Florence Calls Him Cole, longtime resident of the Ponca City area, passed away Monday morning, Feb. 7, 2011, at her home in Ponca City. She was 83. Her given Indian name was Glay-da-they-Xa (which means stubborn hawk).

Florence was born April 9, 1927, on the family homestead on the Yellow Berry allotment of the Bressie community. Her parents were George Calls Him Sr. and Ellen Yellow Berry Calls Him. She attended school in Pawnee and later Chilocco Indian School. She married Gilbert Cole Jr. on Dec. 5, 1947, in Newkirk.

Florence was of the House of Nikapahshna (Deer Clan). She was nationally known as a master bead worker and has some of her craft on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. She had personally made many of the crowns that were presented at the area pow-wows. She was sought out by many of the Ponca Tribal people to teach them the Poncan native language.

She was the matriarch of the Cole family and had taken in many other tribal people as her own that included the Calls Him, Roye, White Star and LeClair families. She was known as a mother and friend to many people. She was very supportive of the American Legion activities and was a member of the Alfred Little Standing Buffalo Post 38 Auxiliary. She was very proud of her family's service to our country. She was also a member of the Ponca Indian Methodist Church.

She was a very traditional tribal member and her enjoyments included attending the traditional Indian dances, going to the casinos, where she enjoyed playing bingo, and spending time with her many family and extended family.

She is survived by her four sons, Delbert Cole, Colbert Cole, Robert Cole and Talbert Cole; two daughters, Constance Maria Cole and Sarah Ellen Cole Primeaux; one sister, Geraldine Hardman Primeaux; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and her brother-in-law, Phillip Smith.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two infant daughters, both named Marcia; one infant son, Gilbert Cole III; three brothers, Rev. George Calls Him Jr., Leonard Biggoose and the Rev. Stanton White Star; and three sisters, Christine Calls Him Big Bear, Doris Calls Him Roye and Bonnie Calls Him LeClair.

Prayer services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the Ponca Indian Methodist Church. A traditional noon meal will be served prior to the service at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Ponca Indian Methodist Church. The services will be officiated by Bro. Jimmy White and the Rev. Abraham Jackson. Interment will follow in the Ponca Tribal Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers will be Mrs. Cole's grandsons.