Obituary for Kirby Feathers

Kirby Ellis Feathers

March 4, 1945 – September 3, 2019

Kirby Ellis Feathers, age 74, long time resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away suddenly Tuesday, September 3, 2019 in Ponca City.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at the Ponca Indian Methodist church on Thursday, September 5, 2019 with a supper at 5:30 and services following. A traditional Ponca ceremony will commence with a noon feast and funeral ceremony to be held at 2:00 pm, September 6, 2019 at the Ponca Indian Methodist Church with Pastor Jimmy White officiating. Following the ceremony, Kirby will be laid to rest with U.S. Army Military Honors at the Ponca Tribal Cemetery. Casket bearers will be B.J. Miner, Cody Perry, Sam White, Noah White, Tristin Feathers, and Burton Miner, III. Honorary casket bearers will be Kinsel Lieb, Jeffrey Lieb,Sr., Steve Lieb, Stan Smith, Robert Martin, Sr., Hugh “Buddy” Brown, and Jr. Brown. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Kirby was born on March 4, 1945 to Lamont Chief Feathers and Lucille Biggoose Feathers in Pawnee, OK. He was raised on 2nd St. in Ponca City, OK, graduating high school in Ponca City. After high school, Kirby joined the U.S. Army. Once in the Army, Kirby became a paratrooper with the 82nd airborne. He served two tours in Vietnam, including a march on the Ho Chi Minh trail. On one tour, he went into the battle as one of 32 soldiers and was one of only nine who returned, earning the Bronze Star for valor in combat. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Kirby returned to the Ponca City area and began working in the local community, serving as a Police officer in White Eagle before he began providing maintenance for the Indian Health Service in White Eagle, where we was the maintenance supervisor at his retirement. Kirby was married to Patricia Ann Feathers on May 31, 1981 at the same church where his funeral will be held. He has been a lifelong member of the Ponca Indian Methodist Church, where he served as lay speaker for a number of years. Kirby has also been a life long member of the Vietnam Veterans Association and was the most decorated living Veteran of the Ponca tribe before his passing. Service was a strong component of Kirby’s character. He served for five years as the whip man for the Ponca Hethuska Society. As well, he served for many years as the arena director for the Ponca Pow-Wow and other regional Pow-Wows. Kirby loved to participate in the traditional dances and gatherings of the Ponca Tribe. The Kiowa gave Kirby an honorary membership in the Kiowa Black leggings society. Yet, he still found time to spend with his family an to support OU and Minnesota Vikings football. Kirby will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his beloved wife Patricia of the home, children: Michael Arnold of Kotzebue, AK, Michelle Hutson, Danny Komesataddle and wife Cher, Joseph Feathers, Melanie Miner and husband B.J., Meryl Feathers, and Montana Feathers and wife Jennifer, all of Ponca City; grandchildren: Tristin Feathers, Trinity Feathers Vanessa Lavato, Kara Perry and husband Perry, Tommie Beard, Alyssa Komesataddle, Khyla Komesataddle, Hannah Komesataddle, Burton Miner, III, Payton Miner, Brody Miner, Shayla Calvert, Hayden Calvert, Nora Feathers, Emma Feathers, Lucille Feathers and three great grandchildren.

Kirby was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Arlene Feathers and Alene Cries For Ribs.

Kirby may be remembered with a donation to the Vietnam Veterans Association, www.vva.org, 8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

Source: Trout Funeral Home