Robert "Bobby" Soontay

Robert “Bobby” Soontay was born on December 8th, 1940 in Apache, OK, the son of Howard Soontay Sr. and Alice Domebo-Soontay. He grew up in a family with two brothers and five sisters, Roberta, Bernice, Howard “Tony”, Bertha, Cora, Richard, and Nettie. He graduated from school and then began his college studies, obtaining his Bachelor’s in Education. On August 30th, 1963, he received his orders to report to Anadarko, OK, for enlistment into the US Army. He served in the Army as an Administration Specialist until his honorable discharge in August 20th, 1966 in Fort Polk, Louisiana. He had met the most beautiful fireball of a lady and on December 21st, 1963, he took the lovely Mayree Inetta Hawkins to be his bride. Together they raised a family of one son and one daughter, Lisa June and Robert Shawn. Then he worked for the United States Postal Service in Muskogee, OK, and retired from the Postal Service. When he had a little free time at home, he loved to do Native beadwork, make native shawls, quilts and drums. He loved to watch OU Football, basketball, and a variety of other sports. He was constantly working out at the gym at Markoma and NSU Fitness. People were very important to Bobby, and he believed we were all here to care for each other. Volunteering was his passion; he served with honor. He was thoughtful, kind and considerate, and his hallmark phrase was “I don’t work for money!” Bobby loved working outdoors, always looking for ways to make the yard look better. His wife, children, and great grandchildren, sister, nieces and nephews were of the greatest importance to Bobby. He loved the simple things in life and loved the view from his own backyard just fine. He was so very proud of the family that raised him to appreciate his Apache upbringing, and he loved people simply for who they were. Nothing more was needed. For all the days he had yet to fulfill, he passed from this life on June 13th, 2022 in Muskogee, Ok, following a brief illness. He was 81 years and will be greatly missed by all those who loved him so dearly.

Bobby is preceded in death by his great grandparents, Tsee-Lah (Long Hair) and Cha-Chau-Tah-Odle (Singing Woman), Pau-Tau-Sape (Paddy) and Odle-Tahl and Toy-Kei and Ko-Ah-Pe-Mah on the maternal side, his grandparents include Soon-Tay and Ko- Se-Jay-Schlah and Dome-Bo (Charlie) and Sah-Na-Mah (Bertha) on Mothers side, his mother and father, Howard Soontay and Alice Domebo, two brothers, Tony Soontay and wife Madeline and Richard Soontay and wife Billie, and Sister Bernice Key and husband Robert Sr., Roberta Attocknie and husband Willis, Bertha Hogan and husband Gregory Sr., and Cora Tiddark and husband Nipper.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Inetta Soontay of the family home and his children, daughter Lisa Soontay and companion Richard Dandridge and Robert Shawn Soontay of Tahlequah, OK. He leaves one sister, Nettie Sandoval of Yukon, OK. He lives on in his five grandchildren, Mandy Machelle Kinkead of Tahlequah, Brian Keith Davis and Kaitlyn of Tahlequah, Chelsea Renea Davis of Tahlequah, Whitney Nichole Callison and husband Eric of Tahlequah, and Joseph Brian Soontay and Briana of Tahlequah. He also leaves his beloved great grandchildren, Chandler Faulkner, Reagan Scott, Trevor Patton, Skylar Patton, Ayden Smith, Sadie Patton, Alyx Smith, Stella Davis, Jemma Kinkead, Steven Davis, Sam Davis, Daenerys Soontay and Ellie Callison, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Robert “Bobby” Soontay will be held on Monday, June 20th, 2022 at 9:00 AM at Elm Tree Baptist Church with Pastor DJ McCarter officiating. He will then be laid to rest at Cache Creek Cemetery in Apache, OK, at 5:00 PM, with Mr. Edward Tahhahwah III officiating. Pallbearers for Bobby include Eric Callison, Joey Soontay, Chandler Faulkner, Trevor Patton, Skylar Patton, and Bobby Hawkins.

His family will receive visitors Sunday, June 19th, 2022 beginning at 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Soontay family.