Estelle Stevens

Estelle Marie "Tiny" Stevens, McLoud, Oklahoma, passed from this life to be with her Lord on March 6, 2016. She was born on December 30, 1932, in Pawnee to Charlotte SpottedHorseChief Norman and Walter Norman.She grew up in Pawnee and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1950. She attended St. Gregory's University in Shawnee.Estelle was a full-blood member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. While she was a member of the Petahawirata Band, her Pawnee heritage indicates that she was also a member of the Chaui, Kitkehahki, and Skidi Bands. She was proud of her Pawnee heritage, being descended from Hawk Norman, Principal Chief of the Pawnees in the 1860s and SpottedHorseChief. She was proud of the Pawnee Nation and considered herself to be a member of the tribe because of their wise and thoughtful leadership.She enjoyed attending the Pawnee Homecoming every year and camping for the past 50 years. She also camped and participated in the Pawnee-Wichita Visitation for many years and enjoyed seeing family and friends.She worked for many years in the Indian Health Service in medical records in Pawnee and Shawnee. She also volunteered with the Kickapoo Head Start program  in her adopted hometown of McLoud.During her many years as an IHS employee in Shawnee, she participated in a program where she walked the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest.Survivors include a son, Robert Thomas, Pawnee; five daughters, Joni Hunt, Gracement; Gwendolyn Hunt, Oklahoma City; Constance Stevens, McLoud; Jamie Garcia, Paden; and Marcel Stevens, McLoud; brother, Kenneth Roberts; sisters, JoAnn SpottedHorseChief Roberts; and Wynema SpottedHorseChief Roberts; 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Stevens; son, Joel Hunt; sisters, Irma EchoHawk;  Rosanna Peters; Anita Norman Bayhylle; brothers, Alvin "Ugh" Echohawk, Francis Allen ;"Jack" Norman; Leland Norman; and Clarence Norman.Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 10:00 a.m., in the Roam Chief Event Center, Rev. Lynn Eaves officiating. Burial will follow at the South Indian Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home and Cremation Services.