Creek Indian Nation - OBIT:  Deacon Moses Gray
Creek Citizens from across Creek Nation

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   OKbits File Muscogee Nation News
   Creek citizens from across Creek Nation 
   
   GRAY
   In memory of Deacon Moses Gray, who died one year ago, a combination
   Easter Sunday and Memorial service was held April 22, 1984, at Bemo
   Creek/Seminole Missionary Baptist Church.
   March 22, 1983, Funeral Information
   Moses GRAY was born February 24, 1901 in Eufaula Indian Territory. He
   died March 19, 1983, in Tulsa. Funeral services were held March 22,
   1983, at Bemo Church in Bixby with Rev. Harely BAMOSKI and Dr. Frank
   BELVIN officiating. Pallbearers were Chuck McHENRY, Sonny BURGESS,
   Eugene BIRDCREEK, Richard BEMO, Sam McINTOSH, and Berlin WIEFER.
   Honorary pallbearers were Sidney LEE, George BUNNY, Chebon FIFE, Joey
   FIFE, Sian McINTOSH, Chili McINTOSH, Cherrie McINTOSH, Li'l Cherrie
   McINTOSH, John TECUMSEH, Andy TECUMSEH, Johnnie WILSON, Newman FRANK,
   Eddie TECUMSEH, and Chebon McINTOSH. Interment was at Bemo Church.
   Other recognitions associated with the funeral were: Head Deacon,
   Anderson BURGESS; head grave diggers, Joe FIFE and Berlin WEIFER;
   closest male relative, Joe FIFE of Bemo Church and Jim FIXACO of
   Thewalee Church; eldest female relative, Susie LOONEY of Springfield
   Church and (deceased) Sissy Wert of Cedar Creek in Eufaula.
   Moses Gray was from the Tiger clan and his Indian name was Kotcha. He
   was from Arbeka Tribal Town. A list of his kinfolks, ancestors and
   descendants include the names GRAY, TECUMSEH, HARJO, JOHNSON, BEMO,
   WHITLOW, FIFE, STAR, LOONEY, FIELDS, McINTOSH, PALMERS, JULY AND
   BUNNY.
   The memorial included an extended list of his immediate family and
   other relatives. Wife Monah BEMO, his children, Rena Bell GRAY of
   Tulsa, Patsy GRAY and Sian Spider GRAY both of Bixby, and Sonny
   "Nokuse Huke" GRAY (deceased); grandchildren Chebon WHITE CLOUD, Chenh
   WHITE CLOUD, John WHITE CLOUD, Nokuse BUCK (deceased), Charley
   RANDOLPH, Tom RANDOLPH, Becky RANDOLPH, David RANDOLPH,, Chenana GRAY,
   Brenda GRAY, and Wynona GRAY; great-grandchildren, Junior WHITE CLOUD,
   Moses WHITE CLOUD, Wendy WHITE CLOUD, Steve WHITECLOUD, Robin WHITE
   CLOUD, Henu WHITE CLOUD, Chenena WHITE CLOUD, Little Tommy RANDOLPH,
   Mark RANDOLPH, Terry RANDOLPH, Robin RANDOLPH, Andrian STOUT, and
   Sonny GRAY.
   In Memory - Personal history
   Moses was born into the prominent family of Reverend Siah Gray
   THOMPSON (Pastor of Big Arbor Church, Medicine Man and Captain of
   LightHorseMen), and Mary TECUMSEH Thompson. From this marriage came 12
   children. Moses was the last surviving child. Other prominent members
   of his family were Reverend Gray and the Gray girls.
   Moses became a Christian in his early 20s and was later ordained
   Deacon in Big Arbor Church, which is considered the Mother Church of
   13 Creek Churches throughout the Creek Nation. Moses felt he should
   build a church where his family could have a place to worship - so he
   began Bemo Mission, named for his deceased Father-in-law, Charley
   BEMO. With the blessings of Big Arbor Church, Bemo Church was
   dedicated on Easter Sunday 25 years ago. Moses lived to see nearly all
   of his children and grandchildren baptized.
   He was preceded in death by his parents and all his brothers and
   sisters. His last sister, Anna GRAY, died one year to the day before
   Moses. It was recorded that Moses died under the exhortation of his
   favorite cousin, Joe FIFE, who sang and prayed as Moses Gray went
   home.
   Participating Pastors and Churches
   Invited speakers for the Wake service include Revs. Marvin KELLY,
   Barney PORTER, John TIGER, J.B. DUNN, Dan PHILLIPS, Thompson BILLY,
   Bill ALEXANDER, Sam HANEY, Tom PHILLIPS, Walter McHENRY, Wilson BEAR,
   Jim McCOSAR, Allison PHILLIPS and Deacon Eartman WHITLOW.
   Expected participating churches include Big Arbor, New Arbor, Cedar
   Creek, Little Coweta, Cedar Creek Eufaula, Arbeka, Yardeka, Vian,
   Little Cussetah, Seminole Arbeka, Seminole Hitchita, Springfield
   Chitto Hutchi No. 1, Chitto Hutchi No. 2, Cedar Springs, Concate,
   Butler Creek, Thewalee, Hutchechupa, Many Springs, Broken Arrow,
   Haikey Chapel, Wehiwa, Seminole Baptist, Hickory Ground No. 1, Hickory
   Ground No. 2, Big Cussetah, Grave Creek, Spring Church, High Spring
   Okemah, and High Spring Konawa.