Felipe Nava

Felipe Nava was born to Joseph and Maura (Vallejo) Nava on May 1, 1934 at Durango Mexico and departed this life in Lawton, OK on October 22, 2011 at the age of 77 years, 5 months and 21 days. Felipe grew up in Durango with the family later moving to Juarez Mexico. He eventually made his way to Los Angeles, CA where he met and later married Mamie Ethel Tabbytosavit on April 2, 1960. They made their home in the Santa Monica and West LA area for many years. In the late 1980's they began to make their move back to Walters which included a short-lived move to Mexico and a time back in California finally settling in Walters. For medical reasons, they have made their home in Lawton for the past couple of years. Felipe was a life-long iron worker, a career that began at the age of 12. Through the years he worked in construction and various other industrial welding and iron working jobs. Taking every opportunity to become more educated about his profession, he received many license and certificates in the fields of welding and iron work. Felipe was a member of the Emerson Nazarene Church west of Walters. He enjoyed dancing, eating and shopping. He was also an outdoorsman and enjoyed camping, skiing, hunting, fishing, working with tools, tinkering and building things. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother; his son, Phillip Nava, Jr. in 2004; his step daughter, Linda Marie Murphy; and step granddaughter, Amy Tabbytosavit. Survivors include his wife, Mamie of the home; 2 sisters, Louisa Gurrola of Merced, CA and Amanda Espariza of El Paso, TX; his granddaughter, Crystal Nava Sparling and husband David of New York; and a great granddaughter, Gray Harper Valentine Sparling; other relatives and friends.