Brenda Mechling

Brenda Lavonne (Chaino Ahkeahbo Williams) Mechling was born March 18, 1957, in Kingfisher to Don Chaino Ahkeahbo and Averial (Rivers) Chaino.

She passed away Sept. 28, 2025, at the age of 68.

She spent her early years in Kingfisher surrounded by the love of her grandparents, Carl and Laura Rivers, and her extended Rivers and Trosper families.

In 1964, when her mother married Dale Williams, Brenda gained a second father and moved to Del City.

A 1975 graduate of Del City High School, Brenda was active in choir, theater and cheerleading, earning numerous awards.

She was also a Worthy Advisor in the International Order of the Rainbow and State DeMolay Miss Conclave.

Her love of community service, music and performing shaped the rest of her life.

On Sept. 5, 1978, Brenda married George Mechling while visiting friends in California. What began as a spontaneous celebration became a marriage of 47 years.

Together they raised a blended family she deeply cherished.

Brenda taught music privately for 13 years before earning her degree in music education from the University of Central Oklahoma.

For 24 years, she directed choirs in the Mid-Del School District — at Del Crest, Carl Albert Junior High, Carl Albert High School and Del City High School — inspiring thousands of students.

To them, she was “Mama Mech,” a mentor who helped young people believe in themselves.

Her excellence as an educator was recognized with honors, including the Golden Apple Award, Oklahoma Music Educators Exemplary Teacher Award, Multicultural Teacher of the Year, Del City and Mid-Del Teacher of the Year, the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award and induction into the Del City High School Hall of Fame.

This fall, she will be posthumously recognized as a recipient of AARP’s Oklahoma Native American Elder Honoree Award.

Brenda was also devoted to her Kiowa heritage, participating in the traditions of the Oh-Ho-Mah Lodge and the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society alongside her father, ensuring those traditions would live on through her children and grandchildren.

Brenda was preceded in death by her grandparents, Carl and Laura Rivers and the Reverend John and Lillie Chaino Ahkeahbo; fathers Don Chaino Ahkeahbo and Dale Williams; stepbrother Stan Williams; stepsister Karen Stopper; and a host of family members, classmates and friends.

Brenda is survived by her husband George; mother Averial (Rivers) Williams; stepmother Liz Chaino Ahkeahbo; children Darrin (Carmela), Jason, Preston (Shay), Paige (Christopher) and Parish (Nicholas); siblings Les (Robin), Donald “Gov” II, Aaron and Lisa; aunts Judy (Rivers) Beavers and Carla Rivers; 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; extended family, dear friends and beloved former students.