Alvin Tall Bear

Alvin Tall Bear, age 86 passed away on March 30, 2014 at the Oklahoma City Veteran’s Medical Center. A wake service is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Konawa, Oklahoma, and a Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 4th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Konawa.  Fr. Adrian Vorderlandwehr, O.S.B. will officiate.  Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Robert R. Tall Bear, II, Jimmy Jordan, Jim Moon, Mark Noteware, Paulo Gonzales, and Jamie Cervantes.  Honorary Pallbearers are Sylvester Alley and Danny Echohawk. Alvin was born on March 3, 1928 in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Floyd Tall Bear and Lillian (Kihega) Tall Bear.  He attended Chilocco Indian School and attended A&M College.  He married Johnnie Mae Rhodd on February 14, 1952 in Bentonville, Arkansas.  Alvin was the owner and operator of Recon Construction and was a member of the American Legion and the VFW in Shawnee.  He was the decedent of Chief White Cloud, and he was the last living hereditary chief of the Iowa Nation.  He was also active in many committees with the tribe throughout the years. Alvin entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1948 and was a veteran of the Korean War.  As Staff Sergeant, he was a high ranking drill instructor and a recipient of the nations fourth highest service medal, The Silver Star.  The award was presented to him for his action during the First Marine Division’s great push toward Chunchon, in the spring of 1951.  Disregarding his own wounds, Sgt. Tall Bear took command of his platoon after its leader was wounded and led the platoon on to take several objectives before he himself fell from the loss of blood.   As an amateur boxer, he represented San Diego in the Golden Gloves Championship Matches in Los Angeles during his first tour of duty. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Johnnie Mae Tall Bear of the home; four sons, Alvin Tall Bear, Jr. of St. Louis, Oklahoma, Mike and Loretta Tall Bear of St. Louis, Oklahoma, John Tall Bear of Lexinton, Oklahoma, and Robert R. Tall Bear also of St. Louis; three sisters, Marlene Echohawk of Albuquergue, New Mexico, Lou Lerma of El Reno, Oklahoma and Carolyn Levi of El Reno; three grandchildren, Estee Nicole Cervantes, Jennifer Tall Bear, and Robert R. Tall Bear, II; and seven great grandchildren, Alyssa Cervantes, Letecia Cervantes, Aidan Cervantes, Orion Cervantes, Kayson Bear Shirey, Isaiah Tall Bear, and Cody Tall Bear. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Lillian Tall Bear; one brother, DeForest Tall Bear; and one grandchild, Misty Love Tall Bear and a new-born brother. Funeral Information: April 4, 2014, 10:00 AM Wake service: 7:00 p.m. April 3rd at Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa and Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. April 4th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Under the Direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849