Funeral services for Clara Faye Battise, 89, were held on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:00AM at the Indian Village Assebly of God Church with Rev. David Busby, Bro. Garreth Abbey and Rev. Rudy Martinez officiating. Interment followed at the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation Cemetery.

She was born September 14, 1919 on the Alabama- Coushatta Reservation, the second of five children to Nelson Hardin and Nancy Thompson Sylestine. Clara Faye Battise 89 Died on Friday, January 30, 2009 at her residence on the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation. She was the oldest member of the Deer Clan.

Clara enjoyed a close walk with the Lord and served faithfully in the Indian Village Assembly of God Church in the Women' Ministry group and the church choir. She was also a charter member and volunteer for many years of the Alabama-Coushatta Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and continued to participate in many of their activities. She loved to make quilts and Indian dolls, tend to her plants and pets and travel in her spare time. She was considered a loving mother to every generation of her family, raising several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was called ""ahpo"" by many who no longer had a grandmother of their own.

She was preceded in death by her parents Nelson Hardin and Nancy Thompson Sylestine; husband Ramsey Battise; three sisters, Emily Sylestine, Lillie Robinson, and Lucille Hilderbrand; one brother, Thomas Edison Sylestine; one daughter, Jessie Sylestine; one son, Chester Sylestine; four children and four great - grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters, Rachel and husband Hobby Williams, Sr. of the Reservation; Arlene and husband Eugene Williams of Elton, La., three sons, Malcolm Sylestine and Charley Sylestine of the Reservation, and Paul and wife Brenda Battise of Wright City, Oklahoma; four nieces, Deborah Bacon of Owyhee, NV, Myrna Helderbrand of Owyee, NV, Becky Hilderbrand of Owyee NV, Evelyn Hardin of Reno, NV; two nephews Boyd Sylestine of Baytown, TX and James Hilderbrand of Shawnee, Ok; 16 grandchildren: Gretchen John, Kunya Williams, Cheryl Downing, Silas Battise, Carla Ramirez, Vanya Erickson, Calvin Wilson, Garrison Abbey, Gina Greenlee, Garreth Abbey, Gilman Abbey, Sehoya Roussell, Sehoke Borderlon, Tony Battise, Glenda Williams, and Genesis Battise; 34 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren; numerous cousins, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers were Garrison Abbey, Gilman Abbey, Terry John, Gerren Downing, Brent Thompson,Caleb Wilson and Mykiah Williams. Honorary pallbearers were the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Elders group.

Cochran Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements. Please sign the online guest book at www.cochranfh.com