Rebecca "Becky" Gail (English) Stelter Obituary

Rebecca "Becky" Gail (English) Stelter, of Smith River, CA., lost her fight for life on June 20th, 2023, while in the hospital in Medford, Oregon, due to Cardiac Arrest (Myocardial Infarction). She had been battling health issues for quite some time.

She was born in Ft. Ord, California on March 23, 1955 to Walt Ashcroft "Sonny" English and Wilma Bernice "Bunny" (Robison) Kirkland. They have both preceded her in death, along with the deaths of her granddaughter, Shanel Fawn Anderson; her brother, Roger Dale Whitely; her best friend of many years, Mary Stubbs; Mother and Father In-laws, Lavada and Jim Stelter; sister-in-law, Dixie, and her ex-husband, James "Jay" Stelter; as well as many much-loved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Becky married her first husband, Robert Horton, at the very young age of 15 (1970), followed by the births of their two children, Keith Alyn Horton (1971) and Trisha Lynn Horton (1972). She was just 16 and 17 years old. Just a baby herself. She loved her son and daughter very much, and they loved their Momma! She taught them many things over the years, but especially how to be loving, respectful, and hard-working people. Becky's son Keith added, "Mom was a strong-willed person that lived for God, and she wasn't the type of person to sugarcoat what she thought. She made me proud and I couldn't have asked for a better mother. I'm not gonna say that the loss of this wonderful lady hasn't been the hardest thing that I've ever had to deal with." Her daughter Trisha also added, "This has been so hard for me as well. She'll be missed so much by both of us." And although she lived too far away from all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to see them on a regular basis, she loved them all very much!

In 1975, Becky and her family drove up the Alcan Highway to Alaska, where she lived for many years before moving back to California permanently.

Becky enjoyed doing a lot of different things in her life, but she especially loved to cook. She has always been one to cook "Big Meals", even while living alone, but not being much of a big eater herself meant many times she had 'a lot of left-over food!' She would often send home a dish or two for any family and friends who happened to be visiting. Her family added, "We were the lucky ones, because she was a pretty darn good cook!!"

She loved feeding the neighborhood birds! Each morning they could be seen lined up along the telephone cables, waiting. She also had a Green Thumb when it came to plants and flowers. She knew how to make a yard look beautiful! She loved seeing her plants grow and blossom and had quite a variety on her porch, as well as many beautiful chimes hanging down among them. She also looked forward to seeing her tomatoes grow each year, until they were ripe enough to eat. Becky's tomato plants are still thriving with a few of her family and friends, who have given them a new home.

She had a Big Heart for animals! She didn't stand for cruelty. If she were watching a movie or T.V. shows that had animals in it, for instance, an old western with all the horses that got pulled around, falling over, or shot on screen, she absolutely could not watch It. Her hands were "Always" covering her eyes. She hated that the horses had to go through all that, just to make the show.

In her free time she enjoyed doing puzzles, coloring, crocheting, baking, watching cooking shows and old westerns. And like a lot of us, she was hooked on watching the new show, 'Yellowstone'. She loved Rip!

Another of her pastimes was reading, usually at bedtime. Reading books like 'Indian Captures White Woman and then they fall in love' type of romance novels, set in the 1800s era, was always a favorite of hers. She loved her Indian men, especially with long hair!

Becky loved the sunshine on her face and sitting out to tan. It didn't take much, though, because she had that Indian skin tone, which lasted throughout winter into the next summer. She took advantage of any time the sun was out. She was once asked how she liked living in California again, after leaving Alaska some years back. She replied in her matter-of-fact way, "Well, I don't have to watch for clouds anymore."

Becky loved listening to classic 70's and old-time country music. In 1980, she met (and later married) the love of her life, James "Jay" Stelter, at a very popular country/western bar, the Pines Club, while still living in Anchorage, Alaska. They both loved their country-dancing nights out, and with so many great memories from there, the Pines Club was exactly where they wanted to be, to celebrate the reception of their marriage that evening. It was so easy to see how much they loved one another. Becky had finally found "her cowboy!" And even though they divorced many years later, they remained good friends.

Becky didn't grow up around her father or other 3 siblings, but in 1981 or '82', her sister, Lori English, reached out to her in a letter. Becky wrote her back and their relationship grew from there. They were both excited about getting to know one another, and over the years and many phone conversations later, they did.

Becky is survived by her son, Keith Alyn Horton and daughter-in-law Rebecca Michelle (Fox), and their children, Andrew James "AJ" Horton, Matthew Elick Horton, Rebecca Nicole "Sis" (Horton) Brown, all from Spartanburg, South Carolina; Her daughter, Trisha Lynn Horton and partner, Jason Hite, from Fairbanks, Alaska, and Trisha's children, Shyanne Autumnlynn Anderson, and Dakota Michael Anderson; 13 great-grandchildren; Her step-father, Don Kirkland, who treated her like his own; and 7 siblings; Terry (English) Horton; Lori English; Walt English Jr.; Ruth English; Raynell Robison-Hatfield; Roxanne (Horton) Alexander; and Shelley (Horton) Powell.

Becky also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, close friends and loving in-laws (Stelter), her aunt Donna Robison, and far too many cousins to name, but a few whom she grew up around and was especially close to.

Becky was of the Muskogee (Creek) Indian Tribe (Deer Clan), and was very proud of her Indian Heritage!

After seeing Becky one last time, right after she passed away, our cousin Linda said, "Becky looked like a Beautiful Indian Princess!" And she did.

We love you, Mom/Grandma, Becky! And we will never stop missing you! R.I.P.

Family and Friends came together for a beautiful 'Celebration of Life' on July 8, 2023, in Cave Junction, Oregon.