Betty Mouse

Betty Ann (Downing) Mouse was born on March 11, 1939, the 5th child of 10 born to Samuel Lee Downing and Annie (Grass) Downing. Betty was an athlete playing basketball and softball for many years.  She raised a family of athletes supporting them by attending year-round sports such as football, softball, baseball and basketball.  This led to grandchildren being athletes in sports including soccer and volleyball and wrestling. Betty worked various jobs in her early years and for health care programs in later years with Cherokee Nation.  She earned an Associate of Science in Computer Studies from Rogers State College.  Betty helped members of the Spavinaw community with various needs, served on the JOM Committees for Spavinaw School and Jay Public Schools.  She was elected to a term on the United Keetoowah Band of Indians Tribal Council. Betty was a fan of OU Football and any professional football team that Sam Bradford was quarterback. Betty was an inspiration to many women in her 30 plus years of survivorship of breast cancer.  She passed from this life on October 21, 2018.

She is survived by her husband, Tony Mouse of the home; siblings, Polly White, Jesse Paul, John Downing, Jennie Chisoe and Linda Downing; five children, Glenda Downing of Tahlequah and partner, Ralph Gourd, Daryll Mouse and wife, Virginia of Grove, OK, Nicholas Mouse of Moberly, Missouri, Tonnette Hummingbird and husband, Jamie of Hulbert, Oklahoma and Tony Mouse Jr. of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren with 1 on the way.  Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Annie Downing; her brothers, Cornelius Downing and Delbert Downing; her sisters, Arlie Hoose and Tiny Hodge.

The family requests donations be made to Ribbon Baptist Church in Spavinaw or The Cancer Support Group c/o National Indian Women Health Resource Center, 228 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah, OK 74464, in lieu of flowers.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018 in Ribbon Baptist Church in Spavinaw, Oklahoma with Rev. Guy Soldier officiating.  Burial will follow in the Jack Ribbon Cemetery with Charles Jones, Samuel Jones, Collen Mouse, Jordan Mouse, Eric Mouse and Lance Hummingbird serving as casket bearers.  Honorary casket bearers are Blake Mouse and Eric Harrison.  Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, October 26, 2018 in the Shipman’s Funeral Chapel.  To leave her family a message, please visit her Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com   Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.