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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
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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.