Stephanie Beth Berryhill

Stephanie Beth Berryhill was born on August 30,1967 at Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore, Oklahoma to Jo Ann Skaggs and Michael Barnitz Berryhill. Stephanie belonged to the Deer (Eco) Clan and Hickory Ground (Ocevpofa) Tribal Town and was the daughter of the Alligator (Hulputta) Clan and Cussetah Tribal Town. She was raised in the Henryetta and Wilson communities in Okmulgee County. Stephanie graduated from Henryetta High School in 1985. She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications from Northeastern University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Stephanie completed a Masters Degree in Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma. Stephanie married Roger Barnett in 1998; to this union one son, Eco Tasahce Barnett was born. In 2004, a daughter, Emily Fixico was born to Johnny Fixico and Stephanie. She was editor of The Northeastern newspaper at Northeastern University. Later, she worked at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Bingo and was Managing Editor of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's Communications Department for several years. Stephanie worked for the Language Revitalization program while pursuing her Masters degree. After she graduated from OU, she began working for the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative in Okmulgee. It was here, that she cultivated a passion to intertwine the Mvskoke language with knowledge about food and food production. Her life's mission was to empower and equip tribal communities with the skills and knowledge necessary for tribal food sovereignty. Prior to her declining health, Stephanie was an apprentice to her father, the late Michael Berryhill in the study of traditional foods and medicinal plants. She also shared in his love for bow-making. Stephanie and her father were never more proud than when her son, Eco won a trophy in his first bow-shoot. She took her children on excursions into the woods with her father to pick seasonal wild onions and possum grapes. Stephanie loved developing educational programs within local school systems and communities to teach youth about plant identification and how to grow food. Her son recalls his mother taking groups of school age children on nature outings. Eco said "that she always included me and Emily in whatever she was doing." Stephanie shared how vital it was for children to learn by experiencing the natural world, firsthand. She was greatly concerned about the potential for technology to override the instinctual survival skills of tribal youth in current and future generations. Stephanie was a cultural and family historian. Like her father, she leaves this legacy to her children, family, friends and tribal communities. In the midst of her battle with cancer, she re-dedicated her life to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Stephanie found great strength and peace through studying the Bible and listening to uplifting Christian music. Psalm 91 was both Stephanie and her father's favorite Psalm and gave her great solace throughout the last several months of her life. She shared her renewed faith with her family and friends. When it was time to continue her life's journey, she was well-prepared to leave this earthly home for her heavenly one. She is preceded in death by: her father, Michael Barnitz Berryhill; her grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Berryhill,; Great aunt, Pauline Paskoska (Bland) Billy; and grandmother, Blanche Paskoska (Bland) Berryhill; and grandmother, Maybell (Honey) Hawkins Skaggs. Stephanie is survived by: her children, Eco Barnett and Emily Fixico of Okmulgee; Mother and Step-father, Jo Ann Skaggs (Hunt) and Ray Hunt of Okmulgee; Sister and Brother-in-law, Dr. Elise and Thomas Taylor; Nephews, Thomas and Joseph Taylor all of Broken Arrow; Maternal Aunts and Uncles: Joyce and Chuck Bailey of Lake Texhoma; David (Sonny) Skaggs of Okmulgee; Charles (Shug) and Joan Skaggs of Checotah; Freda and Dave Determan of Minneapolis, Kansas; James Skaggs of Yukon; Paternal Aunts and Uncles: Rita and Barton Williams of Wilson Community; Elliott and Renee Berryhill of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Step-mother, Julia Berryhill of Schulter; Step-brothers, Dewight Bean of Glenpool and Deon Bean of Tulsa and numerous cousins and friends whom she loved dearly. Pallbearers are Thomas Taylor, Mark Berryhill, Michael "Little Mike" Berryhill, Shawn Williams, Jonathon Thomas Skaggs, Rick Denney Honorary pallbearers are David (Sonny) Skaggs, Charles (Shug) Skaggs, James Skaggs, Barton Williams, Rev. Del Beaver Funeral services for Stephanie Berryhill will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 2, 2015 at Integrity Funeral Service. Stephanie will be laid to rest in the Berryhill-Kanard Family Cemetery located on her grandfather Thomas Jefferson Berryhill's original allotment in Wilson Community.