James Anthony "Big Tony" Maker

1938 - 2012

James Anthony Maker (Big Tony) passed away on May 7 at the Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. at the age of 73.
Big Tony was born on October 05, 1938 in Hominy, Okla. to Alfred Anthony Maker (full-blood Osage) and Hazel Virginia Wear Maker (1/2 degree Cherokee).
Big Tony is the grandson of James Maker (Shon-kah) Allotment No. 812 and Louise BigChief Maker (Heh-kah-mon-kah) Allotment No. 4. His paternal great grandfather was Tah-hah-gah-hah Allotment No 809 and his paternal great grandmother was Ah-Kah-me (Ella West) Allotment No. 811. His maternal great grandfather was Tom Big Chief (Pa-hu-skah) Allotment #1 and his maternal great grandmother was Me-to-op-pe Allotment #2.
On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Lizzie Wear (Cherokee #19241) and the great grandson of Nathaniel Redbird (#19239) and great grandson of Mary (Mixwater) Redbird (#19240).
His educational background was divided between Osage County and Phoenix, Ariz. In first grade he attended Union School in Pawhuska, Okla.; Second through fifth grade he attended school in Phoenix, Ariz.; Sixth grade was attended at Union School in Pawhuska; Junior High School was attended in Phoenix, Ariz.; Sophomore and Junior Years were spent at the Mexico Military Academy in Mexico, Mo.; Senior Year was spent in Phoenix where he graduated from Camelback Mountain High School in 1957.
Big Tony attended one year of college at Tempe, Ariz.
Big Tony married Jennie Kathleen (Blanc) Maker of Pawhuska in 1959. They made their permanent home in Mound Valley, Okla. on land he had inherited. He had a 200 head cow/calf operation; plus, he had a roping arena where he and his friends could practice their roping which he thoroughly enjoyed. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hominy and was a member of the IRA (Indian Rodeo Association) and PRCA and Tony worked for the Indian Health Services of the Osage tribe for a few years.
Big Tony is survived by his wife Kathleen Maker of Oklahoma City; son James Anthony Maker II of Oklahoma City and son Joel Alfred Maker of Tahlequah, Okla. His grandchildren are Jerod Anthony Maker of Oklahoma City; Mallory Dawn Jackson of Poteau, Okla.; Jace Bailey Maker of Tahlequah, and J. Anthony Maker-Lee of Mustang, Okla.
A traditional Indian service was held at Hominy Indian Village and officiated by Chief John Red Eagle.
Casket escorts were John Maker, Brent Maker, Larry Maker, Scott Bighorse, Frank Hudson and Randy Dildine.
Interment followed in Hominy Cemetery followed by a dinner at the Hominy Indian Village Community Building. Head cook was Ann (Maker) Freeman.
The family is deeply indebted to all those who participated and made these traditional services possible, deeply grateful for all who attended and shared their grief and are in deep deep sorrow at the loss of their dearly beloved.