Toka Lee (Bohanan) Horse

Toka Lee Bohanan Horse, 86 of Eagletown, passed away Saturday, October 31,2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family. The daughter of the Reverend John J. and Carrie Belle Bohanan. Toka was the granddaughter of John Silas and Betsy (Hotubbi) Tonihka and John and Artiemissie (Amos) Dyer Bohanan. Toka Lee was born August 17,1934, in a cabin near the old mission church of Stockbridge. She was delivered by a midwife who was affectionally known as her “granny,” Jency Bunnup.

Toka Lee was a member and retired trustee of the Mountain Fork Presbyterian Church (Nanih Lumbo) in Eagletown, Oklahoma. Toka Lee was a loving mother devoted to raising her children with loving discipline and respect for others. She spent her early years in Clarksville, Arkansas and Austin, Texas where her father was studying to be a pastor. She went to Stephen F. Austin elementary school for three years before moving back home to Eagletown, Oklahoma where she graduated from the Class of 1951 at the age of 16. She has kept close to her heart her friendships from high school; especially, Audie and Veo. After high school she went on to college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University but after a year she decided to venture out west to Los Angeles, CA. She became a telephone operator with Southwestern Pacific Bell mainly because it gave her the opportunity to dress in nice suits and heels, which she loved. She established a family in Huntington Park and gained many, many friends from all walks of life. A great interest was sports, in which she became involved with while living in Los Angeles and later at home in Oklahoma. She was involved with the Los Angeles Intertribal basketball team; the Bavettes. Many lifelong friendships were formed from her time in Cali. She also bowled in Los Angeles and back home in leagues. She was once Class C state bowling champion in Oklahoma. She played softball every summer back home in Oklahoma where she competed with the team the Misfits, the team was coached by her brother Preston with her daughter, nieces, cousins, sisters-in-law and friends playing. Her favorite professional teams were the old school Lakers, Dodgers, Rams and present day OKC Thunder and Oklahoma Sooners. She also loved attending roller derby games, the Thunderbirds.

She retired from the Broken Bow Cable Company after 19 years of service and many treasured friendships. Her co-worker and friend Jean Teel were very close to her and her family’s heart. When our mother retired, she lost her sight to glaucoma, but she never felt sorry for herself. She has been such an inspiration to her family. If you knew our mother you knew she would tell it like it is but with a unique expression of, I still love and care for you. She was politically savvy and studied the situations at hand. A life-long Democrat who taught her children how to think for themselves and to be strong in the face of life’s many challenges.

Toka was proceeded in death by her parents, Rev. john J, and Carrie Belle Bohanan; two brothers, Theodore Preston Bohanan, Lyndon Earl Bohanan; one sister, Daisy Marie Bohanan WIlmon and son-in-law James T. Hart.

She is survived by her daughters, Teresa Horse-Hart of Eagletown, Oklahoma. Sharon and Dale Fitzsimmons of Broken Bow, Oklahoma; one son Lt.Col. U.S.M.C (Ret.) T. Jay HuntingHorse his wife Christi and daughter and grandchild of Toka, Hanna HuntingHorse of Waco, Texas. Several beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, and precious friends from the east to west coast. Remember she loved all her relatives; no one is forgotten. Special friends Jean and Biff Teel and Audie Covington. We also would like to thank the nurses, technicians and staff at Fresenius Dialysis Center in Idabel, Oklahoma. Please remember those who battle kidney and liver disease, glaucoma and ovarian cancer, on a daily basis.

A celebration of life Memorial Service will be held November 14,2020 at 10:30 a.m.  at Tonihka Cemetery. Family request attendees please wear mask.

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