Milton Jonathan Noel

MILTON JONATHAN NOEL Funeral services for Milton Jonathan Noel, Kxyap-Taw-Tdai-Dawhn (Brave Old Man), 58, will beheld at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3 at Rainy Mountian Kiowa Indian Baptist Church, sosuthwest of Mountain View. A Wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Riverside Indian School gymnasium, north of Anadarko. He was born Nov. 1, 1952 in Okarche. Affectionately known as ?Bubba,? he departed this life on Aug. 30, 2011 in Oklahoma City. He was an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. He was also of Choctaw and Chickasaw descent. He was given his Kiowa name by his grandfather, Charlie Toyebo. In the spring of 1833, Kxyap-Taw-Tdai-Dawhn defended the Kiowa Camp by shooting arrows at the Osages to allow Kiowa women and children to escape from the massacre at Cutthroat Gap. Throughout a lifetime, Kiowas traditionally had two names. Milton?s boyhood name was Tdai-Saw-Tahlee, which means ?Boy of the Cross.? This name was given to him by his great grandfather, Jimmy Quoetone, who visited him as a newborn at the Catholic hospital. While being led into the hospital, Jimmy Quoetone, who was blind, felt the crosses, and bestowed the name onto his great grandson. Bubba graduated from Anadarko High School in May 1970. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1974, Master of Education in 1975, and Master of School Administration in 1987, from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Bubba began his teaching profession at Red Rock High School in Red Rock, Oklahoma. He then taught industrial arts at Fort Wingate, New Mexico then returned to Oklahoma to teach industrial arts at Elgin High School. After teaching, he began serving Riverside Indian School from 1987 to present in various roles, including athletic director, superintendent, and principal. His lifelong goal was to encourage Native American students to complete their education. Throughout his life, he embraced his Kiowa traditions through language, Christian hymns, dancing, singing, and craft and feather work. His passion revolved around learning, teaching, and retaining Kiowa culture. He exemplified a true Kiowa gentleman through his gentleness, compassion and concern for others, and his special gift and ability of knowing and sharing Kiowa lineage and Kiowa history. In the Kiowa language, the word Kxome-ee best describes him and his life. It implies that he learned greatly from his Kiowa elders. Lynn and Edna Pauahty taught him beadwork and feather work, his grandfather, Milton Toyebo taught him the trombone, and Fred Tsoodle taught him Kiowa Christian hymns and his love for the Kiowa Gourd Clan. Within the Kiowa Gourd Clan, he was a faithful and dedicated member and cherished the annual encampment. Due to his love of Kiowa Children?s songs and lullabies, he assisted Gus Palmer, Sr. with the Rabbit Society and later became Poe-Lah-Yee-Kone-Tday, Grandpa Rabbit. His grandparents, Milton and Margaret Toyebo, instilled in him a Christian upbringing. From this, grew his love for Rainy Mountain Church, where he was a song leader, Sunday school teacher, moderator, and deacon. He learned to speak and translate Kiowa from Kiowa Christian hymns. He studied translation of Kiowa through recorded songs, speeches, and prayers. On Thursday, August 25, 2011, Bubba and Gloria Toppah, celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary. From this union came two daughters, Christina ?Crissy? Marie and Julia Rose ?Ay-Kehn-Mah.? Bubba was truly a doting ?papa? to Aubrey, Lily, Brother, Micah and Kylee. Bubba was preceded in death by his fathers, Leo Noel and Fred Tsoodle. Survivors include his wife and daughters; his mothers, Patricia Noel and Peggy Tsoodle; his uncle, Lawrence Noel; three aunts, Wanema Noel, Joann Brewer, and Tressia Ables. He is also survived by his sisters, Janis Noel, Margaret Lee, Mable Cozad; one brother, Timothy Tsoodle; a son, Kyle Robedeaux, and an adopted daughter, Tara White from Crow Agency, Montana. Internment will be at Rainy Mountain cemetery. Services are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home in Anadarko.

Milton Jonathan Noel

November 1, 1952 - August 30, 2011

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