Alice Tyner Timmons

© Bartlesville Examiner
February 17 to March 17, 2010
Submitted by: Annajo Cantrell Limore

Alice Tyner Timmons, born near Vinita, Oklahoma, August 10, 1914, passed away Friday, February 12, 2010 at the age of 95. She is the daughter of James and Grace Young Tyner, and the great-great-granddaughter of Quatie Snaketail, who walked the Trail of Tears at age 68 from Hiwassee River, Tennessee. Mrs. Timmons attended school in Pawhuska before attending the Chilocco Indian School, Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, and the University of Oklahoma. Alice married Boyce Timmons of Pawhuska June 27, 1937 and together they had four children, David, Dan and Tim Timmons and Alesha Timmons Moring.

Alice worked at OU for 20 years, including 18 years as a specialist at the Western History Collection. Many University of Oklahoma students benefited from her vast knowledge of Oklahoma history as they worked on their Masters and PhD degrees. While at OU, she received the George Lynn Cross Merit Award, , the Distinguished Service Award of the Oklahoma Heritage Association, and was assigned the History Award as one of the five Outstanding Women of Oklahoma by the Oklahoma City Professional Chapter of Women in Communications Inc.

In 1999, Mrs. Timmons was honored as one of the first recipients of the Cherokee Honor Society Award presented by the Cherokee National Historical Society. Other awards she received have included the Phi Alpha Theta History Service Award, the Cherokee Nation Distinguished Service Award, the 1997 National Indian Education Award, the Chilocco Indian School Alumni Award and most recently induction into the Oklahoma History Center's Hall of Fame in 2006.

In the 1970s, Alice and her brother, James Tyner, published twelve volumes of "Our People and Where They Rest," a compilation of maps and descriptions of abandoned cemeteries of the old Cherokee Nation. A second book, edited by Alice and her late husband Boyce, is a reprint of "The Cherokee Physician" by Richard Foreman.

Mrs. Timmons was one of the founders of the Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women in 1969, a group that recognized her as the 1988 Oklahoma Indian Mother of the Year. Some of her many memberships have included Cherokee National Historical Society, National Congress of American Indians, Oklahoma Women's Posse of the Westerners, Descendants of the Cherokee Seminaries, Chilocco Indian School Alumni Association, and the National Trail of Tears Association. She was also very active with several Norman area garden clubs, where she frequently presented programs about Native American medicines and herbs.

Alice and Boyce were part of the special community at OU in the 1940s through the '70's that nurtured and "fostered" Native American students. With their support, guidance and encouragement many students were able to complete their degrees.

Alice made her home the center of every family holiday with her wonderful flair for decorating, cooking and remembering every family member, whether present or far away. The grandchildren would love to peek into their special, handmade cross-stitched native designed stockings. There were over 40 beautiful stockings. The Christmas tree was decorated with Native American ornaments collected over the years, as well as ornaments created by family members.

These activities, works, and awards are evidence of a life dedicated to her love of family, heritage and history.

Mrs. Timmons was preceded in death by her husband Boyce Timmons in 1996, son David Timmons in 1989, infant son James in 1945 and brother James of Chouteau, OK. She is survived by her children Dan Timmons and wife, Naomi, Tim Timmons and wife, Cynthia and Alesha Timmons Moring and husband, Bob, all of Norman, and "son" Thomas Todacheeney and wife, Mary Lou of Farmington, NM. She also has ten grandchildren, Dan, Brian, Tim and Garrett Timmons, Cindy Hunter, Amy York, Alan Moring, Julie Moring, Sean Kight and Christy McFarland, and eighteen great-grandchildren, her brother, Fred Tyner, of Pawhuska, OK, and many other relatives and close friends.

She had a special place in her heart for the members of Norman First American United Methodist Church, where she was an active member and elder.

Services are Tuesday, February 16th, 12:00pm at St. Stephens Methodist Church, with Havenbrook Funeral Home handling the services.

Send condolences online at Havenbrook Funeral Home.

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