Russell Turner Tsoodle

Russell Turner Tsoodle "Rub" as he was passionately called by nearly everyone, was born on March 3, 1942 to James Henry and Dora (Autaubo) Tsoodle at the old homeplace, 2 1/2 miles southeast of Mountain View and he went home to be with his Lord early Monday morning at 5:32 am, April 23, 2018.
He was a graduate of Mountain View High School where he excelled in football, playing the position of center for the "Tigers" in the 1959 State Playoff game.
Russell was a proud graduate of Bacone College, Muskogee, Oklahoma, with an Associate of Arts degree. While attending Bacone he performed with the then famous but now disbanded Bacone College Choir, serving as its President, Vice President and Bass Section Leader. He performed Indian Sign Language with the choir during the concerts and in his final year, he was selected as the "Outstanding Choir Member" by his choir peers. He then transferred to the former Southwestern State College now called Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, wherein he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. At Southwestern, he performed with the Southwestern Singers, Southwestern Men's Glee Club and the Choral Club.
He was employed in the field of education most of his life and served in many positions related to the field of Education. He was a classroom teacher and coach at Marlow High School from 1974-1983 where in he helped coach many of the "Outlaws" state play-off teams. Fifteen (15) years in the Education Department of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma which included 3 years as a Homestart Home Visitor and Headstart Lead Teacher; 3 years as AVT-DEA Counselor and 9 years as Director of the Kiowa Tribe Higher Education Program. He served 4 years as the Secretary for the National Organization Tribal Education Contractors Association-TECA and was a member of the National Indian Education Association.
He was a lifelong member of Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church. However, his last few years he attended Weatherford Indian Baptist Church because of lack of transportation. He was also a devoted member of the Kiowa Gourd Clan and camped every year on the north side of the arena! He will be sorely missed by all.
"Rub" was a very happy and jovial person and loved to tease. He had a huge host of very close friends whom thoroughly enjoyed his company. He has a very, very close relationship with all of his family and tried to stay in touch with everyone.
He was preceded in death by both his parents: Father in May, 1965 and Mother in December, 1982, a number of uncles and aunts, several brothers and sisters.
He is survived by 3 brothers: Chuck of Mountain View, OK; Alva D. of Apache, OK and George Knight of Marysville, Washington. Four sisters: Geneva Brungardt of El Reno, OK, Susan Jane Parrish of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, Alfreda Claus of Phoenix, Arizona and Lyntha Klinekole of Anadarko, OK and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews and array of many friends who he considered his family as well.
Burial will be in the KCA Cemetery, Old Rainy Mountain Church cemetery under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home of Carnegie, Oklahoma.

Pall Bearers: Head Pallbearer: Wendell Autaubo; Regular Bearers: Mike Ahdokobo; Rudolph Gilbert Ahdokobo, III; Allan Dale Ahdokobo, Jr; Dennis Kopepassah, Terry Hunter and Byron Lance White.
Honorary Pallbearers: Rick Waters, Lindy Waters, Jr., Jamie Tsoodle, Brian Brungardt, David Tsoodle, Adam Tsoodle, Micah Parrish and
Jonathan Parrish.