Lupe Cartayah Cole

1944 - 2025

Lupe Cartayah Cole (Aguilera) of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away on Wednesday, August 13 at Tulsa Hillcrest hospital. She was 81 years old at the time of death. Born on June 10, 1944 in Claremore, Oklahoma to Jose Jesus Aguilera and Hazel Mae O'Field Aguilera. She was superseded in death by her parents and sister, Maria Aguilera.

She attended St. Francis Catholic School in her primary and middle school years and was a 1961 Alumni of Tulsa Central High School. In 1963, she married Jimmy Leroy Cole of Tulsa, and together they had 3 daughters. As a single parent, in 1975 she attended Claremore Junior College, and earned her Associates degree. She retired from State Beauty Supply, at age 61.

She loved dancing and as a young girl, danced in the annual Tulsa Fiesta and was featured in the Tulsa World wearing traditional Mexican Fiesta dresses. As a teen, she learned to swing dance and loved listening to 50's bop music. In 1979, she met her life partner Robert T. Lefthand (Ted). She adopted his Pawnee tribal traditions and together they traveled throughout the USA and Canada, performing in competitive Pow Wow traditional dancing. They were together for 36 years, until his death in 2015.

Lupe was proud of her Mexican and Native American heritage, and was a member of the Cherokee Nation. In her golden years, she was active in the IHCRC Running Strong Club and could be seen on their annual Tulsa Christmas Parade float. She enjoyed participating in IHCRC social and fitness programs, where she made many cherished friends and inspired others. She loved going to the North Tulsa YMCA, and was an avid supporter of the annual scholarship dance fundraiser for Indian Youth.

Lupe was strong in her Christian faith and was active in her church and fellowship with members, whom she considered family. She is survived by her 3 daughters, LaDenna S. Cole, Tammy G. Cole, and Deborah J. O'Hara, 5 grandchildren, Curtis E. McGuire (Summer), Casey A. Browning (Morgan), Adam J. Cole Maupin, Jacob R. O'Hara and Ava N. O'Hara, 3 great-grandchildren and 2 nieces, as well as many extended family cousins. She loved celebrating holidays, especially Halloween when over 200 community members would stop for a quick visit and a treat. She will be missed by many.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 17 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.(CDT) at Moore's Rosewood Chapel, 2570 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK. Funeral Services are Monday, August 18, 10:00 a.m.(CDT) at Calvary Cemetery Chapel, 91st & Harvard Avenue, Tulsa, OK.