Danell Lerayne Rivers

Danell LeRayne Rivers, age 46, of Thomas, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Born on May 24, 1978, in Clinton, Oklahoma, Danell was the beloved daughter of Orville Rivers and Alice Whitetail. She grew up in Thomas, where she attended Thomas High School. During her school years, Danell was an active participant in athletics and the arts, excelling in shot put and playing the trombone with pride.

As a child, Danell loved to go on adventures. She had many sisters and brothers. Just like church, you could find her at the pool religiously or going to the creek with her sister girls in the summer. She loved Nintendo, and Mario was her favorite. Danell was many things to many people. She would always be remembered for her beautiful smile, the way she loved to joke around, and her big heart of compassion. It was rare you didn’t see her in the color red whether she was wearing makeup and heels or dickies and a collared shirt she loved to look nice and fresh. She loved music and was always a great writer, she even had some of her poems published. Her biggest love was her own babies and being auntie momma to all her nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She made sure to let them know that she loved them and hugged them tight. Even though Danell isn’t with us here anymore, she isn’t suffering, and we’ll always remember the memories and laughs made along the way as she was always such a brave soul.

She is survived by her lifelong companion Tristan Bustamante; her brother Jerry Whitetail and wife Keri; brother Perry Fraser and wife Ann; sister LaTisha Gibson and husband Calvin; her closet niece Shayla Cully; along with many nieces, nephews and grandkids.

She is preceded in death by her mother Alice Mae Whitetail; father Orville Paul Rivers Sr. ; her aunt Annette Whitetail; daughter Angel Mae Rivers; son Devlin Dougan Rivers; and brother Orville Paul Rivers Jr.