Genealogy Researcher, small business owner. My families are TATE and WOODS of Texas County, Oklahoma, WILSON and MUSE of Jackson County, Oklahoma and LEWELLEN and CAMPBELL and YOUNG of Mulhall, Logan County, Oklahoma and Avery, Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

I am a genetic genealogy enthusiast and have always enjoyed the peacefulness of the cemetery. My son, now in college, was but a toddler when I would throw his wagon and trike in the truck and off we went to the next cemetery travelling from Plano, Collin County, Texas to Parker, Jack, Young and Wilbarger Counties of Texas to go through the cemeteries for genealogy information.

I am also the mother of a native american daughter and work to keep the memory of her native american ancestors alive. My sincere appreciation of Delores Titchywy Sumner, for her research and publication, "Descendants of Wis-sis-che" (Wis-sis-che). "Unlike the Five Civilized Tribes who had the Dawes Roll ;.nd other Rolls recording their family genealogy, the written records of the Plains Indians was difficult to decipher. The
military post, Ft. Sill was established to corral the Comanches, Kiowas and other Plains Indians. The military did not accurately record family members. Comanche's had such extended families, for example your aunts and uncles were your father and mother, also first cousins were brothers and sisters, therefore during enrollment, they naturally referred to relatives as such. The Indian Agency plus Indian Boarding Schools were not only unorganized but inaccurate in their record keeping. However, I lived during a time when my Elders were my source." --Delores Titchwy Sumner

I believe these memorials are sacred just as the actual graves are sacred. I was taught to walk between the graves and not over them, out of respect. I've been to many more funerals than I ever imagined. Our death is as much a part of our life as anything is and so I find this an important and sensitive area and try to do my best to honor those that have passed before us.

Some of these little private cemeteries would not be in as good a shape as they are without the likes of cousins of mine who care for a family cemetery in the middle of nowhere. If it weren't for them, the stones would be overgrown with weeds and the like, so much must be acknowledged for those who keep the rails painted and up and the grounds mowed, fighting the spiders and snakes.

Genealogy Researcher, small business owner. My families are TATE and WOODS of Texas County, Oklahoma, WILSON and MUSE of Jackson County, Oklahoma and LEWELLEN and CAMPBELL and YOUNG of Mulhall, Logan County, Oklahoma and Avery, Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

I am a genetic genealogy enthusiast and have always enjoyed the peacefulness of the cemetery. My son, now in college, was but a toddler when I would throw his wagon and trike in the truck and off we went to the next cemetery travelling from Plano, Collin County, Texas to Parker, Jack, Young and Wilbarger Counties of Texas to go through the cemeteries for genealogy information.

I am also the mother of a native american daughter and work to keep the memory of her native american ancestors alive. My sincere appreciation of Delores Titchywy Sumner, for her research and publication, "Descendants of Wis-sis-che" (Wis-sis-che). "Unlike the Five Civilized Tribes who had the Dawes Roll ;.nd other Rolls recording their family genealogy, the written records of the Plains Indians was difficult to decipher. The
military post, Ft. Sill was established to corral the Comanches, Kiowas and other Plains Indians. The military did not accurately record family members. Comanche's had such extended families, for example your aunts and uncles were your father and mother, also first cousins were brothers and sisters, therefore during enrollment, they naturally referred to relatives as such. The Indian Agency plus Indian Boarding Schools were not only unorganized but inaccurate in their record keeping. However, I lived during a time when my Elders were my source." --Delores Titchwy Sumner

I believe these memorials are sacred just as the actual graves are sacred. I was taught to walk between the graves and not over them, out of respect. I've been to many more funerals than I ever imagined. Our death is as much a part of our life as anything is and so I find this an important and sensitive area and try to do my best to honor those that have passed before us.

Some of these little private cemeteries would not be in as good a shape as they are without the likes of cousins of mine who care for a family cemetery in the middle of nowhere. If it weren't for them, the stones would be overgrown with weeds and the like, so much must be acknowledged for those who keep the rails painted and up and the grounds mowed, fighting the spiders and snakes.