Zeke McConnell

Zeke McCONNELL 1/1/1919 to 2/4/2007 Born in the small town of Stilwell, Oklahoma, to full blood Cherokee mother, Josie Chuculate and Irishman Jessie McConnell, Zeke, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, grew up on a small farm in Bunch, OK. His mother passed away when he was five. The grandparents were unable to locate his father so the children were declared orphans and sent to Sequoia Indian School in Talequah, OK. He graduated from High School and earned a diploma from Bacone Junior College in 1941. Zeke was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. He was an Alamo Scout in the U.S. Army's 6th Infantry. The Scout units gathered intelligence behind enemy lines in the Philippine Islands. After the war he was discharged at Fort Lewis, Washington. He took a job as a painter and began work at Cushman Indian Hospital where he met his wife to be, Mae Ladinne Duffy. They were married in 1946. Zeke was an avid hunter, liked to fish and took the family on car camping vacations in some of the most beautiful parks and mountains in Washington and Oregon. He was the Scout Master for Troop 358 for several years and served as president of the local PTA at Crestview Elementary. He developed and performed archery exhibitions and traditional American Indian dance demonstrations for a variety of local groups and organizations, including Tyee High School. The McConnell tribe eventually grew to five children: Kathleen, Leslie, Joseph Brad, Denise and Tyler. Zeke retired from the Seattle Center maintenance department in 1982. His life was filled with frequent visits to and from his five children; eight grandchildren and eventually three great grand children. He was full of vigor, loved to tell and hear jokes, made friends easily and respected people regardless of their age. He passed peacefully from heart failure. He is survived by his wife, Mae (Chick) McConnell, daughters: Kathi Henderson (Jack), and Denise McConnell, and sons: Leslie McConnell (Janet), Joseph DrowningBear, Tyler Running Deer (Jen). A Memorial Service will be held at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16475 International Blvd., (old Highway 99), SeaTac, WA (206) 242-1787 on Saturday, March 3, at 3:00 p.m. Please sign the guest book at www.bonneywatson.com.