Julia Ann Shults

Funeral services for Julia Ann (Walls) Shults, 77, of Tulsa, OK, were held Thursday, January 27, 2022, at Johnson Funeral Chapel in Sperry, OK. Pastor Dan Doak officiated, and burial was in Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, OK. Honorary Casket bearers were Richie Melendez, John Hardy, Oliver Shults, Andrew Sturgeon, Brett Wheelock, and Anthony Nave.

Julia, “Julie” or “Judy”, as she was known, was born on Sept 29, 1944, in Cyril, OK, to Jesse Walls and Lela (Ebert) Kolb. She lost her battle with Covid-induced pneumonia on January 22, 2022, in Tulsa, OK.

Julia, a loving daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, wife, and mom, was born at home in Oklahoma, and she and her family eventually moved to California. It was there where she found herself closely surrounded with a large extended family. She grew up, worked, and traveled with her sister and cousins living on the West Coast, before joining the US Navy. Julia moved to the East Coast where she met the “love of her life”, Albert Shults. It took some convincing, but he eventually won her over. Known for her big heart and her ability to help anyone in her extended family or church congregation, Julia moved from the East Coast to Texas and eventually back to Oklahoma with her two children and husband.

Upon returning to Oklahoma, she became a preacher’s wife and worked at the Department of Corrections in the personnel department. She loved to spend time with family, sew, cook, organize, and attend family gatherings, travel, drink Pepsi, and attend church gatherings. Julia retired in Kerrville, TX, with Al before returning to Tulsa. In retirement, she would spoil grandchildren and become caregiver to her mother, husband and sister, Jann, who was also her best friend. Words cannot express how much she meant to those that had the privilege to know her.

She passed away three days after her best friend and sister, Catherine “Jann” Walls.

She is survived by her daughter, Kara Shults; son, Matthew Shults and wife, Kari, grandchildren, Sarah Beth Shults, Andrew Sturgeon, Isobel Shults and Oliver Shults; niece, Louise Nunez of Modesto, CA; great nieces, Zoe Nunez, Milah Nunez; sister-in-law, Judith McElhaney of Modesto, CA; cousins, Diane Gregory, Connie Hardy, Alicia Melendez, Richie Melendez, LaTonya Smith and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Charlotte McElhaney; brother, Jimmy McElhaney; parents, Jessie Walls and Lela & Harry Kolb, aunts, Velma G, Bonnie Dee Hamilton, Suzie Moore and Jim & Bea Walters; and uncles Lester Ebert, Melford Ebert, and Orville Ebert.

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

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