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February 1, 1997
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Letters to the Editor.
Tribal Elder Martha Mercier passes away
Martha C. Mcrcicr, tribal Elder and life-long resident of
Grand Ronde passed away at her home on January 14. She
was86. BornAprilll, 19 10, Martha went to school in Grand
Ronde and attended Chemawa Indian School for one year
before transferring back to Grand Ronde High School, where
she graduated in 1 928. She was a member of the girls' high
school basketball team. Martha had six children: Darrel,
Crystal, Francis, Lennis, and Dennis. She was preceded in
death by her son, Winston.
She had 21 grandchildren: Bryce Mercier, Michael Mer
cier, Sandy Ralston, Debbie Phillips, Ronnie Mercier, Phyllis
Brown, Brian Thomas, Matthew Thomas, Kelly Mercier,
Teri Mcrcicr, Toni Mcrcicr, Tyson Mercier, Stephanie
Hitchcock, Mark Mercier, Connie Lopez, Margo Mercier,
Carmen Mercier, Lowell Mercier, Doug Mcrcicr, John Mcr
cicr, and Barbara Lake. She also had 32 great-grandchil
dren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Martha is the daughter of John and Hattie Hudson, and the sister of Ila Dowd, Velma Mercier, Emanuel
Hudson (D), Pearl Hudson (D), Eula Petite (D), and Gertrude Mcrcicr (D). (The bronze statue in the entry
of Spirit Mountain Casino is of Martha Jane Sands and Gertrude, Martha's grandmother and sister.)
She worked at Agri-Pac Cannery in West Salem for 15 years before retiring in 1975. She also worked
at The Manor Nursing Home in Grand Ronde for several years.
Martha was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Grand Ronde her whole life. She was a
member of the Tribal Enrollment Committee, and enjoyed attending Elder's functions. She served on the
last Tribal Council before Termination in 1954.
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Farewell to Mother
On January 14, 1997 my mother, Martha Mercier, passed away. For
the last three years, all of us in her family knew Mother's health was in
decline. I wish to take the time to thank my kids, my niece Teri Mer
cier, Dean and Christine Mercier for all the help and support they pro
vided in caring for Mother, by fixing her meals, seeing that she received
her medication when scheduled, and taking her for rides through the
countryside. If not for all your help to me, giving the care Mother needed
would have been impossible for me to do it alone. I know there are
many others in the family, including my aunts Velma and Ila for their
help and support for Mother. Although we all realized that Mother
would someday be gone, it was something that as a family, would never
be totally prepared for.
All her life Mother lived in Grand Ronde, working in the hop yards as
a youngster, and working in a food cannery in Salem with some of her
sisters in her adulthood. Mother was active in the Saint Michael Parish
here, always involved in any activities which the Church sponsored, by
cooking for fund-raising dinners, church bazaars, and other related ac
tivities. For many years, she served in the Parish Altar Society. Mother
always stayed in close touch with her niece Sister Katcri, a Roman Catho
lic nun, who resides in Beavcrton, Oregon. Sister Katcri and many of
her colleagues would visit mother occasionally. I wish to thank our
Parish Pastor, Father Jim Crunican, who would visit Mother at home,
and for the support he gave to my family and I.
For the last 8 years, Mother was active in the Grand Ronde Tribal
Elders Committee when ever her health enabled her to be. I wish to
thank all for the tribal volunteers who prepared the luncheon after the
funeral services.
Mother knew that her time was nearing the end, but she said that she
was always happy and wanted only to go peacefully with little suffer
ing. We know she is now smiling down to all of us, and the legacy she
left behind in the surviving generations, now and to come, will endure
for a long time. I am grateful for all she has done for the Community.
I wish to thank all of our family and friends, near and far, for all your
help. I realize that there is someone that I will forget to acknowledge
for jour efforts to help me in this trying time, but to all who helped in
any capacity, a big Thank You!
Darrel Mercier
Thank you
The family of Darrel and
Ruth Mercier would like to
extend our sincere apprecia
tion to all of our friends and
relatives for their love and sup
port while sharing grief over
the loss of our grandmother,
Martha Mercier.
Special thanks to:
Val Grout and family for
preparing a wonderful meal.
CcCc Knceland for a beauti
ful Chinook jargon song at the
funeral service.
Jim Butler for his "dish pan
hands," and Wilmadcnc for
her serving and cleaning.
All the Grand Ronde staff
members and family who
served the meal and cleaned
tables.
Kim and Kevin Mueller for
taking family pictures.
Jill Jcffers and Julie Little
for their visits and support.
Everyone who offered flow
ers, cards, and prayers as well
as all the warm hugs and words
of encouragement.
It is truly times like these
that we feel blessed and hon
ored to be part of the Grand
Ronde Tribe and community.
We love you all.
Sincerely,
The children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren
To the Editor:
Just a little note from a tribal member. A big thanks to the Health
staff and various people: Jackie Provost, Val Sheker, and Julie Little on
their support in helping my family in "96." It was an exhausting year
for us with the illness of my father, and daughter Shilo. I couldn't have
made it without the support of these people.
A big thanks goes out to each of you.
Margie (Laffcrty) Fechtner RoIl 1175
To the Editor:
I would like to take the time to thank a few people who have helped
me change my life almost five years ago. On February 3, 1992, 1 was in
the most trouble I had ever been in my whole life. The walls were
crashing down around me and I had lost any little faith in myself that I
may have once had. My sister, Jill Jeffers, came to get me out of jail for
a DUI, the second one in six months. This was a turning point in my
life, and Jill had enough faith inside her for both of us to share. Thank
you God, for Jill. I call her my guardian angel these days. I would also
like to thank Marilyn Miller and Cindy Canty for all their never-ending
love and support, you both were what I needed to pull my life back
together. And I owe a very big thank you to The Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde for paying for the financial part of my recovery. I was
able to go to N.A.R.A. and get professional help to straighten out my
life. And a special thanks to Leon and Alex at N.A.R. A.
My life has changed only for the better. Here it is five years later, and
I am married and have two wonderful daughters. Yes, life is good.
I would like to give my daughter, Kassie, a very special thank you for
giving up so much for her Mommy to get her life together so I could
make her world a happier place. I love you Kassie. I would also like to
give special thanks to all of my family for not giving up on me! And
thanks to my husband, Gary. You are the best. So, again, my thanks to
Jill Jeffers, Marilyn Miller, Cindy Canty, the Grand Ronde Tribe, Kassie
Marie Simi, and N.A.R. A.
Sincerely,
Janie Lou Simi Hahn Roll 2924
- - - -"- i I -
Last month we reported that the home and vehicle of Harold,
Velma, Dean and Christine Mercier were lost in a fire and not
protected by insurance. The family thanks everyone in the
community for all the love, support, and generous donations
they have made in helping them back on their feet.
Harold, Velma, Dean, and Chris are living temporarily with
family until they can locate a permanent home for themselves.
They have received a lot of clothing and bedding items which
were greatly needed, but there are many more things they will
be needing such as kitchen and bath items, furniture, and mis
cellaneous household goods and products. Anything you can
spare would be very appreciated. For donations, please con
tact Jackie Whisler at 1-800-422-0232 or 879-2301.
Here is a list of their clothing sizes:
HAROLD - shirt size XL; pant size 42x30; shoe size 10.
VELMA blouse size XL; pant size 16 or L; shoe size 10.
DEAN shirt size XL; pant size 40x28; shoe size 9 wide.
CHRISTINE - blouse size XL; leggings size L; shoe size 7-12.