Muscogee Nation News
Creek citizens from across Creek Nation

July 1987

LEWIS
Hepsey Scott LEWIS was born November 6, 1902, in McIntosh County. She died May 15, 1987, at Community Hospital, Lakeview. Wake services and funeral services were held at West Eufaula Indian Baptist Church, where she was a member. Services were conducted by Rev. Dan PHILLIPS, Jr., and Archie THOMAS. Pallbearers were Amos HARJO, Taylor FIELDS, Tom PICKERING, Robert GRAYSON, Jr., James CHARLES, Rudy JOHNSON, Frank KAMP, and Turner BEAR, Jr. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery in Eufaula.
She was a foster grandparent in the Creek Nation Boarding School.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Coleman LEWIS, who died in  1964; two sons, Johnson LEWIS and Coleman LEWIS II; a daughter, Rosalie LEWIS; three brothers, Bennie SCOTT, John SCOTT, and Daniel SCOTT; a half brother, Homer GRAY; and a grandson, Jerome Richard TIGER, a famous Creek artist who died in 1967. Z
Survivors include a daughter, Lucinda TIGER of Muskogee; four grandchildren, Johnny TIGER, Jr., and Rita Tiger STROBLE, both of Muskogee, Kenneth TIGER of Eufaula, and Marcy TIGER, who is with the U. S. Army in Germany; 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

BRUNER
Shirley T. BRUNER was born March 1, 1940, in Carson. Her funeral was June 3, 1987, at the Cedar River Baptist Church. No date of death was given. Officiating the funeral services were Andrew DEERE and Richard CARR. No other information was given on the funeral or interment.
Survivors include her husband, Fred Bruner; four sons, Kenneth Dale BRUNER and daughter-in-law Laura JACKSON of Holdenville; Jeffrey Jon JACKSON and Eddie JACKSON, both of the home; and Cpl.Timothy JACKSON of Twenty Nine Palms, CA; two grandchildren; her mother and step-father, Edith and William HARJO of Holdenville; and two uncles, Roy GEORGE of Holdenville, and Reed GEORGE of Anadarko.

STARR
Karen Lee STARR was born April 10, 1951, in Henryetta. She died July 4, 1987, at her home. Wake services were held at Cantrell Ivory Chapel. She was a member of Grave Creek Indian Baptist Church.
Funeral services were conducted at the Okmulgee Indian Baptist Church with interment conducted by Cantrell-Kelley Funeral Home immediately afterward in the church cemetery.
She is survived by her father, Josh STARR of Henryetta; one daughters, Robin STARR of the home; one brother, David BUTLER of Okmulgee; five sisters, Helen BUTLER, Darlene STARR, Rhonda STARR, Jennie STARR, and Betty SCOTT, all of Okmulgee; and several nieces and  nephews.

PITTMAN
Billy Ray (Bill) PITTMAN was born March 24, 1925, at Stidham. He died July 10, 1987, in the Veteran’s Hospital in Muskogee. Indian services were conducted at Black’s Funeral Home Chapel July 13. Funeral services were held July 14 at Eufaula First Baptist Church with Rev. Ernest  BEST officiating. Pallbearers were Mark DOWNING, Tom McCARTER, Dave HAZELWOOD, Bill CHEATHAM, Thomas McINTOSH, and Tom FORESEE. Honorary pallbearers were Edmond KREBS, Jim BITTLE, Creek Chief Claude COX, Robert SIMPSON, Jr., Harley LITTLE, John SELLERS, Sr., Dr. David SMITH, D.O.FREEMAN, Paul BURKE, Ken CHILDERS, Robert RHINEHEART, Robert LANE, and Dr. Stanley SMITH.
He entered the U.S. Army shortly after graduation from Stidham High School in  1943 and served in Europe during World War II.  He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Eufaula Lodge No. 1, where he was a past worshipful master, a member of McAlester Consistory of Scottish Rite, Bedouin Shrine Temple of Muskogee, McIntosh County Shrine Club, 10 year  member of Shrine Mounted Patrol, member of Lake Eufaula VFW Post 8798, served on the board of the Vivian Water Department and was chairman of the Creek Nation Hospital Board for ten years.
He was the son of Samuel Lewis and Ollie Estes PITTMAN. His father preceded  him in death.
On June 4, 1947, he married the former Martha JENNINGS at Ft. Smith Arkansas. She survives. Also surviving is one son, Mike PITTMAN of Eufaula; his mother, Ollie Estes PITTMAN of Eufaula; one grandson, Clinton PITTMAN; five sisters, Lucille HALLUM of Haskell, Ramona  JOHNSON of Tulsa, Estes McINTOSH of Bixby, and Nadine BUCK and Charlotte TURNER, both of  Eufaula; three brothers Langston PITTMAN and Glenn PITTMAN, both of Eufaula, and Lincoln PITTMAN of  Stidham.

JACOBS
Linna Mae JACOBS was born April 18, 1954, in Okmulgee. She died July 9, 1987, at a Tulsa hospital. Funeral services were held July 13 at Big Cussetah Church with Rev. Henry TARPALACHEE officiating. Interment was in the Artussee Family Cemetery under the direction on McClendon Funeral Home.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jonas ARTUSSEE in 1985. Her survivors include her children, Johnny Joe JACOBS, Jr., Shelley JACOBS, and Crystal JACOBS, all of the home; her mother and step-father, Sissie and Eldon LEWIS of Hanna; a brother, Harley Wayne LEWIS  of Ada; four sisters, Linda Jean HICK of Henryetta, Loretta ARTUSSEE of Morris, Chippie LEWIS of Hanna, and Laura BEAVER of Okmulgee; two step-brothers, Sampson LEWIS of Tulsa and Thomas LEWIS of Dustin; three step-sisters, Francis LEWIS of Hanna, Christina HARRISON of Hanna, and Pauline JEFFERSON of Seminole; and her maternal grandmother, Minnie FACTOR of Morris.

GOMEZ
Pedro S. GOMEZ, Jr., was born August 16, 1963, in San Antonio, TX. He died in July, 1987. He was a member of the Indian Baptist Mission. No details of the funeral service or interment were given.
His survivors include his wife, Debbie GOMEZ of the home; his children, Tony GOMEZ and Alicia GOMEZ, of the home; his father, Pedro GOMEZ, Sr. of San Antonio, TX; his mother Mary MOSES; three brothers, Tony GOMEZ, Paul GOMEZ, and Chris GOMEZ, all of McAlester; one step-sister, Karen Burrough of South Carolina.

HANEY
Rev. Vernon HANEY was born April 24, 1911, in Sylvian. He died at his home July 15, 1987. Funeral services were held July 17 at the Hitchitee United Methodist Church with Rev. James SPENCER, Rev.Jackson DEER and Rev. Joe LOWE, Jr., officiating.
He was a veteran of World War II in the U.S. Army. He was a retired minister with the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and served the Honey Creek Circuit from 1970-1977. He  retired as pastor of Hitchitee United Methodist Church in Seminole in 1980.
On February 22, 1949, he married Frances B. HANEY in Seminole County. She survives. His other survivors include his four sons, Evan HANEY, David HANEY and Joseph HANEY, all of the home, and Aaron DIXON of Okemah; two daughters, Neomi HARJO of Seminole, and Elizabeth Perkins of Midwest City; one brother, Norman HANEY of McCloud; 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

GREEN
Lucinda GREEN was born May 12, 1889, in Weleetka. She died July 21, 1987, at her home in Weleetka. Wake services were held July 23 with funeral services the following day, July 24. Both services were held in the Creek Indian Community Center. Rev. Roley HAYNES officiated. Interment was in the Weleetka Hillcrest cemetery under the direction of the Buckley Funeral Homes of Weleetka and Wetumka.A
She was the daughter of the late Sam BUCKLEY and Liza Harjo BUCKLEY. She had recently been honored by the Creek Nation and the town of Weleetka for being one of the oldest citizens. She was a long time member of the Alabama Indian Baptist Church near Weleetka.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Amos GREEN, her two sons, Thomas GREEN and Lewis GREEN, seven brothers and two sisters. She is survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

September-October 1987

BIBLE
David BIBLE was born July 16, 1904, in Broken Arrow. He died August 28, 1987, in a Tulsa hospital. Traditional Creek funeral services were held Tuesday, September 1, at the Springtown Indian Baptist Church on Oak Grove Road where he had been a lifelong member. Pallbearers were Daniel CHALAKEE, Chuck McHENRY, Larry BIBLE, Ken CHILDERS, Kenneth LOWE and James WILDE. Burial was in Park Grove Cemetery under the direction of Hayhurst-Marlin Funeral Home.
He had been a member of the 1926 championship football team from Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. The three surviving members of that team were his honorary pallbearers: Egbert WARD, Green Valley, AZ, Elijah SMITH, Sun City, AZ, and George LEVI, El Reno. He had been a brick mason and had retired in 1969. He was the son of Lewis and Mulsie BIBLE.
In had been married to the former Mildred MALONE for 43 years. She survives. Other survivors include their five children, Kathryn JONES and David E. BIBLE, both of Tulsa, Shirley THOMAS of Okmulgee, and Lucille MILLER and Robert Lee BIBLE, both of Coweta; his stepson, Billy Joe REED of Ft. Gibson; two brothers, Rubin CHALAKEE and Webster CHALAKEE, bot of Okmulgee; 23 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

BRUNER
Rev. Bunnie BRUNER, Jr., was born March 4, 1928, in Okemah. He died September 10, 1987. Funeral services were held September 14 at Hickory Ground No. 1 Indian Baptist Church, where he was pastor. No other information on the funeral or interment was given.
Survivors include his son, Wendell HARJO of Henryetta; one sister, Betty BEAR of Dustin; and several other relatives.

PERRYMAN
Clay Randy PERRYMAN was born June 17, 1960, in Merced, CA. He died Sunday, August 30, 1987, in Tulsa. Funeral services were conducted at Hersman Funeral Chapel with Deacon Jim PIERRET of Holy Cross Catholic Church officiating. Pallbearers were, Jay COOK, Rollin MORGAN, James RICE, Tom TERNEUS, Steve MATNEY and Jeff ALLEN. Honorary pallbearers were Rhol PERRYMAN, Harry PERRYMAN, Carl NAPIER, Emmett CARTER, Gregory PERRYMAN, Bryce ROBERTS, Tony ROBERTS, Jack REPLOGLE, Brett PERRYMAN, Ben PINX, Jerry PINX, Melvin COMBS, Terry ROBERTS, and Mark COMBS. Burial was at the U.S. National Cemetery, Ft. Gibson, under the direction of Hersman Funeral Home.
He had moved from California with his family in 1975 and graduated from Wagoner High School in 1978. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1979 to August 26, 1983, when he was honorably discharged. He attended Northeastern State University to become a paralegal. He was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity at NSU and held a black belt in karate.
He is survived by his father and step mother, Nolan PERRYMAN and Barbara PINX of Wagoner, and his mother, Patricia Britt Perryman LARSEN, and his son Billy Dean PERRYMAN, both of Pryor; his grandparents, Ethel PERRYMAN and Sam PERRYMAN, both of Coweta; his great-grandmother, Gladys FORRESTER of Coweta; his three brothers, Brett PERRYMAN of Lodi, CA, Private Benjamin PINX of the U.S. Army in Wursberg, Germany, and Jerry PINX of Wagoner; two sisters, Julia PERRYMAN of Wagoner and Karen PERRYMAN of Pryor; a niece Mandy Ann PERRYMAN of Pryor; and a number of aunts and uncles from coast to coast.

BERRYHILL
Rev. Almer W. BERRYHILL was born January 7, 1933, in Henryetta. He died September 7, 1987, in Okmulgee. Funeral services were held September 10 at Honey Creek United Methodist Church, where he was a member. Rev. Joe LOWE, Jr., officiated with Rev. Willie GOODEN assisting. No other information was given on his funeral. Interment was in the Berryhill Family Cemetery under the direction of Shurden Funeral Home.
He had served as pastor at Arkansas City Church in Kansas, and Salt Creek UMC, Thlopthlocco UMC, and Newtown United Methodist Church in Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. John BERRYHILL and Amy Randall BERRYHILL. He was married to Meloise Sue FISH January 30, 1970. She survives. His other survivors include his sons, Jonathan BERRYHILL, Larry Gene BERRYHILL of the home, Almer BERRYHILL, Jr. and Tony BERRYHILL; his daughters, Kathy BERRYHILL and Patricia BERRYHILL; sisters Lucille BEAR, Christine HARJO and Dicey BARNETT, all of Henryetta; and brother Walter BERRYHILL of Oklahoma City.

TIGER
Joe TIGER was born March 25, 1910, at Hanna. He died September 9, 1987. Funeral services were held September 15 at the Trinity Baptist Church in Hanna with Rev. Frank BILLY officiating.
He was survived by his two sons, Jimmy TIGER of Hugo, and Billy TIGER of California; two nieces and two nephews.

Muscogee Nation Index

 Eulala McDowell Pegram