Nancy Marie Gouge Deere, born on May 15, 1949 in Hanna, Oklahoma to Albert Ally Gouge and Sallie (Spaniard) Gouge, passed away at the age of 67 on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at Saint Francis Hospital of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nancy spent most of her childhood in Hanna and later moved to Oklahoma City where she graduated from Capitol Hill High School and studied at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Nancy met and later married the late Reverend Judson Deere with four stepchildren: Francis Duvall of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Sherie Deere of California; Jessie Deere of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; David Wayne Deere of Glenpool, Oklahoma; 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Nancy and Judson were happily married September 21, 1979 and began sharing their life in ministry. Nancy was baptized at Greenleaf Indian Baptist Church in Okemah, Oklahoma and was a current member of the Fundamental Indian Baptist Church of Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Nancy was a deer clan member of the Weogufkee ceremonial ground and a full blood Muscogee (Creek) citizen. She was very proud of her ancestral lineage to the Mvskoke leader Opotheyahola. As a wealth of knowledge and fluent speaker, Nancy taught individuals, families and children the Muscogee language, culture and heritage. Nancy was a co-founder of the Mvskoke (Creek) hymns singing group and the founder of the first Native American widow support group in the United States "Este Cate Hoktvke Oyevike (E.C.H.O.)" for which she received the 2014 Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women's - Alice Timmons Founders Award.

Nancy is survived by four sisters, Elizabeth Townsend of Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Evelyn Wood of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Helen Gouge of Wetumka, Oklahoma; Kristine (Tina) Gouge of Humble, Texas; 2 brothers, William Gouge of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Cecil Gouge of Tulsa, Oklahoma and numerous nieces, nephews and relatives. She is preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Judson Deere; her parents Albert and Sallie Gouge; one sister, Peggy (Deanne) Gouge; four brothers, Wilbur (Chebon) Gouge, Wilford Gouge, Ernest Ray Gouge, and Felix Gouge.

Viewing will be held at Integrity Funeral Service from 2:00pm until 6:00pm on Thursday, April 13, 2017. A wake service will be held on Thursday from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at Integrity Chapel in Henryetta, Oklahoma.

A celebration of her life will begin at 1:00pm, Friday, April 14, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Dewar, Oklahoma with Pastor Alfred Harley officiating. Interment will follow that service at the Gouge Family Cemetery in Hanna, Oklahoma. Pallbearers will be Charles Harley, Matthew Harley, Joshuah Harley, David Deere, Chad Deere, and Sarge Friday. And the honorary pallbearers will be Jackie Jackson, Jake Jackson, Simon MItchell, and Chiler Edwards.

All services are under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta.