Lavetta Jo Yeahquo

Lavetta Jo Yeahquo, “Thone-gyuah-aim-tow-yaw-mah,” passed away on September 23, 2025, peacefully in the loving presence of her children and grandchildren.
Lavetta was a compassionate, caring, and humbled Kiowa woman. Lavetta dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren, putting their needs above her own in life and in death.
On March 31, 1954, Lavetta entered this world to her earthly parents, Maurice Yeahquo and Mary Toppah Yeahquo at the Kiowa Indian Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma. Lavetta grew up in the small town of Carnegie, Oklahoma, with her 14 siblings and was the youngest girl of the family. Lavetta also went by the nickname of “Mousey.” She was a very quiet soul but demanded justice for all native people, alike. Her voice, knowledge and teachings have been felt across Mother Earth in solidarity with her by standing up for human rights, human dignity and peace. 
Throughout Lavetta’s youth, she attended Carnegie Public Schools and later transferred to Lawton MacArthur High School in Lawton, Oklahoma, where she received her high school diploma. In the year of 1973, Lavetta Jo Yeahquo took part in the seize at Wounded Knee in South Dakota, which impacted her life significantly and in return she became a lifelong member of the American Indian Movement, AIM. This moment sparked a fire in Lavetta, and it was the beginning of her quest to be the voice of all Native American people, especially women. Lavetta was a full-blood member of the Kiowa Tribe. 
Lavetta Jo Yeahquo, began her career as a receptionist in a pediatric clinic with Reynolds Army Hospital, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and gained training as a clerk-typist, receptionist and security under the direction of the Department of Human Services. She was employed by the City of Lawton Police Department as a clerk for several years. During her tenure in this position, she achieved “The Civilian Employee of the Year” award by the City of Lawton police department in the year of 1990-1991. She enjoyed various jobs, that consist of working with the little rabbits’ head start program as their cook. She appreciated working as a cashier with the Apache Tribe Casino, and enjoyed being a receptionist at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission in Anadarko. Lastly, she gave her time as a court clerk at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, BIA in the CFR Court, and Sodexho Food Service at Windshill Elementary in Oklahoma City. Her hobbies included reading, writing, enjoying music, and being with her grandchildren and family but, most of all, her alone time. On Lavetta's paternal side, she holds descendancy of Guipago Old Chief Lonewolf. Her grandfather is Edward Yeahquo, a well-known member and song composer of the Native American Church. Her grandmother is Mae Quetone Yeahquo. Mae is the daughter of Jimmie Quetone Wolftail and Beko. On Lavetta’s maternal side, she is a descendant of Tanedooah Eagle Medicine and Tainpeah K'ee Heart Eating Man. Her grandmother is Julia Tainpeah Toppah. Her grandfather is Samuel Toppah Yellowhair.  
Lavetta leaves behind a gift by will, a legacy, to her living children, Fred Buffalo of Carnegie, Oklahoma, Daniel and his wife, Heather Buffalo of Sisseton South Dakota, Amber Yeahquo of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Erroll and his wife, Melissa Strickland, of Lawton, Oklahoma. Lavetta bestowed the beautiful experience at being a grandmother to her sweet grandchildren: Daniel Dae and Daegen Dayson Buffalo of Sisseton, South Dakota. Chayil Marie and her significant other, Christian O’Keefe, Marlee Marie, Aiden Lane, Lyla Joy, Jaylin Edward, all of Lawton, Oklahoma, as well as Juliana Suzanne of Oklahoma City, Avery Rayne of Sacremento, California. She leaves the memory to her ah-peah shons great-grandchildren: Araya Marie and Amara Jo O’Keefe. Her living siblings include Geneva Emhoolah of Thornton, Colorado; Julia Roubideaux, Maureen Yeahquo, Dorla Yeahquo of Carnegie, Oklahoma; Robert and his wife, Elida Yeahquo, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Alan Yeahquo of Carnegie, Oklahoma, and Pershing and his wife, Sharon Yeahquo, of Anadarko, Oklahoma.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Maurice Yeahquo and Mary Toppah Yeahquo; siblings: Marilyn Yeahquo, Ruthie Yeahquo, Alinda Yellowhair Yeahquo, Leland Yeahquo, Madine Yeahquo and Doris Yeahquo. She is also proceeded in death by her niece and nephews, Jeremy Reid, Tennyson Reid, Billy Yeahquo, Murphy Yeahquo, Elizabeth Yeahquo, Monty Roubideaux and Samuel Yeahquo. Lavetta also showed extreme passion and love for her nieces and nephews. She adores them so much. Special friends include, but are not limited to: Gen Hadley; niece, Shawn Dae Chaddleson, Phyllis Tartsah, Charlena Wind Werito, and all her AIM family.
Visitation was from 1-6 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025, Ray & Martha's Funeral Home in Carnegie, Oklahoma. A Wake was held at 6 p.m., Monday, September 29, 2025, Ray & Martha's Funeral Home in Carnegie, Oklahoma.
A funeral service was held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Mt. Scott Kiowa United Methodist Church in Meers, Oklahoma. 
Interment was in the Mt. Scott Tribal Cemetery in Meers, Oklahoma.