Lela Horsechief

Lela Ann HorseChief was born May 27, 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Virginia Lee Rainwater and Clifford Eugene Stanley. On July 3, 2024 at the age of 74 years, 1 month, and 6 days Lela joined her beloved husband in heaven.

Lela graduated from Collinsville High School in 1968 then furthered her education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, where she met the love of her life, Vance Olin HorseChief. She graduated from Northeastern State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Education degree, focusing on English literature.

Lela and Vance were married on May 27, 1972, Lela's 22nd birthday, and they spent 49 amazing years of this life together. After Lela's husband graduated university in 1974, the couple moved to Zuni, New Mexico to teach for the Gallup-McKinley County School System.

Once returning to Oklahoma, the couple settled in Miami, where Lela would commute to Picher daily to teach English at Picher-Cardin Junior High and High School. Lela loved being a teacher, so much so that she would teach at the night school offered to students that couldn't come during normal hours. After retiring in 2009, Lela went on to substitute for the Miami Public School System until 2014. Lela impacted so many lives throughout her time as an educator.

Lela loved the theater, from films to plays and musicals. She enjoyed going to either in her spare time with her family and friends. She especially loved taking her grandchildren to the theater. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. Lela cherished spending time with her family whether that be at the Pawnee Veterans Homecoming Powwow or at Christmas.

Lela was preceded in death by her husband, Vance Olin, and sister-in-law, Lucinda HorseChief.

She is survived by her children Brandee HorseChief, Jeffery HorseChief, and Sabrina Lucas as well as seven grandchildren: Alexis, Tyrus, Logan, Blake, Duncan, Melody, and Marla, two great-grandchildren: Lily-Ann and Dexter, her younger sister Jo Ann, and countless loved ones.