Miriam Juanita Petersen

Miriam Juanita “Nita” (Murphy) Petersen, 70, of Jenks, OK was born December 13, 1950, to Norman Leon and Annie Nathalee (Allison) Murphy, in Childress, TX, where her grandparents, Ed and Rachel Murphy lived. She passed away November 5, 2021, in Jenks, OK.

Miriam was known to all her loved ones as “Nita”. Nita set the bar as a military freight logistics specialist. Coordinating movements of military freight across the US working for several trucking organizations. She was a master of her craft and touched the lives of thousands. Born and raised from a Christian family, she kept her faith close teaching all of us what the true meaning of family really was. Taking anyone in need under her wing, Nita would always do anything she could to help. You could always find her Christmas shopping on QVC for everyone throughout the year. Christmas time was her favorite time of the year, and her Christmas mornings were legendary. Her collection of nutcrackers was just the beginning. When she wasn’t Christmas shopping, Nita was painting her ceramics. Her ceramic pieces are breathtaking as you would swear, she had bought them from a store somewhere. Her ceramic pieces made wonderful gifts that she shared with the entire family. These masterpieces will most certainly be passed down for generations. One of Nita’s prized ceramic pieces took 2nd place in the Greater Tulsa Ceramic Association contest. Her words of wisdom which she captured in her poem writing would always touch your heart and your imagination. As these poems were extraordinary. Nita always had a way with words with sayings like, “I felt sorry for the man with no shoes, until I met the man with no feet”. Some of her poems she wrote in a book were even published. Nita loved music from artists like Patsy Cline, the Judd’s, Dolly, Reba McEntire with the occasional Nelly. As she would always dance to the song “It’s Getting Hot in Here”. She was no stranger to a good two-step country song as we would always catch her singing and dancing along to “I Got Friends in Low Places”. We would occasionally find her in a quiet place reading her books. One of Nita’s favorite books was, “If Life’s A Bowl of Cherries, Why Am I In the Pits?” by Erma Bombeck or novels from Stephen King. She loved fast cars and the occasional fine wines.

Throughout Nita’s wonderful life, which we were all so very fortunate to have been a part of, her memory will never stop us from smiling and loving one another as she was the matriarch of our world.
Love always and forever.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandy Reed Gatsos; sons, Thomas Reed, Jr. and wife, Aspen of Tulsa, and Brent Shires, Jr. of Tulsa; grandchildren, Christopher Gatsos of Tulsa, Stephanie  McIntosh of Springfield, MO, Dylan Korenak of Tulsa, Demi Priddy of Tulsa, Thomas Reed IV and Ariel Reed of Tulsa; great-grandchildren, Carson Korenak, Chandler and  Carleigh Priddy, Adilee, Jalee, Liam, Ella and Willow McIntosh; father, Norman Murphy and wife, Sheila Murphy of Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Debora Murphy of Colorado Springs, CO; half-siblings, Leah Murphy Slaton of San Angelo, TX, Tammy Murphy Hargett, of San Angelo, TX , and Michael Murphy of Monument, CO; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Annie Allison; grandparents, Ed and Rachel Murphy; and brother, Thomas Murphy.

Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.