Lizzie - Page 20

It is my wish in writing down these things my grandmother shared with me not to project her lifestyle and decisions as a roadmap or way for any woman to live her life. It is simply a recording of events in my grandmother, Lizzie's life. Really, she lived much as many women today live as single mothers but a generation before them.

Maybe she gave me this material and wanted me to know of her pain. By knowing her sorrows I would be encouraged to do something different with my decisions, which I have done.

Certainly, as I review this material it gives me a moment to think about the things I will wish to leave with my granddaughters. Will I be able to be as honest and matter of fact in sharing information with them?

Elizabeth Little Cook's Great granddaughter, who recently was killed.

Elizabeth Leigh Pensoneau

Elizabeth Leigh "Cookie" Pensoneau, beloved daughter and mother, passed from this earth on Oct. 23, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan. She was 30.

Ms. Pensoneau was born on June 19, 1973, in Albuquerque, N.M.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jeffrey Denetsosie Sr. of Blanding, Utah; her brother, William Clyde "Sha-Sha" Pensoneau of Ponca City; and her maternal grandparents, McDougal Sr. and Betty Coyote of Colorado.

She is survived by two darling children of the home, Leighton Denetsosie, 7, and Sierra Dawn Denetsosie, 6; her father, Steve Pensoneau of Ponca City; her brother, Mark Pensoneau of Ponca City; and her mother, Marilyn House, stepfather, Darwin House and sister, Marilynn House, all of Towaoc, Colo.

Prior to coming with her two children to Ponca City to live with her father, Elizabeth was employed by the Ute Mountain Ute Casino in Towaoc, Colo. Cookie, as she was known by friends and family, enjoyed being a homemaker for her children and father. She enjoyed taking her children to Washington Elementary School every morning and picking them up at 3 p.m. She will be greatly missed by numerous relatives and friends in Ponca City and Towaoc, Colo.

Services are being arranged by Ertel Funeral Home of Cortez, Colo.

Casket bearers will be Mark Wing, Eric Coyote, Michael Coyote, Marvin Coyote and Johnson Taylor Jr.

Honorary bearers will be Johnson Taylor Sr., Alex Youker, Darrell Clark, Derek Billy, Buck Jones and Jack Hernandez.