Jacob Littledave

Jacob was called home on September 18, 2016. He is survived by two sons, Josh Littledave and wife Megan, and Chris Cobb; six grandchildren, Carleigh, Kaylin, Jake and Chase Littledave and Taylor and Elizabeth Cobb; brother, Larry Cobb of Bakersfield, CA, and; sister, Brenda of Arizona. He was preceded in death by a brother Gary Cobb.

Jacob was born February 18, 1951 in Muskogee, OK and spent many summers with his grandparents, Jacob and Katie Arneecher of Salina, OK. The family moved back and forth from Oklahoma to California and finally settled in Bakersfield in 1959. Jacob attended Fairfax Elementary and Foothill High School. Jacob left Foothill in his junior year to join the Marine Corps.

Jacob served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1974. He served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded two purple hearts, navy accommodation with combat V for valor in combat, presidential unit citation, navy unit citation, combat action ribbon and many other awards. After leaving the service with an Honorable discharge and the rank of sergeant, Jacob pursued a career in law enforcement. He was a member of the Kern County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and went on to become a reserve deputy sheriff. Jacob worked for the sheriff's department from 1975-1982. He moved back home and continued his law enforcement career working for the federal government as a federal police officer until his medical discharge in 1998.

Jacob remained active in his community helping veterans, working at Air Show Oklahoma, later becoming the associate director, he volunteered at the Muskogee Civic Center for 5 years assisting visitors and businesses with various functions at the center. Jacob produced three shows; U.S. Veterans Show and Revue, paying tribute to our veterans and continued his work helping veterans by becoming a Tribal Veterans Representative for his tribe, the united Keetoowah Band of Cherokees in Oklahoma.

Jacob loved kids. He started his coaching career in Bakersfield with his two best friends who he considered his brothers and often referred to them as that, Bob Ponte and the late, Steve Homa. They coached a JBA team in Bakersfield and after Jacob started his family, went on to coach his sons. Jacob coached in Checotah, Fort Gibson and Muskogee and finished his career coaching with his Legion Team in 1994 from Fort Gibson. Jacob also supported the drug free league where he coached a boys and girls basketball team. He did coach his granddaughter's softball team one year as well, he couldn't tell his granddaughter no, she was only 7.

Jacob is a member of Eastern Heights Baptist Church and loved doing things with his Sunday school class and loved his church family. Jacob loved cooking Indian tacos with buffalo meat and making buffalo chili for his class. Jacob committed himself to the Lord in 1997 and recommitted himself when he joined Eastern Heights Baptist Church.

Jacob was elected honorary chief of the Ani-Yun-Wiya Society of Bakersfield, CA. He was one of four who founded the organization along with Richard (Dick) Hutchison, Jimmie Addington and Val Galvin who were all called home before Jacob. The Native American group represented 18 different tribes and held one of the largest gatherings of Native Americans during the Memorial Day Pow-Wow held in Bakersfield, CA. Jacob was a strong advocate of Native American issues. He lectured at many schools on Native American culture and performed all over the United States and overseas. One of Jacob's most memorable experiences while serving as a council member was his meeting with Senator Kennedy in Washington and going before Congress to stop the attempt of termination of his tribe's sovereignty by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Jacob is a life member of the Military Order of Purple Hearts and a life member of Disabled American Veterans. He also served on the council of the United Keetoowah Band as the Canadian District Councilman, member of the first Tribal Honor Guard for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees of Oklahoma, member of N.O.V.A., National Organization of Veterans Advocate and N.C.A.I, National Congress of American Indians.

Jacob is a published author, Native Tears, an autobiography with Noble, Publish America, Hastings Books. He also taped a show with Outdoor Oklahoma on striper fishing at the Fort Gibson Dam. Jacob graduated from Northeastern State University with a bachelor degree in criminal justice and minor in psychology.

Jacob served his country and community with a great love for life. Jacob suffered many years from the injuries he sustained in Vietnam, but you would never know if you knew him. He was shot three times, walked into an ambush, his most serious injury was during the pull of Vietnam when he was blown out of a helicopter. The scars were many as well as the memories of war but Jacob was always a happy-go-lucky guy and did whatever he could to help others. He had a great sense of humor and his Indian humor went unmatched.

A celebration of the life of Jacob Littledave will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, September 23, 2016 at Bradley Belltower Chapel with Reverend David Kelly officiating. Burial will follow at National Cemetery.

The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral and Cremation Service with the arrangements.

Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bradleyfuneralservice.com

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