Ernest Mehojah

ErnestEmmett Mehojah, resident of Ponca City, passed Saturday, June 23, 2012 at his home. He was 74 years of age. Ernest was a member of Kaw Nation Night Clan.

Ernest was born April 3, 1938 in Pawnee, Oklahoma, the son of Jesse Mehojah Jr. and Eva Ione Cassity Mehojah. He attended Pawnee grade school and earned his GED while serving in the Navy. He was married to Milburnia Dodson on October 24, 1958 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He started college at the age of 39 and earned a bachelors of science degree from Southwestern Oklahoma University in Business Administration and Law.

Ernest served his country in the United States Navy Seabees and was very proud of his Navy affiliation and service. In earlier years Ernest worked the oilfields and pipelines before being employed some 5 years as a cross country truck driver. He then worked 18 years for Sun Oil Marketing and Refining, now Sunoco, in Abilene, Texas. He was a driveroffice worker and dispatcher while working for Sun Oil.

He was member of the Tye United Methodist Church near Abilene, Texas and most recently attended the First Free Will Baptist Church in Ponca City. He was a member of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Texas, Lodge 710 of Merkel, Texas. He also served as Executive of the Kaw Nations Veterans Commission. His enjoyments were his family whom he supported very much. He also loved music and entertaining, and at the age of 17 began a band in Las Vegas while in the Navy. Ernest enjoyed oil painting, working in the yard with his wife, and relaxing on his front porch with a good cup of coffee.

He is survived by his wife, Milburnia, of the home five children, Leonard Dale Mehojah of Glenmora, Louisiana, Emmett Ray Mehojah and wife Dolly Ann of Ponca City, Terry Colleen Ussery and husband Jack, New Salem, Pennsylvania, Milburn Gene Mehojah of Ponca City, and William Thomas Mehojah and wife Tonya Gail, of Ponca City his brothers and sisters, Willa Long of Kaw City, Jesse Charles Mehojah of Ponca City, Ronald Dean Mehojah of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Donald Gene Mehojah of Kaw City, Marilyn Kay York of Newkirk, Edwin Lee Mehojah of Kaw City, and Daniel Michael Mehojah of Enid 16 grandchildren 14 great grandchildren other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Eva Ione Mehojah one son, Ernest Ray Mehojah Jr. one brother, Tommy Mehojah.

A traditional noon meal will be served on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at the Kaw Nation PowWow grounds Northeast of Kaw City with Rev. Adam Phillips, pastor of the First Free Will Baptist Church presiding. Burial will follow in the Washunga Cemetery near Newkirk. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers will be Leonard Dale Mehojah, Emmett Ray Mehojah, Milburn Gene Mehojah, William Thomas Mehojah, Rex Allison and Jimmy Lee Allison.