Thelma ‘Chincie’ Ross; Beloved Chickasaw elder, activist passes away at 98

This article appeared in the June 2016 edition of the Chickasaw Times

TUTTLE, Okla. – A Chickasaw woman beloved by citizens in this central Oklahoma community for more than 60 years passed away Monday, May 16.

Thelma “Chincie” Ross passed peacefully at her Tuttle home. She was 98.

Born Sept. 9, 1917, near Tuttle to Turner and Susan Cochran, Mrs. Ross was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2015.

Governor Bill Anoatubby said Mrs. Ross epitomized the Chickasaw spirit.

“Chincie Ross had an uncommon passion for life that enabled her to accomplish great things,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “Her indomitable spirit, infectious sense of humor and commitment to her family, community and tribe are an inspiration to all who knew her.”

Chincie, the nickname bestowed on her by the father she adored, is an indigenous word for “beautiful flower.”

Her father shared Chickasaw culture, tradition and heritage with his young daughter. She proudly proclaimed her Native American heritage the remainder of her life.

In 2013, the city of Tuttle honored her by dedicating the Thelma “Chincie” Ross Meeting Room after constructing a new city hall downtown.

A vital member of the Tuttle community, Mrs. Ross served as the town’s first librarian, historian and voter registrar and contributed to countless city projects.

In 2009, Mrs. Ross was honored during Tuttle High School’s 100th anniversary. She served as parade marshal. Local citizens and elected officials praised the Chickasaw woman at the 2013 dedication.

“This woman has dedicated her life to people, dedicated her life to God and dedicated her life to our community,” then mayor Bobby Williams proclaimed. “We didn’t even try to put together all of what Chincie has done in her life because there would be too much left out. We would leave out important contributions and how she has done so much and touched so many people’s hearts. Tuttle is blessed to have her.”

Mrs. Ross served for years as the self-appointed guardian and caretaker of Tuttle’s Silver City Cemetery, a place of substantial historical value to the Chickasaw Nation, Tuttle and Oklahoma.

Athletic and scholarly, Chincie Cochran earned a scholarship to attend Edmond’s Central State University, now the University of Central Oklahoma. But an injury suffered on the basketball court ended her athletic pursuits. Her scholarship was withdrawn and she found herself attending Kansas’ Haskell Institute, her mother’s alma mater.

Upon graduation, the world was preparing to fight a great war in Europe and the Pacific. The young Miss Cochran departed from Concho, Oklahoma, where she was working with the Cheyenne-Arapaho, and traveled to Window Rock, Arizona, to work with the Navajo.

She helped process young Navajo men who would serve as Code Talkers during World War II.

Her duty assignment changed when the Code Talkers were shipped to California for training and then shipped out for combat. She was stationed in Arizona at internment camps built to confine Americans of Japanese heritage – an action for which the U.S. government formally apologized in 1988.

In Arizona, she met Richard Ross. They married in 1947. When he was honorably discharged, they spent a short time in Ohio before relocating to Tuttle. He, too, made huge contributions to Tuttle and is remembered fondly. He preceded her in death in 2005.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross were honored by the Tuttle Chamber of Commerce as Citizens of the Year and were active members of the Tuttle Christian Church.

“She keeps track of everything and everybody and has a clipping for it or a picture,” Tuttle City Councilman Mary Smith said in 2013. “She has always been special to Tuttle. She knows everybody and everybody knows her. She has a wonderful sense of humor and a wonderful sense of community. She has made us a better community because she has been here.”

Mrs. Ross was moved to tears by the honor and recalled her father.

“I had a smart ol’ daddy,” she said. “He said ‘never get up in the morning without thanking the Great Spirit for the graciousness and the beautiful day it’s going to be. Give everyone your blessing because everyone needs a blessing even if it’s just a smile. Look at people and smile. It doesn’t cost a cent. You’d be surprised at the people who’s only blessing that day will be your smile.’”

“Whatever you do, just be nice to people and hand it on to someone else because someone has got to be a leader,” Mrs. Ross told the gathering on hand to honor her that day. “Always thank the Great Spirit for what all he has given you.”

A portrait of Mrs. Ross, painted by famed Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen, adorns the meeting room honoring her.

“I’m so proud to be Chickasaw,” Mrs. Ross remarked several times during the 2013 ceremony.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Ross worked in various positions with several tribes including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Choctaw, Navajo and Chickasaw.

Mrs. Ross was a member of the Chickasaw Nation northern Pontotoc tribal council for many years.