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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1990)
'an V) ! ASH THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON WALKING ON; "EUIA PETITE" NOV. 27, 1911 - DEC. 22, 1989 Former teacher and Grand Ronde Tribal Council member Eula Margaret Petite died on December 22, 1989 at the age of 78. Eula was born on November 27, 191 1 in Salem, Oregon. She was the 14th and final child of John B. Hudson, Kalapuyan, and Magdeline (Hattie) Sands, Rogue River. Eula received her education at Monmouth Normal School where she received two years of education train ing. After teaching elementary education for four years she received a Life Education Certificate. She taught elementary students in many of the local schools, including Cloverleaf, the Agency school, Grand Ronde, Gold Creek and Willamina. Eula enjoyed her many years of teaching and her stu dents. "There are so many I'm proud of," she once said. Her most notable student was Barbara Roberts, who is now Secretary of State for Oregon. Eula taught from 1930 -1970. Eula also served on the Tribal Council from March 1985 - October 1987. During that time, tribal efforts were focused on regaining a reservation. Eula was very active in tribal activities, including partici pating in craft classes, sharing tribal history and culture and teaching Chinook Jargon. "We have lost a treasure", said Kathryn Harrison during services for Eula, attended by approximately 250 people at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Internment was at the Green Crest Memorial Park in Sheridan, Oregon. She is survived by her daughter, LaVonne (Sister Kateri) Petite of Portland; and sisters Velma Mercier, Ila Dowd and Martha Mercier. Contributions in memory of Eula can be made to the Hospice of Yamhill County in care of Adamson's Mortuary. ti "L Respected Tribal elder Eula Petite passed away on December 22nd, 1989. Eula was very active in Tribal affairs J?y serving on Tribal Council and actively participating in the Tribes' Reservation effort. She will be missed by all. Eulogy for Eula Petite , iiiiiiiiiii i i.i i. Ill III. I .1.. .),)... J.J,1 J-.'.1. !.,' ', fBdudktfon Infoattefaemj By Mark Mercier Excellence - defined as the quality of being an excellent or valuable quality. As a school teacher, excellence is something that Eula vigorously encouraged in her students in their academic achievements. Some of her students may have felt that she demanded it. Although she was never my teacher, I remember many of her former students telling me if they didn't give her the attention she wanted in class, they received a method of discipline in the form of a "thump." I wonder today how many of her former students have gone beyond high school, to enter into a white collar profession. I know one of her many proteges is now an attorney. Our current Secretary of State was her student when Eula taught school in Sheridan. Excellence was not only something she stressed to her students, but to anyone else she worked with. Even her sisters told me that when doing craft work, Eula wouldn't tolerate anyone cutting corners whether it was doing bead work, making those delightful little Indian dolls, using a small dried apple for the doll's face. Besides working as an instructor, Eula was always busy helping out in planning for the St. Michael's annual dinner and bazaar. She was a long time member of the church. One had to admire the seemingly limitless energy Eula possessed, and the devotion she had for her Parish. In 1985, St. Michael's celebrated their 125th anniversary. Eula was an extremely valuable resource to the Tribal members because of her rich knowledge of the history of St. Michael's church and the entire Grand Ronde area. As an enrolled member of the Grand Ronde Tribe, Eula was very knowledgeable of the native language of "Chinook Jargon." For many years, she devoted her time to teach this language to our Tribal youth. Eula also served on the Grand Ronde Tribal Council and she had a strong sense of values and conviction. She was never afraid to speak exactly what was on her mind, and when she took a position on something it was very hard to sway her opinion. I for one can attest to that.
