Rayburn J. Orange

Funeral Services for Rayburn J. Orange Sr., 59, Hammon resident, will be held 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 14, 2015 in the Hammon Fellowship Community Church, officiated by Rev. Dolan Ivey and Rev. Mona Bearshield. Burial will conclude in the Hammon Indian Mennonite Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. There will be an all-night Wake Service 7: 00 P.M., Monday, April 13, 2015 in the Hammon Indian Community Building. Rayburn Joe Orange, Sr., was born February 12, 1956 to Joseph Orange, Sr., and Nadine (Fingernail) Orange in Clinton, Oklahoma and passed away Thursday, April 9, 2015 in the Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City. Rayburn was raised in Hammon where he graduated from high school in 1976. He was employed with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and served in the Philippines as well as Japan. After his honorable discharge he returned back to Oklahoma and worked with an Oil Pipe line Company in Tulsa, OK for about 10 years. He moved back to Western Oklahoma settling in Hammon. He served the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes as a Fire Fighter. He also worked other various jobs for the Tribe. He was well known for his art and sculpture work and specialized in Buffaloes. He also made handmade knives. He was married to Theda Whiteshirt June 24, 2011 at the Redmoon Pow Wow Grounds in Hammon, OK. He is preceded in death by his parents, a son, Rayburn Orange, Jr., two brothers, Bruce fingernail and Joseph Orange, III and a sister, Frances Bearbow. He is survived by his wife Theda, of the home, adoptive mother, Merle Big Medicine-Lopez, of Elreno, four sisters, Sandra Racelis, Jolene Orange, Johannah Orange, Carmen Orange and Rachel Candy; two brothers Gordon Orange, and Victor Orange, all of Hammon. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.