Jesse Toineeta, 66, of the Yellowhill Community went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Howard and Tiny Smith Toineeta. He was a retired employee with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with 28 years of service and most recently was employed at Cherokee Central School for the past 11 years. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran having served in the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny and Jimmy Toineeta.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Betty Jo Toineeta; four sons, Jonathan Toineeta, Jesse Toineeta and wife Monika, Bruce Toineeta and wife Tonya, Chris Walkingstick and wife Denise all of Cherokee; two brothers, Joseph and Charlie Toineeta both of Cherokee; seven sisters, Georgia Hunter, Tiny Armachain, Gail Parker, Brenda Toineeta, Barbara Toineeta all of Cherokee, Patsy Palmer of Korea, Frances Tahbonemah of Lawton, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Victoria, Jordan, Jesse, Kendall, and Anthony; and two great grandchildren, Jesse John and Boyd.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, Aug. 31 in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. Revs. Randall Watkins and James (Red) Bradley will officiate. Burial will be in the Shell Family Cemetery with military rites being conducted by the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143.
The family will receive friends from 6-9pm Friday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Mathews, James Plummer, Theodore Toineeta, Donald Parker, George Toineeta, James Toineeta, and Sam Tioneeta.