Smoke Signals 9
DECEMBER 15, 2007
Elders7 Christmas Bazaar I imikss&to
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Photos by Ron Karten
The Elders Christmas Bazaar was held Nov. 30 in the Tribal gymnasium.
Above, community member Tammy Cook, left, shows her cards to a visitor.
Below, Tribal Elder Pat Allen enjoys a laugh while displaying her beadwork.
The annual bazaar offered for sale various items for Christmas.
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Attention
veterans
Applications are now being accepted for the Veterans' Special
Event Board. If you are interested, contact Dakota Whitecloud at
503-879-1309 or dakota.whitecloudgrandronde.org.
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
Election Board Alternate Positions Vacancy
Applications may be picked up at the Governance Center.
Please submit applications to Dakota Whitecloud, TCRC, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
For more information, contact Dakota Whitecloud at 503-879-1309
or dakota.whitecloudgrandronde.org.
in.
Thomas Joseph Bean
Sept. 14, 1945 - Dec. 7, 2007
Grand Ronde resident and Tribal El
der Thomas Joseph Bean died Friday,
Dec. 7, at the age of 62 after a short,
but brave fight against lung cancer.
Mr. Bean was a born to Fremond
Francis Bean and La Verne May Hos
ford (Teter) in McMinnville on Sept.
14, 1915 a birthday he shared with
his oldest sister, Donna.
He was a proud member of the Tribe
and lived next door to his mother on
the Reservation.
Mr. Bean was descended from
members of the Northern Paiute,
Kalapuya, Tillamook, Chinook, Iroquois and Mohawk Tribes. He
believed his Native heritage was a blessing from the Creator.
He will be remembered for repairing cars, lawnmowers, washing
machines, dryers and anything else that needed fixing. He mowed
lawns, cleaned yards and gutters, fixed roofs, repaired fences, stained
decks and painted kitchens for community members as well.
Mr. Bean also will be missed for his efforts to ensure members of
the Grand Ronde community and his extended family had trans
portation to myriad appointments and meetings.
Mr. Bean was a community leader for his unceasing efforts to help
people find, understand and maintain sobriety from drugs and alcohol.
He was the community's main source of drug and alcohol counseling.
He was clean and sober for the last 16 years and ran the Alcoholics
Anonymous meetings in Grand Ronde for the last 15 years.
He received no money for his community efforts and survived
on his Elder's pension and odd job earnings.
Family members remember him when he was a child as their
"protector." Sisters Ellen, Linda and Joyce remember him not only
for keeping them from harm but for leading them into mischief
and keeping most of the candy bars he often distributed.
"He would break the candy bar in half and take a bite from one
half," they remember. "Then he would hand us the piece that he had
taken the bite from and just smile before running off laughing."
He attended Waldport Grade School, Agency Grade School in
Grand Ronde, Benson High School in Portland and graduated from
Siletz High School on the Siletz Reservation. He was a good-looking,
fun-loving athlete who enjoyed playing basketball.
Mr. Bean began working in the woods with his father and older
brother, Francis, and started earning a paycheck as a logger at
the age of 16. He was athletic, scrambling over logs and setting
chokers with guile and strength. He worked in logging mills in
Sweet Home, Springfield and Cottage Grove, and also worked as
a carpenter in Alaska. In addition, he was a counselor at Sweat
House Lodge and Camp Adair, maintenance worker at Chemawa
Indian School and electrician's helper during the construction of
Spirit Mountain Casino.
Mr. Bean was a veteran who earned service medals as a private
first class after entering the Army in 1965 at the age of 19. He was
stationed at Korea in the demilitarized zone between North and
South Korea. He was proud of his military service and participated
in many veterans' events as a Tribal Honor Guard member.
He enjoyed playing basketball and watching football, especially
University of Oregon games. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing in
his youth and spent much of his free time working on art and wood
working projects. He loved to pick moss and fern almost as much
as he liked good-naturedly teasing younger family members.
Mr. Bean also enjoyed dancing at pow-wows and carrying the
flags as a veteran. Despite his humble life, he died a man rich with
the love and admiration of his fiancee, family, fellow veterans and
Elders, community and Tribe. He had a large, loving family that
will miss him greatly.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Thomas Bean, and
his grandmother, Margaret Menard; grandparents, Marshall and
Pearl Teter, and his father.
He is survived by his mother, of Grand Ronde; sons, Thomas
Bean Jr. and Michael Hawk; daughter, Tamika Rain Jones Bean;
fiancee, Jackie Elaine Jones; sisters, Donna Marie Stronach and
Ellen Dianne Fischer of Grand Ronde, Joyce Ann Kirk of Klamath
Falls and Linda Margaret Bean of Siletz; brother, Francis Earl
Bean of Salem; nieces, Sandra Stone Bean, Katrina Bean, Kim
Campbell, Shawn Hostler-Jones, Lydia Logan and Jocelyn Huff
man; and nephews, Brent Merrill, Donn Grishaber, Brian and
Randy Bean, Tim Anderson, Keith and Kevin Campbell, Frank
Hostler Jr. and Joseph Hostler.
A funeral service was held Dec. 12 at the Tribal gymnasium in
Grand Ronde. A graveside service was held at the Tribal cemetery
in Grand Ronde with a meal following at the Community Center.
Contributions can be made to his daughter, Tamika.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrangements.