. Sue was a 1955 graduate of White Oak High School, where she was the salutatorian of her graduating class. She continued her education at Draughn Business College. Sue married Franklin Delano "Frank" Maple on August 25, 1961, in Nowata. In her early years she worked for a CPA in Miami, then Kaiser Steel as executive VP secretary in California, City Service Gas Company in Bartlesville as secretary to the executive VP. Later her and Frank owned an operated Maple Oil Company, and had DX gas stations in Welch, Vinita, and Bernice.
Sue was a member of the Xi Beta Epsilon Sorority. She was also very involved in genealogy and doing extensive family research, she enjoyed her children and grandchildren's sports and other activities. Sue was co-founder in both the Girl and Boy Scouts in Vinita, among other civic organizations.
Preceding her in death were her husband Frank in 2003, her parents, siblings, Edward Lee Seabolt, Jess Seabolt, Sam Seabolt, John Seabolt, James Seabolt, Jr., Gene Seabolt, Louise Chadwick, Mildred Creason, Ellen Seabolt, and Virginia Brooks.
The family includes her children, Greg Maple of Vinita, Suzanne Jones of Reed Springs, MO, Michelle Warren (Jeff) of Vinita, grandchildren, Kaleigh and Austin Warren, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Casket bearers will be Darry Hawkins, Don Reheard, Mark Bingham, Austin Warren, Steve Carroll. Honorary casket bearers will be Eddy Allensworth, Tom Koesler, Phil Carroll and Jason Sauer.
The visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Alive Church in Vinita. The celebration of life will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, also Alive Church in Vinita with Pastor Robert Sander officiating. Interment will follow at Rolston Cemetery on Monkey Island. Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are under the care of Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita. "Vinita's only locally owned and operated funeral home."