Announcements & Events

Marvin Lee Smith

Obituary

Marvin Lee Smith, 63, of Shawnee, Oklahoma passed away Thursday, February 8, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was born February 1, 1961 to Mickey Smith and Velma Blanchard in Norman, Oklahoma. Marvin was raised and born in Norman, Oklahoma and raised in Little Axe. He lived in Bethel acres for the last 25 years. He attended school in Noble, Oklahoma then Ft. Sill Indian School before joining the U.S. Marine Corps proudly serving his country. After returning from the marine corps, he returned to Little Axe area and began his career in the pest control business for Terminex then opened his own pest control business "All Nations Pest Control" in Shawnee for many years. Marvin enjoyed camping, floating the river, boating, and going to the lake. He loved dogs, but most of all his family and attending all family functions. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was known as the comedian of the family, along with Sherry they loved bowling and went all over the US for tournaments. He was an avid OU football and Thunder basketball fan. He was preceded in death by his sister, Anna Smith; father, Mickey Smith; son, Landon Davenport; brother, Mickey Smith Jr.; nieces, Dasia Neconie-Shawnee and Anna Roberts. Survivors include his daughter, Jordan Byers; significant other, Sherry Byers; mother, Velma Blanchard; sisters, Sharon Shawnee, Katie and Todd Yates, Melissa Smith, brothers, Roy and Lois Gibson, Gary and Nicole Gibson, Archie Smith, grandchildren, Ryder and Landyn and many nieces and nephews and extended family and friends and Everett, Bart, Nick and Darrol whom he loved like sons.

Howard Gene Wilson

Obituary

Howard Gene Wilson, 73, of Shawnee, Oklahoma passed away Saturday, August 26, 2023 at his home in Shawnee. He was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on April 8, 1950 to Cletis Clifford and Marcella Juanita (Masquat) Wilson. Howard was raised in the Johnson Community. He graduated with the class of 1968 from Earlsboro, Oklahoma. Howard earned his associate degree in graphic arts from OSU Okmulgee Tech in 1970. He lived in Pawnee for a short time but lived most of his life in the Johnson Community. He worked for the Sac and Fox tribe for a short time. Most of his life he worked as a heavy equipment operator in the oil and gas industry. Howard was a proud member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. He loved golf, especially pasture golf, loved OU football, coaching little league and fixing up old cars. He was a member of Sallateeska Baptist Church. Howard was respected, loved and will be missed dearly by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cletis and Marcella Wilson; brother, Wayne Wilson; and sister, Cleta Tiger. Survivors include his son, Jeff Allen Wilson, Clinton, OK; daughter, Sabrina of Paden, OK; sister, Teresa Jones; numerous grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.

Joe Spoon

Obituary

Joe Spoon, 52, lifelong resident of Tecumseh, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023 in Oklahoma City. He was born February 7, 1971 to Clyde Edward and Lois Fern (Washington) Spoon in Lawton, Oklahoma. Joe was raised in Tecumseh and attended Tecumseh Public Schools. He worked his entire career as a Lineman and Electrician and most recently a Supervisor for the City of Tecumseh. Joe took a lot of pride in his work. It was very important to him that the job was done right and safely. Joe was a proud member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe and was actively involved with his Absentee Shawnee heritage rituals and traditions. He took a lot of pride in his home, keeping it organized and maintaining his yard and acreage, where family and friends were always welcome. Family was very important to him and his home was the central meeting place for get togethers, holiday and ceremonies. Joe loved playing video games, watching movies and enjoyed singing karaoke. His hobbies included ATV riding on his property and playing pool. He was an excellent pool player and always ready for a challenger or tournament. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Lois Spoon. Those left to cherish his memory are his sister and brother-in-law, Loretta and Cecil Mann of Macomb, OK; brother and sister-in-law, Samuel Spoon and Tracy Cage of Tecumseh, OK; nephew, Joel and Stephanie Spoon of Little Axe, OK; great-nephew, Canaan Spoon; great-nieces, Paisley and Raelee Spoon; numerous other extended family and friends.

Robert White

Obituary

Robert White, age 91, lifelong resident of Little Axe, Oklahoma passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at his home surrounded by family. He was born December 16, 1930 in Little Axe, Oklahoma to Willie White and Tennie Little Jim. Robert was raised in Little Axe and attended High School and Post Graduate at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. He married Dorothy Jean (Marshall) White. Robert proudly served his country for 4 years in the U.S. Air Force as Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged. He worked most of his life in the Construction and Carpentry. Robert was a proud member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Cornerstone Indian Baptist Church, Little Axe Alumni, Metal Lathers Local 26 and Carpenters Union Local 329. He loved being with church members, family, and friends and playing harmonica. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie White & Tennie Little Jim; his wife, Dorothy Jean White; brother, Leroy White; and step-son, Allen George Bowman. Survivors include his son, Robert White, Jr.; sister, Barbara & Jerry Little Axe; granddaughters, Kim and Erica; and numerous nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends.

Yvonne Cahwee (Alford)

Obituary

Yvonne Katherine Cahwee was born on March 29, 1950 in Claremore, OK and passed away on May 11, 2022 in Tulsa, OK. She was enrolled with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma with Muskogee Creek and Seneca descent. Her tribal name was “Na-Ge-Ka-Ewa-Shee” (Beaver) and she was of the Water Clan. She attended Bowen Indian Baptist Church and Indian Falls Creek Baptist Assembly. Yvonne graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1968 and continued her higher education at the Oklahoma Junior College where she received her Associates of Science degree in Computer Technology in 1984. She married her soulmate, Dwayne, in 1993 and was the mother to five children: Ray, Katherine, William, Tike, and Atira. In addition to being a devoted mama, Yvonne was employed throughout the years at the Tulsa County Assessor’s Office, Indian Health Service’s Office, and retired from River Spirit Casino in 2020 where she was awarded with Employee of the Year in 2016. Her hobbies included travel, sports, movies, concerts, and of course the casino slots. In her younger years, she enjoyed coaching and playing basketball, volleyball, softball, bowling, and pool. In her later years, she loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and watching the OU Sooner games every Saturday with her two boys Boogie and Scooter. She cherished the holidays and always had her home decorated for all seasons. Yvonne is survived by her husband Dwayne Cahwee; her three siblings: Eugene Alford Jr., Diane Guthrie, and Janene Alford; her three children: Ray Alford, Katherine Smith, and Atira Chapman; her seven grandchildren; and her six great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents Eugene Alford Sr. and Davene Alford; and her two sons, William Alford and Tike Chapman.

Thurman "Duke" Blanchard

Obituary

Little Axe resident Thurman “Duke” Blanchard, 71, died Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Little Axe. Thurman was born February 6, 1951, in Little Axe, Oklahoma to Lewis and Cynthia (Creek) Blanchard. He was a lifetime resident of Little Axe, Oklahoma and was a member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He graduated from Noble High School and started his career with Oklahoma Natural Gas, retiring in 2006. He married Fredith Butler on June 2, 1972, in Little Axe, Oklahoma. He started as a pipeline welder with Oklahoma Natural Gas in Norman, Oklahoma. Later in his career, he worked in supervision, overseeing job site crews in the Oklahoma City area. He was proud to live and be involved in the Shawnee Tribal Ceremonies. In the early years, he loved to play fastpitch softball, traveling many miles to play various tournaments. His hobbies included working with old antiques and raising Dexter cows. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and sports, especially when it involved his grandkids. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Sue Ann Blanchard; and a brother, Kenneth Blanchard. Survivors include his wife, Fredith Blanchard of Little Axe; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Jessica Blanchard of Norman; son, Craig Blanchard of Little Axe; five grandchildren, Caden Blanchard, Cache Blanchard, Mya Blanchard, Chael Blanchard, and Cecily Blanchard; brother, George Blanchard and Kathleen of Miami, Oklahoma; brother, Chester Blanchard and Kathy of Noble, Oklahoma; sister, Cleta Johnson and Bud of Little Axe, Oklahoma; sister, Redena Miller and Glen of Norman, Oklahoma; sister, Glendine Blanchard of Little Axe, Oklahoma; sister, Betty Isaacs and John of Noble, Oklahoma; brother, Kevin Blanchard and Arlene of Lexington, Oklahoma; numerous nieces, nephews, and many other family and friends.