Kenneth Taryole

Kenneth “Ken” Taryole, 82, passed from this life on July 24, 2026 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He was born to Van and Sophia (Coon) Taryole in Okemah on June 29, 1944. He was of the Wind Clan and belonged to the Nuyaka Tribal Town. After graduating from Mangum High School, he attended Haskell Junior College. 

Taryole was drafted into the US Army in 1966. He was stationed with the 1st Armored Division(Old Ironsides), Fort Hood, Texas where he received basic training and Advanced InfantryTraining in all areas of the M-48 armored tank. He was assigned overseas duty in the Republic of South Korea. He was stationed with the Eighth Army, HHC/1st BN, 72nd Armor Camp Rose Korea. He participated on various occasions in field exercises on the DMZ as a show of strength and support of US Forces present in the area. Taryole was promoted to the rank of Sergeant (E5), Tank Commander. He sustained a serviced connected injury. He was honorably discharged in January of 1968.

In 1968, he went to work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma where he retired after 25 years of government service. Ken later served as the Manager of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Johnson O’Malley program for six years. He met his wife Darlene Frank in 1972 and they were married for 53 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sally Tiger; uncle, Phillip Coon; cousin, Lorena Roberts and sister-in-law, Betsy Taryole. Survivors include: his wife, Darlene; twin daughters, Jennifer and Valerie; brother, Sonny Taryole; nieces, Melinda Taylor (JR), Kristi Hooper (Shayne), and Gayle Hill; nephews, Benjamin “Boy” Gibson and Shawn Taryole; grandchildren, Vernon “Mister” Powell, Cyann “Missy” Powell, Preston Powell, and Sophy Powell; one great granddaughter, Leilani Powell.

Pallbearers will be Johnathan Bond, Derrek Bond, Robert Coffey, Shayne Hooper, and Jeromie Hammer. Honorary Pallbearers will be Vernon “Mister” Powell, Preston Powell, Shawn Taryole, Sonny Taryole, Mike Coon and Grover Wind.

Interment will be at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery with military honors.