With the passing of Jo Ann Sylestine Battise, The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Nation of Texas has lost one of its most revered leaders in its history.  Jo Ann   Battise has left as her legacy to the Tribe an outstanding record of achievement and accomplishment, and an overall record of success and benefit to the Tribe in the many Tribal leadership offices she held during her lifetime. She was born November 10, 1939, in Livingston, TX, to parents Harry R. Sylestine and Doris J. Sylestine.   She passed away on October 23, 2022, at home on the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation (ACIR), with her loved ones by her side.

Her achievements began early in her life.  During her attendance at Big Sandy School, while she was in the 8 ^th grade, she was invited to play with the Girls' Varsity basketball team, and went on to become the starting forward during all four years of  high school.  She learned the importance of teamwork at this point in her life.  Later, she was recognized by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council and inducted into the ACIR Tribal Hall of Fame.  With the recognition of her athletic skills, she graduated from Big Sandy High School with hopes of becoming a high school coach, and enrolled in Sam Houston State University (SHSU).  She attended SHSU for one and a half years on a DAR scholarship.

After her marriage, she moved to Dallas with her husband, where she served on various volunteer committees, one of which was the Dallas Civil Rights Commission.  One event led to a tremendous uproar in the Mexican -American community and extensive press coverage.  As a result, she was interviewed in some detail by the local press, where she not only learned civil rights law, she learned the power of the press and of the importance of public relations.

After her youngest entered public school, she enrolled at North Texas State University (NTSU) in Denton with a determination to finish her degree plan to become a coach and graduated in August 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  NTSU is now known as the University of North Texas (UNT).  As her first job after graduation, the United Fund hired her as a Sports Center Director in Dallas.  She then accepted a position as a Personnel Staffing Clerk with the federal government (HEW), where she learned all aspects of personnel work, such as recruitment, planning departmental budgets, and evaluating applications and putting together a Best Qualified (BQ) List for supervisors to review and hire.  She then entered an Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement (IPA)   program, working with the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.  She was then selected as the Dallas Delegate to the Texas Leadership Program where she learned daily governmental operation of major Texas cities.

When she started working for the Tribe, her intent was to provide and bring about beneficial services for Tribal members.  She felt that that is her legacy to the Tribe, her contribution to Tribal history.  Her work for the Tribe began with a short-term contract to prepare a budget for BIA. Which then evolved into a Temporary Tribal Administrator position, which then became a permanent position.

Her first accomplishment was the building of the Cultural Center in 1994.  She coordinated work with the Finance Officer and the Procurement Office to enable the new building to replace the decades-old building.

The Gym Caretaker was looking for activities that could be sponsored in the gym.  She suggested to him that he could start youth programs in the gym.  Why not sponsor a Children's powwow.  He did at that time, and the Children's Powwow continues to this day.

After seeing the difficulties faced by Tribal members upon the death of loved ones, emotionally and financially, she presented a Burial Insurance Plan to the Tribal Council in 1997.  The plan was approved and became effective in 1998.  It covers all enrolled Tribal members.  Of all the programs that she has initiated. This program is the one she was most proud of.

After being a Tribal Administrator for 10 years, she became the General Manager for the Muckleshoot Tribe in Seattle.  Then she accepted a position as a Claims Examiner with the Social Security Administration in Seattle.  After a period of two years in that position, she retired with 12 years of government service.

She returned to the reservation and was selected as the Senior Peacemaker for the Tr[bal Court. With her guidance, the Peacemaker Court became a Model Court nationwide. She served in this capacity from 2009 to 2014.

In her third year as a Senior Peacemaker, she was invited by the Governor to serve as a member of the Texas Supreme Court Commission for Children, Youth and Families for a term of three years.  She served as the Native American Liaison for Native American children in Texas to the Commission.  She resigned in 2014.

In 2015 she was elected to the Tribal Council and served as the Tribal Chair for two years.  As Chairperson, during the last year of her term, a Realty Department was created to stabilize housing issues.  As another issue, and although per capita distributions from Natural Resources and Longevity pay began when she was a Tribal Administrator, the Tribal pay scale needed a major upgrade.  A pay scale upgrade was approved increasing the Tribal employee hourly pay rates.

At this time, due to increasing personal health reasons, she retired without ever coaching a team.

The legacy that Jo Ann Battise has left is that of a fearless, forceful advocate and leader of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.  She will be so remembered and honored by the Tribe far into the future for her leadership and protectiveness of the  Tribe.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Arnold Battise, daughter Freida Ann Battise, and son Russell Battise.  She was predeceased by son Gary A, Battise; all of the Reservation.  Other survivors include grandson Cristopher Swift, of Seattle, Wa.; Marcie Meguinis Swift, Sullivan J. Swift, Olivia J. Swift, snd Avery J. Swift, all of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Tina Battise and Sheila Alec, both of the reservation.

Debra Battise-Kleinman, CRE, and Rev. Keith Tucker will officiate the services at the Multi-Purpose Center of the Reservation on Friday, October 28, 2022, at 11:00 AM.  Visitation will be at the same location on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 5:00 PM.

Pallbearers are Kirk Battise, Dustin Battise, David Battise, Jordan Alec, Colin Poncho, and Carson Janis.  Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the services.