The funeral service for former Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gregory Pyle will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant. Pyle passed away Saturday at age 70.

Pyle served as Chief from 1997 until his retirement in 2014. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation from 1984 to 2014.

Awards honoring Chief Pyle include being named a Distinguished Alumni and Benefactor for SOSU and being named an Honorary Member of the Oklahoma State Troopers Association. In 2007, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Other appointments and awards for Chief Pyle included receiving the SBA Region VI Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year, several terms as a member of the National Indian Health Board and a year as the elected President of the Oklahoma Area Indian Health Board. He was appointed by former Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan to serve on a Task Force created to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and reappointed two years later by former Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, heading up several subcommittees on the Task Force.

Chief Pyle testified before several Congressional hearings on various subjects, including Code Talkers, sovereignty, the Arkansas Riverbed, and health care.

Under the leadership of Chief Pyle, the Choctaw Nation put families first, with priorities on education, health, and jobs. Deep involvement in economic development resulted in profitable tribal businesses such as gaming centers, manufacturing plants, and travel plazas, creating numerous jobs and funding tribal programs. During his term of office, a new hospital was constructed in Talihina, as well as the Diabetes Wellness Center, clinics in Stigler, McAlester, Atoka and Idabel, a new Hospitality House, new Recovery Center, and a new Women's Treatment Center. The Poteau Clinic has been expanded to include additional health care professionals and a mail-pharmacy refill center.

Education milestones under Chief Pyle, included the Choctaw Language Program and increasing the scholarship program to serve 5,000 students. A new academic building has been built at Jones Academy for the elementary school. A career development program for Choctaws has been initiated to include training at technical institutes.

Pyle's Assistant Chief, Gary Batton, succeeded him as Chief in 2014.

Batton said in a statement, "There are many accomplishments the tribe achieved under his leadership, but most importantly, he had a great heart, loved his family, his friends, and his tribe."

"Thought he was a great guy. Always like he and Patty very well," said Cindy Kirkpatrick, who lives in Durant.

She said Chief Pyle left a legacy beyond the Choctaw Nation.

Choctaw Tribe Member Barbara Swafford says he was dear to the Choctaw tribe, and looked upon as a true leader and great friend.

"Choctaw Chief Pyle was a very good leader for our Choctaw nation. He was well-known and loved by many people here. And we're gonna really miss him," said Swafford.

People from outside the tribe like Kirkpatrick respect him and had fond memories to share.

"I remember offering him a ride one day when we were on Market Square, and he said 'no I'm gonna walk.' He said, 'I'm way over here by the Baptist church,' and I said, 'well I'll take you there.' He said, 'no we need to walk for our health. My kids hate it when I go somewhere because I always park at the end of the parking lot and we have to walk to the door.' He was a good guy. I really do like him. He was sweet," said Kirkpatrick.

Pyle leaves behind his wife, Pat, their children and grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 2, at 10:00 a.m. at the Choctaw Nation Event Center. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Hugo, OK.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Nicaragua Work Fund

Durant Church of Christ

PO Box 152

Durant, OK 74701