A funeral and traditional meal were held Wednesday, February 18, for Francis Richard Deer, Jr., known as Chief, at the Iowa Tribe Powwow Grounds in Tryon, Oklahoma, with burial following at the Ioway Tribal Cemetery. Deer died February 15, 2026, at the age of 68.
Born March 15, 1957, in Oklahoma City, Deer was the son of Francis Richard Deer, Sr., and Lena Rose Minor Deer. He was a proud member of the Ioway and Sac/Fox Tribe, and actively participated in Cheyenne NAC Chapter and the Ioway Elders group, as well as the Cheyenne Sundance.
Deer met his wife, Irene, at a powwow at Barefoot Park and they married on December 14, 1982, in Watonga, Oklahoma. Together, they had three children: Richard Deer, Good Warrior Deer, and Myrcine Aguilar, along with eight grandchildren – Good Warrior Mah’Hi’Vists Deer, Grant Deer, NaNosh Deer, Lena Tsosie, Richard Deer, Jr., Max Aguilar, Carlos “Oso” Aguilar, and Gia Aguilar.
Those who knew Deer remember him for his willingness to offer prayers and assistance to others. In recent years, he had been diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease in 2021, experiencing periods of clarity interspersed with memory loss. Even during those times, he continued to offer a wave or a smile to those he recognized.
Deer was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Lena Deer, and siblings Mike, Bernard, Cynthia, Victoria, Crystal, Pat, and Julia Deer, as well as his maternal grandparents Ed and Phoebe Small and paternal grandparents Josiah and Florine Deer. He is survived by his wife, Irene, his children, grandchildren, and brother, Russell Deer.
Services were under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.
