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Canton Indian Mennonite Cemetery

aka Cantonment Cemetery
Canton, Blaine County, Oklahoma

© Pierce Funeral Home
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

James Ryan Fanman

September 10, 1984 ~ January 27, 2025

James Ryan Fanman was born September 10, 1984 in Gallup, New Mexico and passed on January 27,2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. His Cheyenne name was "Ese'hen'ahkoe" meaning SunBear, named after his late grandpa Clarence Tallbull. He was named after his late Uncle James "Slick" Fanman. He was known by his family as Nunu or Jim Jim. His mother is the late Janice Faye Fanman. His late brother was Russell Fanman. His sister Samantha Fanman. His daughters Jasmine Joy Fanman and Jordin Lynn Fanman and their mother Jessica Ann Shirley. James spent his time being creative. If he wasn't singing, you could catch him drawing or crafting. James loved to fish when he would get the chance in the different ponds or lakes. James was a family-oriented person with those he loved. He would also spend time with his Godson Carlos L. Gloria when he was a baby and was able to teach Carlos simple electrician skills around the house when he came to visit in Ft. Defiance. He loved his daughters and their mother. They would take trips to California with Janice to Toni Hawk’s Christmas pow wow, which he would help with singing or helping in the kitchen with the family. He would make sure his daughters had what they needed in life. James was a storyteller who would act out an event with sound effects, which is a Fanman trait. He was a performer like his grandfather Gunsmoke. James spent a lot of time with his late uncle David Fanman, Jr and his aunt Lorraine Fanman along with Samantha and Rusty in Fort Defiance, Az. His mother worked as a nurse at various schools across the Navajo reservation. His elementary school years were on the Navajo reservation and then later went to jr high in Phoenix, AZ. He had a strong bond with Beano and Sarah growing up. They all loved each other as siblings, then he moved to Phoenix, Az with his mom Faye, Sammy, and Russell. Donice Hoopaugh also helped guide and nurture James as a nephew and is always there for support. She always only wanted the best for James to live a full life. Throughout his life James loved those around him unconditionally with all his heart and made sure they knew he loved them.

James was taken in by the late Seth Bigman, Sr and Helen Bigman of Monument Valley, the Bigman family took him as a grandson, nephew, and brother. He spent time in the red dirt herding sheep, planting the corn field in Narrow Canyon, and riding horses amongst Mitchells Butte. James had the nickname for Cheii Seth of papa yaya due to Seth being a NAC church member. James would twirl his hair on his head in the shape of a tipi when entering Monument Valley and say Papa yaya. James was full of life and laughter when he and his family were together. He was overprotective of his siblings making sure they were always fed and had what they needed in life. He was the definition of a big brother.

His chosen career choice was to be an electrician, so he started off as a laborer with Emerson Shirley, then he was able to shadow journeymen electricians before he was able to get into a certification program to be an electrician. Once he was able to get into an electrician program, that is where he learned the skills, theories, and application to be an electrician. Once James completed the program, he was able to find work with various companies with different people he met at the program and could always find work. Mr. Shirley was happy that one morning James decided to go to work with him where he picked up the skills needed to be an electrician and there his career began. James had the mental ability to configure out the wattage needed to wire the facilities he worked at. James also was experienced to be the foreman for various jobs he took on. Since James was able to do the math in his head without having to write anything down, many of his jobs were able to get to work faster. He in simple words was a perfectionist when it came to the quality of the work he completed that passed with flying colors. Once a project was complete, James would be so proud to show his work off in photos, but most of all when he would drive by those buildings, he could say that he wired that building. James was always proud of the work he would do for his companies and his family who also had the privilege to have a personal electrician.

James was also a well-known singer in the Phoenix area. He was able to be mentored by the late Simon Smith, who acknowledged his ability to sing and catered to his abilities of song and dance. He started off singing northern songs with the Bear Hill Singers. He learned Lakota word songs. Then later he was mentored by Alton Yellowfish, who taught him southern men drum protocol as a man at the drum, such as how they dress and conduct themselves while at the drum. Then James learned to sing gourd dance songs and war dance songs that he would always be singing. He had the natural God given talent to be a singer. James would sing in the car, shower, and have a hand drum to practice. He sang with his fellow Greasewood singers of Phoenix, Az as well as with Youngbird Singers, and when asked to be head singer he would sing under Tallbull singers. He made many relationships in the Phoenix area to perform for the hospital, schools, and other community events where they needed a southern singer. He also danced grass at some pow wows when he wasn't singing and was a champion grass dancer. James comes from a long line of chiefs. From his maternal side and his grandmother's side he is the grandson of Chief Red Moon and Chief Jacob Allrunner, the first known "Little Boy Chief " of the Cheyenne people. On his paternal grandfather's side he is a great great great grandson of Chief Tallbull, the last Chief of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers. His paternal grandfather David Fanman, Sr was selected by the Arapaho people to be their chief. His late Uncle was David Fanman, Jr was a Cheyenne Peace chief. The chiefs in his family were in the U.S Army and U.S Marines. James R. Fanman is survived by his sister Samantha Fanman, daughters Jasmine J. Fanman, Jordin L. Fanman, their mother Jessica A. Shirley, Aunt Bealuh Fanman, Aunt Donice Hoopaugh, his Godson Carlos L. Gloria, Aunt Linda Jensen, and Aunt Rosie Fanman. He is survived by various nieces, nephews, and cousins who will miss him. He is preceded in death by his mother Janice F. Fanman, brother Russel Fanman, cousin David “Beano” Fanman, III, maternal grandparents the late David Fanman, Sr and Annie Allrunner Fanman, Uncles Kingsley Fanman, James S. Fanman, Malcom Fanman, David “Beans” Fanman, Jr. and adopted grandparents Seth T. Bigman, Sr and Helen Bigman of Monument Valley,Utah.

Wake services will be held at 6:00 p.m., Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Canton ERC with Pastor Gerald Panana officiating. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the same venue with interment at Cantonment Indian Cemetery under the direction of Pierce Funeral Home, Canton, Oklahoma.