Colonel Mayes (Ponca) Warrior of Ponca City, Oklahoma, died Tuesday morning, December 21, 2010, at his home in Ponca City at the age of 58 years.

Colonel Mayes (Ponca) Warrior was born on March 27, 1952, in Pawnee, Oklahoma, to Lamont and Mildred (Horsechief Eagle) Warrior. He grew up in Ponca City attending White Eagle School and graduated from Chilocco Indian School in 1970. Following his education he entered the construction industry. In 1975 he entered the United States Marines serving until 1977. Following his discharge he returned to Ponca City where he continued to work as a carpenter and construction worker. He married Judy Tofpi in 1970 and to their marriage they had a son, David. He later married Robin Knight and to this union four children were born, Cresta, Ponca, Tyler and Brady. He was a member of the Ponca Indian Methodist Church and attended the Native American Church.

He is survived by his mother, Mildred Horsechief Eagle Warrior of Ponca City, Oklahoma; a daughter, Cresta Hudson of Ponca City, Oklahoma; four sons, David Warrior of Anadarko, Oklahoma, Ponca Warrior of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Tyler Warrior of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Brady Warrior of Ponca City, Oklahoma; a sister, Cheryl Arkeketa of Ponca City, Oklahoma; four brothers, Larry Warrior of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Gordon Warrior of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Clement Warrior of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and Jerome Warrior of Ponca City, Oklahoma; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents, Rolla and Maude Warrior and David and Sarah Warrior; and five brothers.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 27th in the Tonkawa Tribal Gymnasium at Ft. Oakland with the traditional feast to begin at noon. The Rev. Louis Headman of Ponca Indian Nazarene Church will officiate the service with burial in the Ponca Indian Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Dwayne Warrior, Brandon Lee Warrior, Spencer Arkeketa Jr., Charles Warrior, David Lee Warrior and James C. Warrior Jr. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Miles Kemble, Steve Roy, Wiley Whitehorn, Lennie Biggoose, Kenny Kemble and Melvin Collins Jr.