Burial of indigent Okmulgee woman in limbo

OKMULGEE, Okla. (AP) _ The few friends an indigent woman had in Okmulgee are trying to raise enough money so that her burial won't be left up to Okmulgee County commissioners. <br><br>Not much is known

Thursday, December 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKMULGEE, Okla. (AP) _ The few friends an indigent woman had in Okmulgee are trying to raise enough money so that her burial won't be left up to Okmulgee County commissioners.

Not much is known about Barbara Jo Keel, except that she moved here from Alabama 35 years ago. Keel, 50, died Nov. 11.

``She was my friend,'' said Rainy Davis of Okmulgee. ``I knew her about four years. I'm doing what I can do.''

Davis is looking for a cemetery to donate a burial space and to open and close the grave. She said she also wants to help find Keel's relatives.

Keel was born Aug. 10, 1950, in Harvest, Ala., to James W. and Susie Sullivan Keel. Both are deceased, but Davis said she thinks Keel has two sisters.

James Nichols, funeral director and manager of the Kelley Funeral Home, has volunteered his services and has arranged for a vault to be donated.

Nichols said a casket can be bought for about $400. The funeral home has established a memorial fund for those wanting to contribute.

Okmulgee Police Detective Todd Spurlock said Keel kept to herself and worked at odd jobs in the area. She had an arrest record for petty offenses and was a regular at local bars, he said.

Authorities said friends had given her a place to live, where she was found dead.

Spurlock has searched for Keel's relatives in Alabama and Tennessee. So far, he's been unsuccessful.

``Even the people who knew her best here don't seem to know much about her,'' Spurlock said.

Authorities don't suspect any foul play in Keel's death, though investigators have not determined when and how she was injured.

They suspect she may have fallen down because she had a high blood alcohol content.

This type of case isn't uncommon in Oklahoma, said Randy Saffell, coordinator of family services for the state medical examiner's office. His office handles about six to eight indigent deaths a year, he said.

``Usually we can find a family member,'' Saffell said. ``Unfortunately, some have to be given to the county for burial or cremation.''

``We're about the last hope for these people to have a funeral if we can locate family.''

Officials usually publish a picture of the deceased in newspapers, but Saffell said Keel didn't have any personal effects that could be used to track down her family.

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Those wanting to help pay for Keel's casket can make checks payable to the Barbara Keel Fund, Kelley Funeral Home, 220 S Alabama, Okmulgee, OK 74447.