Charles Tullis

Charles David Tullis, known as “Cha”, passed from this life early Monday morning, October 20, 2025, in Tulsa. He was 68 years of age. Cha was born on May 8, 1957, in Carthage, Missouri to James Orville and Shirley Colleen (Baugh) Tullis. Cha was of Cherokee and Blackfoot descent. He was raised in Carthage before the family moved to Hominy. On March 5, 1977, Cha was united in marriage to Teena Kelly in Williamston, South Carolina. They had met on a blind date in Paris, Texas. Cha and Teena spent their honeymoon driving from South Carolina to Oklahoma. To this union, three children were born.

Cha worked at White’s Jewelry from 1975 to 1977 when he opened Cha’s Jewelry in Pawhuska; later moving to Hominy, after buying White’s Jewelry and changing it to Cha’ Tullis Gallery. From 1990 to 1997, Cha started his mural project, painting murals on several local businesses. New Territory sculptures were placed on the hill in 1997. Other projects include the Cross at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pawhuska for Kateri Tekakwitha, the Above the Clouds sculpture for the Indian Health Care Resource Center in 2003; he was the featured artist at the Dance of the Two Moons in 2015. Cha was also the artist for CASA for many years, received the Worthy Works Award from Epsilon Kappa in 2001, was Hominy Citizen of the Year 1993; received the Indian HealthCare Award in 2013. He was honored by the Osage County Historical Society Heroes and Legends of Osage County 2019 and designed t-shirts for Freewheel for many years. He was also honored as Outstanding Young Oklahoman in 1996, Hominy’s Best Merry Christmas Spirit Award in 2023 and received the Ambassador of Tourism Art and Culture award from the Hominy Heritage Association 2023. The University of Oklahoma College of Continuing Education Senior Adult services presented CHA DAY April 24, 2003. Cha had a feature role in the movie Ebenezer the Traveler in 2024 and most artwork in the series Reservation Dogs was done by him. He was also featured in Southern Living Magazine three times.

Cha made beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of silver and turquoise rings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants. He worked with many different stones, but turquoise was always his favorite. Cha also worked with steel, painted and worked with flowers and plants, making beautiful arrangements outside of his Gallery. His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, and he loved having his whole family around the table together. Among his many pets, Cha had 15 cows, all named; Color the horse of many colors, Andy the parrot, and Ellie Mae the Wonder Dog. As you can guess, among his hobbies was making jewelry, planting flowers, and steel work and always enjoyed talking about the Gallery and listening to Native American music. One of his struggles/challenges was finding time to do all the things he loved. He even found the time to travel to Gallup, NM, Yellowstone with Angie and of course South Carolina. His playful side would show when he told everyone that he was 112 years old.

Those that hold cherished memories are his wife of 48 years – Teena; children – Sallem Tullis, Tiercy Tullis, and Chasin and wife Erika Tullis; a sister Angie Tullis and brother Jim Tullis and wife Betty. Also surviving are grandchildren Sydnie and Sydona Tullis, Codie and Kylie Brown, Logan and Dillon Jarvis, Cheyann, Braelyn and April Jarvis, and Victoria Childers. Cha was preceded in death by his parents Jim and Shirley Tullis and his uncle and aunt Kenneth and Ida Mae Baugh.

At Cha’s request, he will be cremated and his ashes buried on the ranch. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Feedthechildren.org or to the Hominy Heritage Association.  The family is hosting a Celebration of Life Meal at the Hominy Indian Village Community Building on Saturday, November 1st, from 1:00 pm till 3:00 pm and all are invited.  Powell Funeral Home of Hominy has been entrusted with the arrangements. www.powellfuneralservice.com