By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
November 25, 1937 – July 24, 2026
Chelsea, OK
Cherokee Nation Citizen
Funeral services for Pat Lutz will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Chelsea Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at Chelsea Cemetery.
Pat Lutz passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the age of 88.
Pat was born on November 25, 1937, in Claremore, Oklahoma, to J.W. and Ethel (Deal) Mizer, original members on the Dawes Roll of the Cherokee Nation. She spent her childhood in the Cherokee Central Community and attended Bushyhead and Chelsea Schools, where she enjoyed playing basketball. She graduated with the Chelsea High School Class of 1955.
Following graduation, Pat moved to Claremore and began working as a telephone operator. It was there that she met the love of her life, Glen Lutz. The couple married on May 18, 1956, and began their life together. They lived in Tiawah, Claremore, and Kingfisher before eventually making their home in Chelsea, where they raised their family and built a lifetime of memories. This year, Pat and Glen would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Pat devoted most of her life to caring for her family as a loving homemaker. In later years, she enjoyed working for the Rogers County Election Board in Chelsea from 1977 – 2024 and at the Cherokee Nation Election Board over the past several years. She was also a member of the Chelsea Assembly of God Church since 1972, which she cleaned for many years.
She found joy in the simple things in life. Pat loved spending time in her garden, working crossword puzzles, and playing games with her family, especially Wahoo and dominoes. She enjoyed the weekly 2 mile walks with her sister Ruth (weather permitting). More than anything, she cherished every opportunity to gather with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her home was always a place of laughter, love, and togetherness.
Those who knew Pat will also fondly remember her famous “love pats.” Despite the affectionate name, they were delivered with enough enthusiasm that family members often joked they could “knock the devil out of you.” It was one of the many ways she showed her love and left everyone smiling.
