Cheryl L. Mcclellan

Cheryl L. McClellan, 69, passed away on January 6, 2021 in Norman, OK due to complications with COVID-19. Cheryl L. McClellan was born on February 26, 1951 in Norman, OK to John J. McClelland and Clara Bell (Emarthla) McClelland. She was an enrolled member of the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma. She belonged to the Bear Clan. Her Bear Clan name was Wa-Ko-Thi, meaning “Suddenly Appearing.” Cheryl was also Creek, Seminole, Seneca-Cayuga and Wyandotte Nations. Cheryl McClellan was a quality engineer at The Boeing Company in OKC, OK. Cheryl received her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters in Organizational Management. From 2007 to 2013, she was elected Second Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation and selected as Sac & Fox Senior Woman of the Year in 2014. As a student at OU, McClellan started the student organization, American Indian Engineers, in 1976 and became the first president of the first AISES College Chapter. Beginning her engineering career in Minneapolis, MN, she became the 1st American Indian female engineer in the state of Minnesota. Her career took her to Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota and finally back home to Oklahoma. With over four decades following her graduation, Cheryl was an advocate to the Engineering field, STEM, AISES programs, paving the way for future Native engineers and promoting Indigenous Native American students in STEM. Cheryl received many awards including 2018 recipient of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Ely S. Parker Award which recognizes outstanding Indigenous scientists and engineers in North America as well as a Lifetime Technical Achievement award and the Honeywell Individual Achievement Award to name a few. At Boeing, she has been an officer of the Boeing Native American Network since 2013, and has also served as its president. Cheryl and her family remained active in their cultural traditions as well as traveling to powwows all across the country. She was a mom, aunt, grandmother, sister, teacher, a matriarch to the McClellan family, always encouraging and a constant in each and every life she came to know. She was survived by her children, Timothy “Tahlee” Redbird Jr. of Norman, Lyndee McClellan and companion Joe Jourdain Sr. of Cass Lake, MN. Lisa Little Iron and companion George C. Tsouhlarakis Chadren, NE. Grandchildren Wynema Hernandez & Adam of Kingman, AZ, Joe Jr. and Joslyn Jourdain of Cass Lake, MN, Suzanah and Georgianna of Chadren, NE, her sisters, Pamela McClelland & Guy Burris of Claremore, Marilyn McClelland of Grove, Jerri McClelland-Waldrup & Larry of Claremore, and Patricia Bucktrot & Alvin of Bixby; and her Aunt Norma Ross of Joplin, Mo, her uncle Walter Emarthla, Jr., of Guthrie, and numerous of nieces, nephews, cousins, and adopted family. She was preceded in death by her companion Roger Dewayne Tofpi, father, John J. McClelland and her mother Clara Bell (Emarthla) McClelland, her grandparents, Walter and Lillian Emarthla, sisters Sandra "Sandy" McClelland and Terri Gibson, uncle, Barney McClelland, aunts, Pauline Emarthla Connor, Kitty Shoptease and, nephew Tony Gibson. A small, private Sac & Fox traditional funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2021, and Sunday, January 10, 2021, for her immediate family members. If you wish to send notes, flowers, plants, or financial assistance to the family, Cheryl’s services have been entrusted to Park’s Brothers Funeral Services in Stroud, OK. To honor Cheryl’s legacy as an integral part of the AISES community, donate to AISES Nationals in memory of Cheryl McClellan as a way to give back and continue her legacy to AISES. https://www.parksbrothers.net/contact/stroud-ok https://www.aises.org/