Obituary for Timothy Buffalo Head

Timothy Buffalo Head – Veteran.

November 30, 1939 – February 29, 2016

Timothy Buffalo Head, 76, of Ponca City died peacefully on February 29, 2016 at the Kenwood Nursing home in Enid, Oklahoma, after the Alzheimer’s disease took its toll on his body. He was born on November 30, 1939 in Pawnee, OK, and was the 4th oldest child of 12 children born to Roy and Dorothy Blue Back-Buffalo Head.

Tim attended Marland High School and later attended Chilocco Indian School. He left Chilocco to enlist in the Army in 1960. He then returned to Chilocco, where he was assigned to be a drill instructor sergeant. There, he met his future wife, June Begay of Chinle, AZ. Upon Graduation in 1961 they were married in July at the Ponca Indian Methodist Church by Pastor Melvin Boyiddle. They moved to Chicago, IL and Cleveland, OH. IN 1962 they returned to Oklahoma where he attended the Okmulgee Tech School. He received his drafting degree in 1964. He had also worked as a Truck Driver in earlier years for Pioneer Wholesale.

He attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College and received his Associates degree in Substance Abuse Counseling. Tim also worked for the Ponca Tribe from 1999 to 2005 as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and was also a driver for Meals on Wheels for the Senior Citizens Center.

Tim embraced his Ponca language and the Ponca Traditions. He looked forward to the Spring and playing shinney to greet the New Year. He was a member of the Native American Church and attended meetings on the weekends.

Tim’s Hobbies included playing bingo, going to the Casino’s in the area with his friend ”Ole Boy” Waters. He often mentioned John Overland and Carter Camp and how much they were missed.

Tim will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews with whom he often teased. He was ”their Uncle” whom they loved very much.

Tim is survived by one son, Ivan, and his spouse Beverly Springer of Perkins, Oklahoma, one granddaughter, Sadie Littlecreek, of Perkins, OK one grandson, Silas Cox, Cushing, OK and one great grandson, Xaine Izek Cox of Cushing, OK and three brothers Steve of Skiatook, Keith and Dwight of Ponca City, two sisters Joyce Greenwood of Oklahoma City, and Mary Hamilton of Ponca City, and many extended family members, and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Dorothy Buffalo Head, paternal grandparents Mark and Mary Buffalo Head, maternal grandparents Ernest and Nellie King-Blueback, two sisters Mayla Buffalo Head, and Betty Jo Stallings, four brothers Ronald Lee, Duane, Mark, and Ronnie Buffalo Head.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 with a traditional noon meal at the Ponca Indian Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Ponca Tribal Cemetery. Arrangements will be under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Casket Bearers will be Ivan Buffalo Head, Brent Greenwood, Marcus Buffalo Head, Blue Blue Back, Dwight Buffalo Head, Johnathan Buffalo Head, Isaiah Buffalo Head.

Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Keith Buffalo Head, Steve Buffalo Head, Benjamin Waters.