By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
February 17, 1950 – August 20, 2026
Claremore, OK
Cherokee Nation Citizen
Melinda Ruth Hancock-Bump, 76, of Claremore, left this life on August 20, 2026, surrounded by her family. A Funeral Ceremony will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Rice Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will immediately follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Born on February 17, 1950, to Lavina Robinson and William Eugene Hancock, she was raised on the Westside of Claremore with her brothers, Roy Hancock and George Wofford, Jr. She grew up next door to her beloved Aunt Ellen Koontz (Annie)
Melinda married Dorman Ray Bump on March 29, 1965. She raised four children, Terry Bump, Brad Bump, Jeremy Bump, and Rachael Austin, in an Indian home in Claremore. She took great pride in her Cherokee heritage and was taught much of the family history by her beloved Annie.
While still raising two children at home and working a full-time job, she graduated from nursing school at Rogers State College in 1987. She began her career in Tulsa before moving back to Claremore, then spent over 35 years working between Claremore Regional Hospital and Claremore Indian Hospital. She worked on 2 North, was a Level Four Registered Nurse, and a supervisor before moving to the Claremore Indian Hospital to work with her best friend, Christine (Chris) Baldridge, in the surgery department.
While she loved her career, Sewing, and playing Skip-Bo (with another of her best friends, Grandma Jeri), she also loved catching Sand Bass on Lake Hudson. Her passion and her happiness came from her grandchildren. If she wasn’t at home, she was at dance class, Walmart, or headed to a ball game. She was 100% involved in everything they did; birthdays and holidays were all a big deal at Nana’s house, but Christmas was her passion. Those days will forever be remembered and missed by her grandbabies, Emylee Grubbs, Grace Bump, Ethan Austin, Josh Bump, Hope Bump and Emberlyn” Ellen” Austin.
