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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals 17 JUNE 1,2011 Marcellus John Norwest May 8, 1929 - May, 22, 2011 Tribal Elder Marcellus "Marce" John Norwest, 82, a resident of Grand Ronde, walked on Sunday, May 22, 2011, in McMinnville, Ore. He was born on May 8, 1929, in Klamath Falls, Ore., the son of Leo and Mary Duvall Norwest. He served proudly during the Korean War from Feb. 18, 1953, to Nov. 5, 1955. He married Sharon Rae Lilly in Reno, Nev., and they have been together for 45 years. He worked as the fire warden in Chilo quin and worked in lumber mills in Ketchikan, Alaska, St. Johns, Ore., and Fort Hill and retired as the Forestry Patrol Officer for the Grand Ronde Tribe at age 79. He was a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. He was in charge of the Veterans Powwow for many years and getting the West Valley Veterans' Memorial in Grand Ronde erected. He loved to tinker, do bead work, hunt, fish, draw and cut wood. He is survived by his wife, Sharon of Grand Ronde; children, Lyndel Norwest, Robin Norwest, LaDonna Norwest, Daniele Powley and Johnny Norwest of Grand Ronde, Shirley Norwest of Salem and Jackie Brown of Benton City, Wash; sisters, Marcella "Deedee" Selwyn and Marilee Davis Norwest of Grand Ronde; half-brother, Duane Wheeler of Rose Lodge; along with 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by children Marcellus Jr., Andrew, Lon nie and Carmen; stepson Lyle Johnson; brothers Gregory, Oscar, Kenny and Frankie; and sisters Janice Knight, Vernetta Harris, Jeanette Bob and Juanita Curl. Viewing was held Thursday, May 26, in the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. A funeral service was held Friday, May 27, in the Grand Ronde Tribal gym. Interment occurred in the Grand Ronde Tribal Cemetery. To leave an on-line condolence for the family, go to www.dallas-tribute.com. Samuel Cody Singer May 21, 1937 - May 12, 2011 Samuel Cody Singer was born May 21, 1937, in Kayenta, Ariz. He died on May 12, 2011, at his residence in Salem, Ore., surrounded by his family and relatives. He was a longtime resident of Salem. Sam had recently retired from Chemawa Indian School, an off-reservation Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, concluding 15 years of federal service. He was a 55-year member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he was baptized and married. Sam was very proud of his American Indian heritage and exhibited Native pride in many ways. He was a full-blooded Navajo enrolled in the Western Agency of the Navajo Nation. He was from the To'aah'ni' (Near the Water) Clan born for the To'dichii'nii' (Bitter Water) Clan. His late parents are Clifford Sr. and Clara (Coleman) Singer of (To'denas zhaii) Kayenta, Ariz. Two of Sams' paternal uncles, Oscar and Richard Singer Sr., were Navajo Code Talkers who served in World War II and both received posthumous Silver Medals for their service as U.S. Marines. Sam carried great pride knowing his uncles and many Navajo people served proudly in the armed services as the tradition continues f 1 ns -J today. The Navajo language (Dine Bizaad) is his first language and he spoke it fluently on a daily basis with his wife, Irene, at home and amongst fellow Navajo speakers. He often streamed online to listen to KTNN, the voice of the Navajo Nation, to stay connected with his cultural roots. He was a product of Navajo (Kay enta Boarding School) and BIA schools (Chemawa Indian School). In the 1950s, Sam attended Che mawa as part of a pilot program for Navajo students. Upon completion, he continued to reside and work in the Salem area. On April 16, 1960, he married his Navajo sweetheart, Irene Rose (Billy) Singer of (Kin Hozhoni) Manuelito, N.M. Last month marked their 51st wedding anniversary. Sam worked at a variety of local Salem establishments and worked at Boise Cascade Lumber Mill in Millers burg, Ore., before his federal service at Chemawa Indian School. He supported four children who attended Salem-Keizer public schools and two daughters who graduated from the University of Oregon. On Jan. 26, 2011, Sam tragically lost his youngest son, Morales, who was 37 and was the caregiver to his retired parents and three children. Sam was taking care of his three teenage grandchildren at the time of his passing. Sam was head of household and was always on the move with household duties, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shop ping, driving his wife and grandchildren to their destinations, ac companying his wife shopping, in addition to a whole host of other things he truly enjoyed. He had a passion for sports (professional wrestling, Oregon Ducks football, Portland Trailblazers basketball, NFL football (W ashington Redskins), a love of classic rock 'n' roll countrytraditional Navajo music, Navajo Tribal and mainstream public affairs, and a fan of the classics (The Marx BrotherswarWest ernElvis movies and cartoons). He enjoyed the beauty of the state of Oregon, especially the Oregon Coast, the high deserts of central Oregon and his other home, the Navajo Indian reservation in the southwestern United States. Sam is survived by his wife, Irene; children, Marcie (Josh), Mike (Caro lyn) and Michelle; grandchildren, Cody, Elijah, Jaliene and Shaelee; siblings, Anna Clitso, Clifford Singer Jr. (Inez), Rena Jeff, Raymond Singer (Roselyn), Ruby Singer, Ida Mae Smith (Ray) and Floyd Singer (Ada), and many, many relatives that span the western United States. He was preceded in death by his son, Morales Clifford Singer, his par ents, Clifford Sr. and Clara Singer, and brother, James Singer. To honor him, a public visitation was held Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Salem on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. A lunch was served following the service. A grave site service was held on Friday, May 20, 2011, at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. For online and audio condolences, please visit www. HED-FH.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to the Morales Clifford Singer Memorial Fund at U.S. Bank of Oregon in his honor for his grandchildren or in his memory to Irene Singer, 4153 Vernon St. N.E., Salem, Oregon 97305. Although Sam may not be of physical body, he is now with his son and relatives with his Lord and Savior in heaven above living on in our hearts and in our memories. His smile, laugh and presence will be greatly missed. Saddle Club opem The Grand Ronde Saddle Club is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tues day, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday near the former Grand Ronde Food Bank west of Grand Ronde Road. The Saddle Club is closed on Thursday and Sunday. Everyone is invited to visit the horses and go for a ride. For more information, contact Tribal member Clint Folden at 503-559-1977. Zcjunmba heM ddd gym Zumba, an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired and calorie-burning dance fitness party, is held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday in the Tribal gymnasium. The first class is free and $6 thereafter for drop-ins, or $5 if participants purchase a punch card. For more information, contact Tribal Recreation Coordinator Alton Butler at 503-879-1369. (Pi 503-87-5211 . 1-C 22- Ad created by George Valdez