Doris McLemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doris Lamar-McLemore
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Doris McLemore in 2010
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| Born |
Doris Jean Lamar
April 16, 1927 |
| Died | August 30, 2016 (aged 89) Anadarko, Oklahoma
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| Occupation | Teacher (of Wichita language classes) |
| Known for | Last fluent speaker of the Wichita language |
Doris Jean Lamar-McLemore (born April 16, 1927 – died August 30, 2016) was an American teacher. She was the very last person who could speak the Wichita language fluently. The Wichita language is a special language from the Caddoan family. It was spoken by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, who are Native American groups from Oklahoma and Texas.
Contents
Doris's Early Life
Doris McLemore was born in 1927 in a town called Anadarko, Oklahoma. Her mother was a member of the Wichita tribe. Her father was of European-American background. Doris grew up with her Wichita grandparents on her mother's side. Because of this, the Wichita language was the very first language she learned to speak.
Growing Up and Working
Doris McLemore finished school at Riverside Indian School in 1947. This was a special school for Native American children. After graduating, she worked at the same school for 30 years. She was a "house mother," which means she helped take care of the students living there.
Doris got married two times. She had one son and two daughters. In 1959, she moved back to live near Gracemont, Oklahoma. This allowed her to be closer to her family members.
Saving the Wichita Language
Doris McLemore played a very important role in trying to save the Wichita language. In 1962, she met a language expert named David Rood. He was a linguist from the University of Colorado. They started working together to make sure the Wichita language would not be forgotten.
Teaching and Creating Resources
Doris taught classes to help others learn the Wichita language. These classes were for the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Before she passed away, she was working with David Rood. Their goal was to create a dictionary and language CDs. These tools would help future generations learn and understand the language.
Gary McAdams, who used to be the chairman of the Wichita tribe, said something special about Doris. He mentioned how amazing it was that she remembered so much of the language. This was especially true because she didn't have anyone to speak it with every day. Doris McLemore passed away on August 30, 2016, when she was 89 years old. Her work helped keep the memory of the Wichita language alive.
Images for kids
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Doris McLemore in 2010
