Bruce R Poafpybitty Sr.

Bruce Reid Poafpybitty, Sr.

Bruce Reid Poafpybitty, Sr. of Stecker was known as "Bator" to his many friends and

called "Uncle Bud" by his nieces and nephews and called "Butterball" by family. After a

lengthy illness, he passed from this life to his eternal heavenly home on April 7, 2025, at his home with his family by his side. Bruce, 81 years, was a member of the Comanche Nation and of Kiowa heritage. Bruce was the son of Thompson Poafpybitty and Ethelene Haumpy Sankadota and the grandson of James "Honae Hoe" and Mary

Satepauhoodle Haumpy on his Kiowa side and Robert and Mahrahwaddi Poafpybitty on his Comanche side.

He was born on September 27, 1943, at the Lawton Indian Hospital. Growing up in his

earlier years, he lived off and on with his Kiowa grandparents near Carnegie. He

attended school at Riverside Indian School, Stecker, Carnegie, and Broxton. After

graduating, he attended vocational Training School in Chicago, Illinois, and acquired

auto mechanics and auto transmission certifications.

After completing his vocational training, his military service began in April 1965. His "In Country" services stationed him at several military facilities within the U.S. He was also trained with the 101 st Airborne as a paratrooper. His last duty station was at Ft. Sill Military Base where he was Honorably discharged in 1968.

He found employment with the OKC Maintenance Department working with heavy

equipment. Later, he wanted to maintain his own working environment and decided to

put his training and working skills in auto mechanics toward helping people maintain

their vehicles. He always enjoyed this type of work, often figuring out the most difficult

problem in a vehicle and solving the problem.

He enjoyed sports, especially when his children participated in high school. He sponsored an independent basketball team "County Warriors". They played in numerous tournaments around the state. He enjoyed stock car racing with his sons and nephews. For many years he went to Lawton Speedway every weekend, dragging his stock car and racing in feature races.

On October 27, 1966, Bruce married Delores Tonahcot at Indiahoma, Oklahoma, and

they were blessed with four children. Bruce loved is family, children, grandchildren, and his little bothers and sisters. It was always a blessed day when they would come to visit him, spend a holiday, or share a meal.

Bruce was a believer in the Lord, often offering encouragement to someone that was

not feeling well or going through a difficult time. He supported a church or minister

regardless of their denomination.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thompson Poafpybitty and Mother Ethalene

Haumpy & Jasper Sankadota, Sr.; son Bruce Reid Poafpybitty, Jr.; grandson Rickie Lee Clark; granddaughter Whitley Poafpybitty; Great Grandson Jose Luis Angel Lopez; seven brothers: Thomas Poafpybitty, Virgil Poafpybitty, Dale Sankadota, Ducky Sankadota, Danny Sankadota, Jasper Sankadota, Jr., and Jimmy Sankadota; two sisters Mary Lenora Poafpybitty and Gloria Sankadota.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Delores, two sons: Thomas Poafpybitty and Johnny

Sankadota, Anadarko; two daughters, Tracy Poafpybitty Toehay and (Rob Toehay),

Lawton; Hankie Poafpybitty, Albuquerque, NM; four granddaughters: Mindy Poafpybitty, Elgin; and Cassie Poafpybitty, Sherman, Texas; Zola Ortiz and Tallulah Ortiz, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Twelve Special Great Grandchildren: Angel Clark, Apache; Bayard "BB" Looking Glass, Ary "Baby Cakes" Looking Glass, Kaci "Cupcake" Carson, Elgin; Leslie Lopez, Nathanyl Gomez, Amiya Gomez, Angelina Poafpybitty, Thomas Lopez, Chris Lopez, and Carly Lopez, all of Sherman, Texas; and siblings, Gale

Sankadota and Erma Sankadota, Anadarko; Joyce Vinyard, Anadarko; and Charlie

Hansen, Stecker, as a special brother.

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. ~ 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 2025

Ray & Martha's Funeral Home

Carnegie, Oklahoma

Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 11, 2025

Cedar Creek United Methodist Church

Carnegie, Oklahoma

Interment: Satepauhoodle Family Cemetery

Carnegie, Oklahoma

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home Carnegie, OK