Highland Cemetery

Pawnee, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

© Poteet Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Donnie E. "Donnie" Hamilton-Youngbird

January 10, 1951 ~ August 14, 2021

on Hamilton- Youngbird was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma on January 10, 1951 to Edward Hamilton- Youngbird and Emma Belle “Delphine” Tah. He was an enrolled member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Tonkawa. His paternal grandparents were Robert Hamilton (Cheyenne) and Lizzie Black (Cheyenne). His maternal grandparents were Robert Tah (Tonkawa) and Alice Whitebear (Kiowa Apache). Donnie was very proud of his lineage, as he was a direct descendant of Chief Black Kettle (Cheyenne), Chief Satanta (Kiowa), and Chief Campos (Tonkawa).

Donnie grew up in Tonkawa, Oklahoma on the Fort Oakland Reservation with his siblings. He completed his primary education within the Tonkawa, Pawnee, Concho and Chilocco school systems. While at Chilocco Indian School he met the love of his life Dianna “June” Smith. The two married on January 25, 1969 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Together, they had four children: Maxine Renee, Rebecca Donnell, Charles Juaquin, and Curtis Don.

It was important for them to bring their children up close to their traditional ways and culture. As a young man, Donnie received many teachings from his Grandpa Frank Redbone and Uncle Harold Archilta that he held close to his heart. He brought his children up praying in the Native American Church. Donnie enjoyed being around the fire place. Throughout his years, he carried the positions of fire chief, cedar chief and drum chief, helping out and praying with many of his brothers including Darin Sisco, Harold Archilta Jr., Marvin Diamond, Ronnie Goodeagle and his Uncle Jonny Whiteshirt. In addition to NAC, Donnie attended and respected all ways of prayer.

At a young age, he began dancing. He enjoyed straight dancing and was a member of the Kiowa Apache Blackfeet Society. In high school, he danced as an Apache fire dancer. Through his love for dancing, he took his family across the country and into Canada dancing at various powwows and celebrations. Donnie built a strong foundation of culture and prayer for his family that will last for generations to come.

For 32 years, Donnie worked as a journeyman tool maker at Mercury Marine in Stillwater, Oklahoma. While working and raising his family, he attended Oklahoma State University and completed his secondary education. Donnie was a very smart man and excelled in mathematics. Because of his exceptional skill, he was asked to teach aspiring engineers and tool makers various mathematic courses.

A praying and hardworking man, he still found leisure time to enjoy with his wife, children, nieces, nephews and sister-in-laws. He loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed playing, coaching, and watching softball, basketball, and football, Go Sooners! He was very artistic. He enjoyed creating feather work, beadwork and embroidering. After retiring, he established Young Bird Designs, where he often created traditional clothing, NAC blankets, hats, banners, shawls, and much more. He would tease that he had to keep granny busy and in line. Most recently, he took interest in gardening. He has a small garden, or “plantation” as he called it, on his back porch where he grew tomatoes, jalapeños and squash. He said next year he was going to do it bigger and better. We know he will.

Donnie was a loving and kind husband. He was an over protective and loving father. He was a gentle and caring grandpa, gramps and papa. He was fun and caring brother and brother-in-law. He was a strong and affectionate uncle, and he was a mussy and awesome father-in-law.

Donnie is survived by his wife June, his children: Renee (George), Tooky (Poncho), Juaquin (Dyanni), and Curt, his adopted sons Samatt “Rooster” TopSky and Fred Fox, his adopted daughter Anika TopSky, his grandchildren: Charlie (Lynn), Skush, Rylan (Santee), Cheyenne (Novi), Kenny, Gavin, Alissa, Jonna (Shooter), Toiree, Kealan, Leland, Junie, Abria, Joseph, Caylee Bubba, Caydon, Gordon and Tanner, his greatgrandchildren: Charli, Fox, Ember, Holy Rope, Leo, Arrow, Siheyela, and Rory, his sisters Janice Brand and Alice Sheeder, his brothers: Barry and Milton Hamilton YoungBird and Jimmy Cantrell, and many nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents Delphine and Edward, adopted mother Myra Burgess, grandparents: Robert and Lizzie, Robert and Alice, and Frank and Carry Redbone, sister Leela Walker, his brother William “Toy” Cantrell, his adopted brother Lloyd TopSky, his nephew Mark Sheeder and many.

Pall Bearers:
• Harold “Chipper” Archilta, Jr.
• Darren Sisco
• Fred Fox
• Phillip “Yogi” Bread
• Eagle Boy White Shield
• Tom Cox
• Morgan Littlesun
• Bobby Badger
• Ruben Littlehead
• Geronimo Powless

Honorary Pall Bearers: • Phillip Whiteman, Jr., Phillip Dupoint, Oliver Littlecook, Richard Aitson, Tim Tsoodle, Lonnie Emahola, Daniel Cozad, Don Patterson, Allen Moore, Leroy Downs, Jimmy Whiteshirt, Johnny Chapman, Randy Moore, Randy Ledford, Nick “Shorty” Semter, Jim Clairmont, Dennis Bighair, Ron Speakthunder, Earl Arkinson, Lee White Plume, Bryan Stoner, Arlen Washines, Steve Wood, Robert White, Ricky Eves, Ricky Ashley, Blackfeet Society, and Pawnee Nation Native American Church Chapter.