French Wildcat

Funeral Service for French Wildcat, 91, of Vian, Oklahoma, will be at Noon on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at U.S. National Cemetery at 2:30 PM in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

French Wildcat was born on May 21, 1933 to Enola Wildcat and Polly Anna Sam. He was named after his paternal grandfather French. He was married to Levada Babala (Smith) Wildcat in October of 1957 in Los Angeles, California. She preceded him in death on February 18, 2022. 

Corporal French Wildcat served his country with honorable service in the United States Army during the Korean War. 

The Wildcat's lived in Los Angeles, California, where their children, Veda and Victor were born. Levada did not want to raise her kids in California so they moved to Oklahoma and raised their kids in Muskogee.

French retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

After that retirement, he worked at Hastings Indian Hospital in medical records.

French and Levada spent their last years together at the home her dad (Stokes Smith) built for them in the Pinhook Corner area. When you could catch them around their home you would find them on their daily one mile walks enjoying the solitude of their homestead.

French was a gentle soul and you never heard him utter a bad word about anyone. He was even diplomatic in criticism of food he didn't like, "Well it was different."

He worked and took care of his family. He was responsible with fiscal affairs. He was the church treasurer at the church he and Levada attended in Marble City.

When teaching Veda to drive he made sure she knew how to change a tire and told her, "You can be right, but you can be dead right."

He was his son, Victor's biggest fan during Vic's football years at Alice Robertson Jr High and Muskogee High School (it is said Vic never had a losing game). He and Vic spent 18 months together at Pinhook Corner and when asked about that time he simply stated, "We took care of each other."

If French was asked to bless the food he never said no and was honored to be asked. It was never a chore for him to attend a Sunday or Wednesday night service and enjoyed attending Calvary Indian Baptist in Tahlequah where his youngest sibling, L.B. Wildcat, is the Pastor.

French really looked forward to his son-in-law's, Jerry McPeak, daily buggy rides and helping Jerry take care of the cows.

Throughout the years, Coach's CSC kids worked the cattle at his home paid special attention to grandpa and ALWAYS greeted him with, "Hello and how are you today?" A special shout out to Cade Haggard who would take grandpa on buggy rides in Coach's absence. A Thank You to Stephanie Weston who took care of Grandpa on many occasions and was there in his last days with that continued care.

For those of you who knew Levada and French Wildcat I am sure you will not be surprised at their daughter's last imaginations of their heavenly reunion.

She is sure when Levada approaches French, she will impatiently ask, "French, where have you been? Not waiting for a response she will ask, "You hungry?" Then her words will be, "French needs a plate, Lord."

Survivors are daughter, Veda McPeak and Jerry of Warner, OK; son, Victor Wildcat and Tammy of Muskogee, OK; grandchildren, Jeff McPeak and Shiloh of Webbers Falls, OK, Jason McPeak and Emmy of Checotah, OK, Jinger McPeak of Broken Arrow, OK, Jori Fast and Jared of Porum, OK, French Enola Wildcat of Muskogee, OK and Sky Babela Wildcat and Sequoyah of Salina, OK; great-grandchildren, Jayce Lonnie McPeak, Jade Shawn-Marie McPeak and Drew McPeak; brother, L.B. Wildcat and Sue of Tahlequah, OK; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; and siblings, Billy, Enola, Jr. and Windeagle Wildcat and Wanda Welene Chianna and Anna Faye (Wildcat) Speaks.

Viewing will be 2 - 8 PM Tuesday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, Oklahoma where the family will greet 6 - 8 PM.