By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
August 17, 2026 – July 19, 2026
Grove, OK
Cherokee Nation Citizen
Ella Mae Fields-Wright went to her heavenly home on Sunday, July 19, 2026 . She was born on August 17, 1934 to Albert Berry “Ab” Meadows and Lenora Ann (Martin) Meadows in Yellowbird Hollow near Jay, Oklahoma. She started school in Deerlick and transferred to Jay Public Schools where she graduated in 1953. Ella went to church with her mother and accepted Christ in her youth and would later take her children to church “every time the doors were open.”
Ella Mae worked in the kitchen at a cafe across from the courthouse in Jay with her Mom until she took a job at the Delaware County Bank, the first of several banking jobs she would hold over the next 18 years. She would later work at the Cornerstone Bank in Southwest City, Missouri, and at the Grand Lake Bank in Grove, Oklahoma. She then worked at the Delaware County Clerk’s office where she did payroll for the county for 8 years. She went to night school at Southwest Missouri State University and NE Vocational Technical School to further her education in banking and computer payroll.
On August 15, 1956, Ella Mae married William Edgar Fields Jr. in Wagoner, OK and started a life together that lasted over 35 years until his passing in 1987. They worked cattle on their farm just south of Honey Creek. During this time they raised two children, Wendell and Michele. Ella worked in the home until the children were old enough to start school. She was a great seamstress and made many of the clothes her children wore. God and family were deeply important to Ella throughout her life.
After Edgar’s passing, Ella Mae moved to Miami where she lived for over twenty years. During this time, she renewed her interest in playing the guitar and enjoyed playing and singing at church services and Gospel singings. She also enjoyed a trip to Israel with her church that brought her great joy.
On June 2, 2018, Ella married Ronnie Wright and moved to his farm southeast of Miami. They attended First Assembly of God Church and travelled to gospel singings and church services where they shared the Gospel in song. She and Ronnie regularly went to the Adawa Tribal Center for lunches and enjoyed seeing friends there. She also enjoyed walking, gardening flowers and vegetables, watching birds, embroidery, and weaving baskets to help Native American children. Ella was very proud of her Cherokee and Osage heritage. She and Ronnie enjoyed eating out regularly. She said he spoiled her! Her family is grateful for the relationship her and Ronnie shared.
In 2024, Ella’s medical needs went beyond what she and Ronnie were able to manage together and she went to live with her son, Wendell and daughter-in-law, Debbie in Grove. From there, she would travel to spend time with her daughter, Michele and her family in Colorado.
Ella Mae is survived by her husband, Ronnie, a daughter, Michele and her husband, Brian Tessari of Fort Collins, Colorado, a son, Wendell Fields and his wife, Deborah of Grove, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Domenic and Michael Tessari of Fort Collins, Colorado, Matthew Fields of Keller, Texas, Stephanie Simants and her husband, Michael of Memphis, Tennessee, and Megan Fields of Oak Grove, Kentucky. She is also survived by eight great grandchildren; Ayden and Madison Messer, Emily, Caleb, Elizabeth and Lydia Simants, Hailey and Wesley Fields. She is also survived by her nephew, Carl Meadows and his family of Grove.
Ella was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ab and Nora Meadows, her husband, William Edgar Fields, three brothers, William Henry Meadows, Bertie Meadows and Roy Meadows, who died as an infant, and a niece, Carolyn Sue Meadows-Kahn.
The family would like to say a special thanks to Dr. Jenny Walsh at Sam Hider Cherokee Health Center in Jay, Oklahoma and Good Shepherd Hospice in Grove for their service to our family over this past year. Ella Mae’s quality of life was greatly enhanced by the nurses visits from Good Shepherd and their good advice. We encourage contributions to Good Shepherd Hospice in Ella Mae’s name here: https://www.goodshepherdhospice.com/donations/
Casket bearers were grandsons, Matthew Fields, Domenic and Michael Tessari, grand son-in-law Michael Simants, son-in-law Brian Tessari and nephew Gary Butler. The memorial service was led by Pastor David Dillon from First Assembly of God Church in Bixby, Oklahoma. Internment was at Jumper Cemetery just east of Jay, Oklahoma.
