Van Cleve Truman

Van Truman - Man of the West Van Truman, 70, an adored Father, Brother, Son, Friend, Grandpa, Cowboy and Bit Man passed away on December 19, 2023 in San Simon, Arizona. He passed in his sleep with dreams of roping and riding. Van was born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma on June 22, 1953 to Floyd and Monte Truman and older brother, Lon. He lived an adventurous life as a cowboy and drill bit man. He lived in Oklahoma, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Texas and California. From before he could crawl, he was on a horse and lived his life in pursuit of the Cowboy way. He valued intelligence, independence, vigor, adventure, family, friends and comradery. He competed in Rodeos as a bronc rider, roper and bull dogger. Heading and healing in Team Roping was his passion as he spent most of his adult years perfecting and competing in this event. As a young boy, his family moved to Ekalaka, Montana to run an American Quarter Horse Track Arena. During this time, he rode his horse to school and his education progressed quickly. His appetite for knowledge and freedom allowed him to graduate high school two years early from Malta, Montana. After graduation he lived in several states doing rodeo and working for drilling rigs. This led to a unique career as a bit man in the oil-well and water-well business. He met and married Katherine Ereaux of Ft. Belknap Reservation in the 1970s and though the romance did not last, his mission as a father began. He adopted and raised Katherine’s youngest daughter, Sasha for most of her childhood. Their relationship as father and daughter was formidable for the rest of his life. In the 1980s he married Pat Truman and the two of them raised Sasha in Oklahoma, where his bit business, “Van Truman Bits” brought success and stability to his mostly nomadic life. The last twenty years or so, he lived with Shelly Blood and the two of them settled in Amarillo, Texas for a time. During this time, as he was a man of words and deep thoughts, he was also a distinguished Cowboy Poet. One of his poems is attached below. As a single man with freedom on his side, he settled in San Simon, Arizona with plans to mine for gold, raise horses, rodeo, and build alternative houses. His time was cut short, but his amazing personality and sense of adventure will always live on in those he love. Van Truman, aka “Man of the West.” He is survived by his daughter, Sasha; Grandchildren, Zoë and Sage and his older brother, Lon. You can view pictures and hear one of his poems on this YouTube video: Van Truman RIP 1953-2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi_Oq7mV_iY “REALITY FOUND LOOKIN' OUT A WARM WINTER WINDOW” Just south of Amarillo Next to a North Texas sky Across the snow covered plains I watched an eastbound freight go by My eyes squinting across a land so vast it seemed so slow Time had stopped before it had past. There is the key I thought. My mind ran wild. That train is me on tracks with no end taking so much with me. From the stops all along Our eyes searching for what's around the next bend A gold min, a new buckle? At least a smile and a song. There is no end to our track Whether forward or back. Both ends of those tracks Like the train that's moved on. Are what we are now. That's what I felt When that train rolled along VT (Van Truman/Man of the West) :copyright:

Van Cleve Truman

June 22, 1953 - December 19, 2023