NORMAN — Jeanette “Jean” Bayliss, 83, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, in Little Axe.
Services were held at the Absentee Shawnee Community Center in Little Axe, with burial in the Absentee Shawnee Tribal Cemetery.
She was born Oct. 23, 1927, in Little Axe to Billy and Eunice (Longman) Williams. Jean was a proud member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. In an effort to preserve her native language, she helped develop the first Absentee Shawnee dictionary that can be found in the University of Ohio collections. She also taught the language for a time at the University of Chicago and worked throughout the years with linguists from all over the world.
Jean was a truly kind and selfless person who was always there for anyone who needed a helping hand. She liked meeting people and made friends wherever she went. She enjoyed her time working as a tutor at Little Axe School, touching the lives of the students in a positive and encouraging way. Jean also enjoyed the outdoors, going fishing and spending time with family and friends at the lake. She spent many a Saturday hunting for new treasures at yard sales.
Her family brought her pride and joy, seeing two of her children and two grandchildren obtain college degrees. She was a member of the Pentecostal Church of God Indian Mission in Little Axe.
She was preceded in death by her son, James Bayliss; daughter, Patricia Bayliss; her parents, Billy and Eunice Williams; sister, Mary Williams; and three brothers, Fred, Robert and Arthur Williams.
Jean is survived by one son, Bill Bayliss; one daughter, Sandra Johnson; one sister, Pauline Shoemaker; seven grandchildren, Jeremy, Angela, Sherry, Christy, Suzy, Katie and Robin; and four great-grandchildren, Dustin, James, Joseph and Stormy.
The family would like to give special thanks to Glenn Mann and George Blanchard for their leadership and assistance with the funeral services and to the Absentee Shawnee Tribe for its assistance.
Norman Transcript, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013
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