Lucy Blalock, Lenape Language Teacher, Dies
2/13/2000
Lucy Sadie Parks Blalock of Quapaw died Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, at the Higher
Call Nursing Center in Quapaw. She was 93.
Mrs. Blalock was born June 14, 1906, in Alluwe, Okla. She had lived in
Quapaw for over 63 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist
Church of Quapaw and the Native American Church. She was a member of the
Quapaw Senior Citizens' Group of the Quapaw Tribal Complex.
Her Indian name was AH KOU-POU AQUAH (early dawn woman), Wolf Clan, (Tuk seet
) and she was full blood Delaware Indian. Her parents were George Parks
(Pele, Turkey or Chicken Clan) and Nancy (Wilson) Parks (Tuk seet) Wolf Clan.
She was united in marriage to Charles W. "Joe" Blalock and he preceded her in
death on Sept. 3. 1971. One brother, James Parks, and three sisters also
preceded her in death.
Survivors include one son, George Allen Blalock of Picher; two daughters
Ruthe Jones of. Okmulgee and Rosemary Wilson of Quapaw; one niece, Jean
Mitchell of Eufala; grandchildren, Dr. Deborah Saumty, Carrol Jones Jr.,
Nancy Boyett, Mark C. Jones, Everett G. Wilson, Barbara "Sissy" Wilson,
George A. Blalock Jr., Jessica D. Blalock, Brett Blalock, Maggie Boyett and
Mary Wilson; great grandchildren Cecilia Runnels, Jack Roy Runnels Jr., Reyna
Runnels, Luana Biggoose, Vincent Biggoose, James Martinez, Dorio Martinez,
Winston Runnels, Kayla Butler, Justin Butler, Tiana Tate Long, Shuday
Biggoose and Tiffiany Spriggs.
The funeral service for Lucy Sadie Parks Blalock is Sunday, Feb. 13, at 10
a.m. at the Peoria/Ottawa Community Building on Eight Tribes Road in Miami.
The Rev. Ray Clonts will officiate, with Indian rites conducted by Billy
Charles Blalock Cap Ulrey. Interment is in the Peoria Indian Cemetery.
Pallbearers are her grandchildren. She will lie in state at the Peoria/Ottawa
Community Building until the time of the services. Arrangements are under the
direction of Paul Thomas Funeral Home of Picher.
Lucy was a fluent speaker of the Lenape or Delaware language, and in March
1992 she began Lenape language classes at the Delaware Tribal Center in
Bartlesville, Oklahoma, under the auspices of the Culture Preservation
Committee. These classes were held every two weeks. Lucy, then 85 years of
age, made a 180-mile round trip to teach the classes. She was unable to
continue with active language classes after May 1994 due to her advanced age.
Several of Lucy’s students continued working on the Lenape language after the
end of the classes by going to her home and continuing to study with her.
Lucy was a good teacher and several of her students are now able to give
prayers in the Lenape language. One of her former students, Mike Pace, gave
a prayer in Lenape at Lucy’s wake Saturday night.