Vance Horsechief

Vance Olin Horsechief was born on June 28, 1943, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and departed this life on August 14, 2021, in Miami, Oklahoma, at the age of 78 years, 1 month, and 7 days.

He is the son of Vance Horsechief and Faye Ola Duncan. Vance is a 1961 graduate of Tahlequah High School. He is also a 1974 graduate of Northeastern State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts.

"Olin," as the family called him, volunteered and served his country proudly with the United States Army. After taking a battery of tests, he was selected to serve with the Security Agency Training Center and School at Ft. Devens, MA. After completion of training, he was transferred to Homestead Airforce Base in Florida. After time spent in FL with the 101st Airborne, he was then sent to Vietnam. From Vietnam, Vance was stationed in Okinawa. This would conclude his four years with the military.

Using his GI Bill, he attended Northeastern State University where he met the love of his life, Lela Stanley, and they were married May 27, 1972. Upon graduation in 1974, they went onto teach for the Gallup-McKinley County School System, in Zuni, NM. They returned to make a home in Miami, OK. Vance taught school in Baxter Springs, KS, for 25 years. Not only was he a teacher, he was also a coach. He coached basketball, but he had a great love of coaching girls softball. Being a softball coach earned him the honor of Softball Coach of the year for 1989-90 for the state of Kansas, and being a Native American, this was a great accomplishment.

Vance Olin enjoyed fishing as well as going to the Pawnee Indian Veterans Homecoming PowWow every fourth of July. There, he was surrounded by family, friends, and veterans alike. He loved this time of the year.

His family meant the world to him. He loved spending time with them, especially his grandchildren. Vance touched many lives over the years and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Vance Olin was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Lucinda Elaine Horsechief.

He is survived by a loving family, which includes his wife of over 49 years, Lela Horsechief, his children Brandee Horsechief, Jeffery Horsechief, and Sabrina O'Banion, all of Miami, OK, his sister Gene Phipps and brother Darrell Horsechief of Tahlequah, OK, seven grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, friends, relatives and loved ones.