Camden Rece Matthew Soldier
- Cherokee 411 Staff
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
January 26, 2009 — May 28, 2026 Cookson, Oklahoma Cherokee Nation
Camden Rece Matthew Soldier ("Cam") came into this world on January 26, 2009, to his proud parents, April Dreadfulwater and Matthew Soldier, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He gained his wings on May 28, 2026, in Park Hill, Oklahoma, at the age of 17 years, 4 months, and 3 days.
Cam entered life ready to take on the world. As the youngest of five children, he enjoyed the outdoors, being on or near the water, traveling, and family gatherings. Cam attended school at Chouteau from kindergarten through eighth grade, where he developed lifelong friendships and formed a special bond with Mrs. Shelle Messer. She impacted him so deeply that he would often say, "Mama, Mrs. Messer would be proud," or, "Ooh, Mrs. Messer would have gotten me for that."
The summer after his eighth-grade year, Cam moved to Tahlequah with his mother, April, and stepfather, Cody. He then began his freshman year at Keys High School, where he grew fond of his teacher, Mr. Darrell, and met Nehemiah Begay, who became his brother from another mother.
As Cam grew into a teenager, his love for music became a passion, and his love for travel turned into countless tanks of gas and endless road trips. Most of those adventures were spent with Abby. After Bill and Wendi Worthington helped him purchase his first truck, keeping him at home was nearly impossible.
Cam was a quirky, charismatic teenager who was growing into a proud young man. He had his fill of school and convinced his mama to allow him to pursue his GED with the promise of enrolling in an HVAC program. Cam chose Oklahoma Technical College and never looked back. He was on his way to bigger and better things.
At OTC, Cam quickly found a mentor in his instructor, Mr. Jimmy. He loved being a part of the OTC family and wore his uniform proudly and often slept in them. Cam was beginning to find his place in the world.
Camden loved his family and always looked forward to visits from his siblings. He had the biggest heart, a smile that could light up any room, and many talents. He especially loved his mama's fry bread.
Cam will be forever loved and deeply missed.
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