John Jerome Mcclelland

John Jerome McClelland age 77 went to be with his Lord on Sunday, May 28, 2006 at his residence in Collinsville, Oklahoma. John J is of the Sac and Fox Bear Clan. His Indian name is Mesh e awk (pronounced: Me.She.Awk) meaning €œold man with a big heart.€
John J was born March 25, 1929 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma to John B. McClelland (Sac and Fox) and Delma Baker McClelland. Coming from a large family he was raised by his Uncle Ted and Aunt Melvina Baker of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma along with his Aunt Lorene Ellis who resides in Stroud, Oklahoma.
Mr. McClelland attended Haskell Indian Institute in Lawrence, Kansas and University of Oklahoma. He married Clarabell McClelland in 1948 and he fathered seven daughters. On June 1, 1966 John J married Joyce Whisman in Bentonville, Arkansas at the First Baptist Church and they would have celebrated 40 years of marriage this year. He lived in Claremore, Oklahoma for ten years and in October of this year he moved to Collinsville, Oklahoma. Before retiring Mr. McClelland worked as a Receiving Manager for Sears Stores. Mr. McClelland was a member of Bowen Indian Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John J loved to play golf, attend pow wows; he liked to travel and was very active in his Sac and Fox traditional culture.
John J. McClelland was preceded in death by both parents and his brother: Barney B. McClelland.
Mr. McClelland is survived by his wife: Joyce Whisman McClelland of Collinsville, Oklahoma; step-daughter, Cynthia Schockemoehl and her husband, Gene; step-son, Robert Irvinson; seven daughters: Sandra Lee McClelland; Cheryl Lynn Tofpi and her husband, DeWayne; Pamela Ann McClelland and her husband, Guy; Marilyn Beverly Ahhaitty and her husband, Bill; Jerri Renee McClelland; Terri Suzanne Gibson and her husband, John; Patricia Denise Bucktrot and her husband, Alvin; four step-grandchildren; seventeen grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren along with a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Pallbearers will be: Jeremy Gibson, Brent (Gabba) Longhorn, Jerry Martin, Jay Blalock, Guy Burris and Barry Schockemoehl.
A funeral service will take place 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at Bowen Indian Baptist Church, 1515 E. Independence, Tulsa, Oklahoma with Reverend Clifford W. Springwater officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Wofford Cemetery, Catoosa, Oklahoma.
Arrangements were entrusted to Daniel C. Schaudt of Schaudt's Glenpool Funeral Service & Cremation Care.
Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com