Tiajuana Smith

Tiajuana Potiye Cozad, 74, died peacefully at Binger Nursing home on February 21, 2013. Tiajuana was born September 13, 1938 to the late Daisy Ware Hokeah and Leonard Cozad Sr. She was adopted by Daisy's eldest sister, Emma Ware Potiye Haury and husband Henry Potiye. Her step-father was the late Jack M. Hokeah, one of the original Kiowa Indian Five artists.

During her youth, she attended Riverside Indian School, as well as Fort Cobb public schools before graduating from Colony High School in 1956. While at Colony, she excelled in gymnastics and was also a band majorette. She also loved fast-pitched softball, playing the positions of catcher and pitcher on a team called Hog Creek that went on to compete in Nationals in Memphis, TN, as well as various state tournaments. Tiajuana was guided by a very strong work ethic, which lead her to a career in education where she worked as a teacher's aide at East Grade Elementary school. She later went to work for Riverside Indian School, where she served for over 20 years. During her time at Riverside, she touched the lives of many students. One of her greatest joys was getting to know and nurture the students she was charged with assisting. She also enjoyed working with her colleagues, whom she held in high esteem.

As well as being regarded as a generous, kind and giving person, she was famous for her fry bread recipe, where she helped to raise a lot of money for various organizations within the community. When asked to join various fry bread contests, she would always turn down the offer because she believed her talent in fry bread making was a gift from God and if she attempted to capitalize on it, he would take it away. An active member of her home church, Ware's Chapel UMC, she was a strong woman of God. She was a member of the church choir, where she was known for her beautiful Soprano voice and loved singing traditional Kiowa hymns.

Preceding her in death were her parents, and siblings Alfred Eugene, Leora Faye, Edna Lynn, Olythia Faith Hokeah, Warren “Bo Jack†Hokeah, Johnny Davilla, Carmelita Neconie Bacon, and Adeline “Cherry†Neconie Gallegos; Also, Naomi Cozad Svitak, James Cozad, Ora Ann Cozad Charcoal, May Cozad Caubin, Kenneth Jay Cozad, and Leora Grace Cozad; and one granddaughter, Garen Hill.

Survivors include her three daughters, Janice Allen of Tonkawa, OK, Jennifer Hill and her husband Darren of Anadarko, and Reaha Wetselline and Otis Anderson of Oklahoma City, OK and adopted daughters: Sidney Long, Lou Ann Long Messner, Vickie Little and her husband Kevin Little; also included are Michael Hokeah, Ervin Dale Hokeah, and Tim Williams; siblings include Sheri Hokeah, Dorine Brownen, Marcie Davilla, Patricia Goombi, Gloria Holder, Marie Cozad Moses, Leonard Cozad Jr., Charles L. Cozad, Cathy Cozad Pewonofkit, Lewis Cozad, Beverly Cozad, Daniel Cozad Sr., Larry Cozad, Andrew L. Cozad, Vernon Cozad, and Russell D. Cozad. Her grandchildren include Amber Wright and her husband Christopher, Cassie Jury and her husband Kelly, Devin Allen and Calvin Roundface, William and Mavis Cozad, and Daisy Cozad; great grand-children Shema Jury and Lariah Cozad. Tiajuana also leaves behind many close cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Prayer service will be Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7:00 PM and the Funeral will be 10:00 AM on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at Ware's Chapel UMC. Burial will follow at Ware's Chapel cemetery under the direction of the Steverson Funeral home. Pallbearers will be William Cozad, Jason Hardy, Warren Hokeah, Allen John Davilla, Darren Hill, Michael Hokeah, Tim Williams, Ervin Hokeah, and Max Harry Eric “Pee Wee†Tawkoyty. Honorary pallbearers are Tiajuana's Cozad brothers, Allen Tawkoyty, Wendall Autaubo, Marty Autaubo and Cecil Autaubo.