Marilyn Oberly Dailey was born on Dec. 16, 1932 to Amos and Martha Oberly Hopper. She is the granddaughter of John Oberly and Sarah Petsemoie Oberly. She had nine siblings. She was married to the late Louis Dailey Sr. for 50 years. They had three sons, Scott Lohah, the late Louis Dailey Jr. and the late Gunther Dailey. They have nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She attended school north of Hominy at Mounds Valley where she enjoyed playing tennis and basketball. She attended college classes at Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Okla., and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla. Dailey retired after working 20 years at Munsingwear Garment Factory where she was a supervisor.
Osage News: What are some of the most important lessons you have learned in your life?
Marilyn Dailey: To appreciate what you have. I am just so thankful for all the blessings I have been given throughout my lifetime.
ON: What would you say are the major values or principles that you live by?
MD: Be kind to others and love one another and to be truthful.
ON: What are the differences in the In-Lon-Schka today from when you were young? Do you like the changes?
MD: I think it is more colorful and there is a lot more dancers. There are a lot more young ones interested than we were; when I was small we were more interested in playing. I have always appreciated being Osage, I am so happy that my three sons have entered the In-Lon Schka, and three grandsons have entered and my great-grandsons.
ON: What District do you belong to, what is your Osage name?
MD: Zon-Zo-Li district, Keh-Zho-Weh,
ON: How old were you when you first started attending the In-Lon-Schka?
MD: I have been attending ever since I can remember. I have always been at the Oberly camp, which is our family camp.
ON: What is your favorite thing about the In-Lon-Schka and why?
MD: Getting to see a lot of people I don’t see very often, and they come every year. Our family all comes together and we share in food and laughter.
ON: What is your favorite Osage food?
MD: Frybread
ON: Who are your heroes?
MD: I have more than one, I have so many I couldn’t say them all.
ON: What was the happiest moment of your life?
MD: Time spent with my husband in a place called Estes Park, Colo. It was the most beautiful place and we just loved it. We went there quite often. It is so beautiful. It is up in the mountains and makes you feel wonderful.
ON: What are you most proud of?
MD: My family.
ON: What is your earliest memory?
MD: Going to my grandfather’s place. He held peyote meetings and we would go over and stay and help get things ready. I loved spending time there. I would have stayed weeks but my mother would take us home.
ON: Who or what did you love the most?
MD: My husband. We were married for 50 years. He was a wonderful man.
ON: What was your favorite thing to do for fun?
MD: I loved to play basketball and tennis, those were my things I loved to do. We looked forward to handgames so we could all be outside and play.
ON: What was your favorite decade and why?
MD: The 50’s. That was when we were taking the trips to Colorado and my husband was well.
ON: What world events had the most impact on you?
MD: When President John F. Kennedy was shot, that broke my heart. The bombing in New York; WWII, I had three brothers that went and my mother just prayed and prayed that they would come home and they did.
ON: How would you like to be remembered?
MD: I would like to be remembered as a nice person.
ON: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
MD: To be more loving, try to be kind.
By
Tara Madden
Original Publish Date: 2016-12-09 00:00:00
