Ahnawake (McKee) Mashunkashey

Ahnawake (McKee) Mashunkashey journeyed on to meet the Lord on September 16, 2022. She was born September 19, 1947 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma to Florian McKee Griggs and Bessie (Alsbury) McKee. She received her education in Pawhuska, starting school at Lynn Addition and graduating from Pawhuska High School with the Class of 1965.

Ahnawake was an avid member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Bartlesville Indian Women’s Club, American Legion Post 198 Auxiliary in Pawhuska, Lifetime Associate Member of the Marine Corps League Osage Detachment 669, and was a Former City Council Woman of Barnsdall.

Ahnawake worked for Barnsdall Public Schools for 18 years and was a member of the school board for several years following that. After retiring from the school, Ahnawake worked at Dillards at the Washington Park Mall in Bartlesville for several years enjoying her position in sales, but mostly enjoyed visiting and talking with everyone that entered the store. If you knew Ahnawake, you know this was her favorite part of the job. She also spent time working as a seamstress at Munsing Wear of Hominy and the tent factory in Pawhuska during the Vietnam War.

Ahnawake married John Henry Mashunkashey on December 30, 2005 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They spent their time traveling coast to coast for various events including Marine Corps League National Conventions, Pow-Wows (her favorite was being at Copan Pow-Wow with the Osage Gourd Group & Cherokee National Holiday), but also going all the way to Niagara Falls, visiting the foliage in Colorado and New England, and to Montreal visiting the Kahnawake Tribal Territory.

Close friends Beth Bell and Diane Johnson of Barnsdall and Linda Gibson Fuller of Pawhuska were frequent visitors for Ahnawake up until the day she went to be with her Lord and Savior. A heartfelt thanks goes out to these friends, as well as the numerous doctors and nurses that assisted her along the way; from the Oklahoma Cancer Research Center, Pawhuska Hospital, and Bartlesville Hospital & Cancer Center.

Ahnawake was a wife, a sister, an aunt, a grandma, and a friend. She is survived by husband John Henry Mashunkashey of Barnsdall, niece Dana Espinal (Sergio Espinal) of Beaumont, Texas, nephew Michael Dawn Milligan of Dallas, Texas, great nephew Brandon Espinal (Lucy Espinal) of Tahlequah, great niece Crystal Espinal (Jalen Jones) of Conway, Arkansas, great nephews Aaron Milligan (Lisa Milligan) of Bryant, Texas, Darren Milligan (Alex Milligan) of Bartlesville, stepsons Russell Mashunkashey (Karie Mashunkashey) of Barnsdall and Ross Mashunkashey of Pawhuska, along with numerous grandchildren and great-great nieces and nephews that loved her very much.

Ahnawake was preceded in death by her parents Florian and Bessie McKee, her sisters Florian Griggs and Marilyn Atterberry, and nephew Bret Milligan.

She will lay in state at the chapel of Kendrick McCartney Johnson Funeral Home with visitation on Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 10-6 and Monday, September 19, 2022 from 8-5. Her life will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 10 am at Kendrick McCartney Johnson Funeral Home with burial to follow at Pawhuska Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Darren Milligan, Brandon Espinal, Sergio Espinal, Nick Vossen, Russell Mashunkashey, and Coshehe Mashunkashey.

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