Funreal for Nelson Eddie Big Bow Sr., 93, Lawton, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church, Carnegie, with the Rev. David Harjo and the Rev. Arthur Tsatoke officiating.
Mr. Big Bow died Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010, in Lawton.
Burial with military honors will be at Highland Cemetery under direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home.
A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
He was born April 28, 1917, in Carnegie, to Abel Keahbaw and Agnes Aungkotoye Big Bow. He grew up in the Carnegie "South Bunch." He was the great-granson of Chief Zepkoette, (Big Bow) Kiowa Chief from 1833 until 1910. He was giving his great-grandfather's name, Zepkoette.
He was a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and an original member of the Kiowa Black Leggins. He was the eldest male of the Kiowa Tribe. He was the 2002 Indian of the Year for the American Indian Exposition, honored elder of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Adult Protection Services Conference and honored Kiowa member for the National AARP
He married Johanna Tarcypokedooah on Dec. 17, 1942, in Anadarko. He enlisted in the Army Dec. 18, 1942, in Oklahoma City. He was a Gun Crewman Medium Artillery and Expert TSMG. He received the World War II Victory Ribbon and the American Theater Ribbon. He was honorably discharged Feb. 11, 1946, at Camp Chaffee, Ark. He later worked for City National Bank and the Indian Affairs Commission.
He had great respect for his native customs and traditions. He had been blessed to share and create beautiful feather work and songs given by God to inspire others within the powwow settings and Native American Church. He was a member of Kiowa Chapter Native American Church and United Methodist Church of Apache. Many organizations called upon him to open their ceremonies with prayer and words of encouragement. He and his friends founded the Tia-Piah Society of Oklahoma in 1967. His great desire was to share God and teach others to continue their native ways. He found that God had greatly blessed him and he showed it by being a blessing to others within the community. Nelson was given the honor of personally meeting President Gerald Ford at the Lawton Airport in 1976 to present to him a Buckskin Scroll signed by leaders of several Oklahoma tribes.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Johanna Big Bow, of the home; 11 children and their spouses: Tina and Robert Baker, Aneeda and David Harjo, Beverly and Clifford Quoyah, Lydia Ramerez and Marilyn and Bert Weryavah, all of Lawton; Johanna and Arthur M. Tsatoke, Carnegie; Eddie BigBow and Donnita Sovo, Sterling; William and Teresa BigBow, Nanetta and Andy Mote, Jamie and Daniel Swanson, Darrell BigBow and Karen Tso, all of Lawton; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ella Fay Horse, Carnegie; a special niece, Lahoma Horse, Carnegie; a special granddaughter, Angela Lamebull, Anadarko; a special sister, Leatrice Jay, Apache; two special daughters: Carol Kahrahrah, Geronimo and Laura McCarthy, Elgin; four special sons: Warren Snyder, Taos, N.M.; Ernest Redbird Jr., Anadarko; Lonnie Emhoola, Lawton; and Daniel Cozad, Anadarko; many special family and friends of Arizona and New Mexico and many other family members.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter; a daughter-in-law, Ruby Big Bow; three sisters: Mary Tartsah, Pearl Kerchee and Lucille Poolaw and three brothers: Woody, Harding and Joe Big Bow.
Friends may call from 1-6 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Sunday, September 19, 2010