Buena Orleanna (Nicholson) Dillahunty, 97 passed away on the morning of Tuesday July 4, 2023 in Bixby, Oklahoma.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Services.  Visitation at the funeral home on Sunday July 9, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m..

Graveside services will be held on Monday July 10, 2023 at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa.

Orleana was born on July 29, 1925 in Tulsa, OK to Jesse Hill and Buena Vista (Akin) Nicholson.  She was the fourth child of seven and graduated from Tulsa Central High School, class of 1944.  She attended Oklahoma School of Business, Accountancy, Law and Finance; working there for several years before joining Texaco, Inc where she retired after 31 years of service.

Orleana remembers the Great Depression very well. Living outside the city limits by two blocks, the family could keep chickens, ducks, geese, cows, horses and a small garden.  The potatoes and turnips were stored under the house, so they could not be stolen.  Due to lack of payment, the electric and gas were turned off.  One bedroom was used for a load of coal, so it could not be stolen.  In 1933, the government paid the veterans of World War I, the bonus that had been promised them for serving their country and planned to pay in 1941, because a large group of veterans marched on Washington demanding the money, NOW!  Orleana's father had served in France and used the $750 to pay off the lumber company owed for the lumber and materials to build the house, and had moved into in 1928.  He also bought a 1929 Model A Ford that he drove for over 21 years; and food and clothing.  The Ford cost $130 and they now owned their home.

Orleana was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for over 60 years, serving one year as Worthy Matron of Houston Chapter, # 385, Houston TX, now Houston Ransford #135.  She was a dual member of Naomi Chapter #295 Sapulpa, OK.  She was privileged to serve one year as Mother Adviser of Houston Assembly #8, Order of the Rainbow for Girls and received the Grand Cross of Color in 1982.  Orleana toured the National Headquarters of the Order of Eastern Star in Washington D.C. and the National Masonic Temple in Alexandria, VA and the National Headquarters of the Order of Rainbow for Girls in McAlester, OK.

She was a world traveler, having been in all 50 states and more than 40 countries.  She also fished in several lakes in Oklahoma and the western United States, from Texas to Nevada and Montana and Glacier National Park.  Her first husband was from Montana.  The highlights of all her travels were riding on one of the 18 Concord Aircraft in 1998 from New York City to London and returning on the Queen Elizabeth II.  She rode on a hydrofoil to and from the Isle of Capri and many trams, lifts, and ice tracks during her travels.  Orleana walked on the Great Wall of China, saw the clay soldiers and rode on a Japanese speed train.  Her last trip was by airplane to Long Island, New York to visit her cousins.  She was 94 years old and enjoyed the wheelchair rides through the airports.  Her cousins took her on sightseeing trips to Long Island including Montauk Point.

Orleana enjoyed working in her yard, fishing and bowling.  She used the same white 10 lb. ball for over 60 years and was still bowling in a senior league at Sahoma Lanes, at the time of her passing.

She is survived by her brother, Ira Everett Nicholson (Norma); many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends, All Loved.

Orleana was preceded in death by her three husbands, Robert W. Gorske, Charles Verdell Mark, Hugh Mack Dillahunty; brothers, Jesse Hill Nicholson, Omer Leroy Nicholson; three sisters, Dortha Lee, Evelyn Witt and Jessie Fay Whitaker; nephews, John E. Nicholson and James Marlin Lee.