Alice Edna Maney Sequoyah of Cherokee, age 74, went home to be with our Lord on November 04, 2011 after a long illness. Alice was in her home where she was given loving care by her husband of 54 years, James (Blue-Jay) Sequoyah. She also received constant care from Christine and Gary who were always there to assist Dad with Mom in her daily care.
Alice was the daughter of the late Jacob Edward and Emma Powell Maney and was born in the Cherokee Indian Hospital on July 17, 1937. She was raised in the Wrights Creek Community in Wolfetown where she was a member of her home church, Wrights Creek Baptist Church.
Alice graduated from Cherokee High School and later married Blue-Jay. They made their home in the Yellowhill Community. For a short time she worked for the Cherokee Schools Food Services and later helped a neighbor in her business. Alice was rare and valuable Cherokee Woman who made the decision to devote her life to her family and remained in the home where she raised strong sons and daughters in a Christian Home.
She was a beloved and cherished wife, mother and homemaker. While raising her family she did find time to make baskets and quilts. She served as the Treasurer and Children’s Sunday School Teacher for many years at Waterfalls Baptist Church. Alice also appreciated her responsibility and duty of a supportive minister’s wife and followed Blue-Jay wherever his calling took him for many years until her illness made it difficult for her to continue.
Alice and Blue-Jay raised five children: Vickie Elaine and David McCoy, Gary Len and Brenda Sequoyah, Christine and Jim Korinek, James Leonard Jr., and Donna Sequoyah, and Gene Darrell Sequoyah all of Cherokee.
She also helped raise several grandchildren; “Granny Alice” is survived by Skooter and Michelle McCoy, Sasha and Stephan Watty, Taz McCoy, Tashina Sequoyah, Yona and Brandi Sequoyah, Redbird Sequoyah, Tsaldi Sequoyah, Jeremy Sequoyah, Joshua Jay Sequoyah, and Stephanie Sequoyah all of Cherokee; also, Cecilia Sequoyah and Emanuel Sequoyah of Robbinsville. Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren.
Along with her parents, Alice is also preceded in death by her sisters and brother: Dorothy M. Johnson, Jean M. Johnson, Alyne M. Bradley and Norman A. Maney and two grandsons, Brent Edward Sequoyah and Chester Ray Sequoyah.
She is survived by sisters and brother: Beatrice M. Carver and husband Allen, Linda M. Wiggins wife of the late Wayne Wiggins, and Jim Ed and wife Jessie Maney all of Cherokee.
Also surviving are Sisters-in Law Charlotte W. Maney, Elnora Bird, and Lou Bowman of Cherokee and Lucille (Willie) Owens of Robbinsville, andBrother-in-Law Bobby Dean Bradley of Maggie Valley. Alice is also survived by a multitude of nieces and nephews.
She was buried in the Sequoyah Family Cemetery. Pallbearers were the grandsons. Officiating over the Church services were Ray Kinsland of Cherokee and George Polecatt of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Long House Funeral Home assisted in the arrangements.