Laura Mae Ortiz
Laura Mae M’Jessepe-Ortiz (Pshuck to’ quah), 76, of Lawrence, KS, formerly of Brown County, died Sunday, January 20, 2008 at her son’s home. She was born on February 19, 1931 on the Kickapoo Reservation, the daughter of Dewey M’Jessepe (Ga Kee Kaw bah) and Minnie Wahwassuck-M’Jessepe (Sho-wak-e-yah). She went to Red Top Grade School on the Kickapoo Reservation and Haskell Institute in Lawrence. She was a nurse’s aide and a homemaker. She was a member of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation with Kickapoo bloodline. She belonged to the Brown County Native American Church. Laura married Eleodoro (Lolo) Ortiz. They were later divorced. She is survived by a son, Stephen R. Ortiz and his wife Dolores of Lawrence, KS; grandsons, Stephen E. Ortiz and Dominic R. Ortiz and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by sisters, Big June Green and Melvina Banks and brothers, Paul M’Jessepe, Francis “Bud” M’Jessepe, Louis “Roe Cloud” M’Jessepe, Nelson “Pandy” M’Jessepe, and Walter M’Jessepe. Native American Church Supper will be Tuesday evening at the Brown County Native American Church, 5 miles east on K20 hwy. from US 75 hwy. Burial will be Wednesday at the M’Jessepe Family Cemetery north of the church. She will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be given to Kansas Heartland Hospice c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS66436.
(Courtesy of Mercer Funeral Home)