Edna F. McKibben Wilson
06 September 1919 - 15 May 2005

Former longtime Miami resident, Edna McKibben Wilson, 85, died Sunday, May 15, 2005, at Fayetteville, Ark.

She was born Sept. 6, 1919, at Lincolnville, Okla., to Anna Quapaw McKibben and Harve McKibben.

She was the granddaughter of Solomon Quapaw and Minnie Captain.

She received schooling at St. Marys Catholic School and Seneca Indian School. A graduate of Miami High School, she attended Northeastern A&M, where she was 1939-1940 football homecoming queen and a member of the Gamma sorority.

Of Quapaw, Osage, Peoria and Eastern Shawnee descent, Ms. Wilson was a member of the Quapaw Tribe, for whom she was tribal historian for over 30 years. She was brought up in the cultural traditions and had received her Quapaw name in a Peyote ceremony through Benjamin Quapaw.

Due to her knowledge of the Quapaw, various institutions including the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, University of Arkansas and University of Oklahoma have consulted with her. Ms. Wilson traveled to the National Archives and Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., for materials on Quapaw language, customs and stories. Her Quapaw pursuit was utilized as a role model by Dr. Herman Viola and established a grant for Indian tribes in the United States to conduct research in the Smithsonians Anthropological Archives.

A member of the Presbyterian Church of Miami, Ms. Wilson served as a deaconess several times, as a ruling elder for three years and was chair lady of the decorating committee. She was president of the Presbyterian Women for two terms and was elected by the church to attend the National Presbyterian Womens meeting at Perdue University. She served on the board for the Presbyterian Womens project for two highly successful cookbooks. Additionally, Ms. Wilson prepared many decorations for church events.

She had participated in the United Fund effort in Miami by planning and arranging volunteers for polio, cancer and heart research fundraisers. She was also active with the Girl Scouts.

An avid decorating enthusiast, Ms. Wilson in the past worked on a number of floats for special parades, such as for Christmas and Northeastern A&M.

She was a model for Native American Fashions of Miami for several years, participating in shows throughout Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado.

Ms. Wilson assisted in the publication of the book, Indians of Eastern Oklahoma, now in its fourth edition, a standard work of Quapaw history. She was research assistant for some 20 books illustrated by her former husband, Charles Banks Wilson, plus the Oklahoma State Capitol murals he created, and helped him visualize his artwork.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Ruth Watson; and three brothers, John McKibben, Harvey McKibben and Haze Tony McKibben.

Survivors include her daughter, Carrie V. Wilson; her son, Geoffrey Banks Wilson; one brother, Jesse McKibben; and grandchildren, including Solomon Jones and Ben Woodley.

Ms. Wilson will lie in state at the Quapaw Tribal Community Building until the funeral hour on Wednesday.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church, Miami. The Rev. John Wilson will officiate.

Graveside rites will follow at GAR Cemetery.

A traditional Quapaw dinner will conclude the services at the Quapaw Tribal Community building.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami.

The Joplin Globe
Published: 2005-05-17

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Orlena

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