Muscogee Nation News
Creek citizens from across Creek Nation 1976

February 1976

WILSON
Jack C. WILSON was born September 2, 1932 at Calvin. He died January 5, 1976. at his home in Fallon, Nevada, where he had lived since 1959. Cause of death was asphyxiation. Funeral services where held January 8 at the Latter Day Saints Church in Fallon. Interment was at the Fallon Cemetery, with a 21 gun salute and "Taps" being performed by the American Legion Post of Fallon.
He had attended school at Chilocco Indian School and Bacone Junior College in Oklahoma, where he was outstaanding in boxing, football, baseball, and track. He was employed as a housepainter. He was a member of the Nevada State National Guards and past president of the Nevada Indian Rodeo Association.
Survivors include his four children, Gwyneth WILSON, 19, Alan WILSON, 17, Wendell, 14, and Ferris, 12; father Ben WILSON of Holdenville; stepmother Mollie WILSON of Holdenville; a brother, Johnny F. WILSON of Laveen, AZ; half-brothers Dorsey NERO of Ft. Worth, TX, Joe CULLY of Cromwell, Steve WILSON and Paul WILSON both of Midwest City, and Simon WILSON of Oklahoma City; half sisters Elsie Ruth DICKEY of Midwest City, Mary J. MILAM of Midwest City, and Josephine WILSON of Okmulgee.

April 1976

BENHAM
William J. "Bill" BENHAM was born in 1901 at Carson. He died April 6, 1976, at the Holdenville General Hospital. Funeral services were held April l8 at the First Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Jim REYNOLDS, pastor, assisted by Rev. George JESSE, a relative of the deceased and pastor of Sasakwa Indian Baptist Church. Pallbearers were Grady HARRISON, Horace PETETE, Gene BRITTON, Howard CARMICHAEL, Fred HOUSE, and Tom FIXICO. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Oddfellow Lodge. Mason rites were performed at the graveside by Quimby WILSON. Burial was at the Holdenville Cemetery in the family plot.
He was a member of the Creek Tribe and active in Creek tribal affairs. He served for nine terms as Hughes County Commissioner, District 1. He served many years as Secretary of Holdenville 123 AF and AM and was a former past master and District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge in Holdenville.
Preceding him in death was his wife, the former Pearl Mancha BUTLER, and one son Walter BENHAM.
His survivors include his children, William Aubrey BENHAM and Billie Jo BRUNER both of Holdenville, and Dr. William J. "Buck" BENHAM and Inez PROVOST both of Albuquerque, NM; ten grandchildren, Monta Sharon BLACKWELL, Julie PEDRO, Joseph T. PROVOST, Jr., and Melinda Jo BENHAM of Albuquerque; Terence Michael BRUNER of Muskogee, Christopher BRUNER, Jeffery BRUNER and Barbara BENHAM of Holdenville, Bruce BENHAM of Denver, CO, William J. "Bill" BENHAM III of Ada; eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Earl W. BENHAM and Newman BENHAM both of Carson, and Claude A. BENHAM of Gonzales, LA; and five sisters, Lucy NELSON and Ida DUNN of Texarkana, TX, Aileeen HORTON of Carson, Betty Lou HARRINGTON of Detroit, MI, and Bobbye Nell BENHAM.

Muscogee Nation Index

 Eulala McDowell Pegram