On June 13, 2021 Francis Harjo Sr. took the hand of Our Lord and returned to his family in Eternity.
Francis Harjo Sr. was born into the Bear Clan and Alabama Tribal Town in Okemah, OK June 21, 1945 to Jim Busey Harjo Sr. and Lena (Wind) Harjo.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jim B Harjo and Lena -(Wind) Harjo of Okemah, OK; infant sister Connie Lynn Harjo; his brothers, John James Harjo of Morris, OK, Norman Lee Harjo of Sapulpa, OK and Duke Monroe Harjo of Sapulpa, OK, and Great-Granddaughter Maliyah Kay Foster.
He attended school at Murrow Home in Muskogee, OK; Jones Academy and Sequoyah High School.
He proudly served his country in Vietnam as part of the Airborne MACV Team 95 / 4th Psychological Operations Group Special Forces in Bien Hoa from 1967-1968.
He received the Presidential Citation with his unit, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Aircraft Crewman's Badge, Expert Rifleman's Badge, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Hood Conduct Medal and the National Defense Medal.
On his return from Vietnam he went to Haskell Indian College in Lawrence, KS where he enjoyed studying silversmithing and making jewelery. He also attended Northeastern State Oklahoma University where he graduated with a BA in Business and OSU Okmulgee for Upholstery Arts.
He enjoyed buying selling and restoring classic cars, traveling across the USA, silversmithing, dancing, writing poems, writing short stories and spending time with his family.
He had been elected as a member to the Council of the Alabama Quassarte Tribal Town, worked as a housing inspector for the Sac and Fox Nation, Muscovee Nation and for the Cherokee Nation.
He is survived by his children Francis Harjo Jr. and Maria Florencia Agazzi of London, England, James Hotulkoce Harjo and Ruby Starr of Glenpool, OK, Jennifer “Missy” Dawn Harjo-Porter of Sapulpa, OK; their mother Jeannette Harjo of Sapulpa, OK; brother Jim B Harjo Jr. of Okmulgee, OK; nephew Jim B Harjo III of Tulsa, OK, niece Laura Harjo of Norman, OK; nephews Christopher James Harjo and Terrence Duke Harjo; niece Connie Harjo all of Okmulgee, OK; grandchildren Brittany Dawn Harjo of Oklahoma City, OK, Valori Faun Harjo of San Francisco, CA, Charlie Christine Harjo of Glenpool, OK; Tyler Wade Porter, Christian Porter and Kylie Sierra Porter of Sapulpa, OK; James Hotulkoce Harjo X of Glenpool and great grandchildren; Lily Leona Farve and Kiara Jade Harjo.
Pallbearers are Tyler Wade Porter, Lee Moses, Curtiss Plunkett, Gene Daniel, Aaron Crown, David Galvan, Christopher Harjo and Terrence Harjo.
Honorary pallbearers are Christian Porter and James Hotulkoce Harjo X
Reverend Norman Daniel Sr. officiating.
Until we meet again Dad, our hearts and love are always with you.
Viewing for Francis will be on Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Integrity Funeral Service. Wake services will be at the High Spring Indian Baptist Church south of Okemah at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, June 18, 2021 at 2 p.m. at High Spring Indian Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the Wind Family Cemetery under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta, Oklahoma.