12 OCTOBER 1, 2011
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Nora W. Kimsey
Dec. 2, 1908 - Sept. 7, 2011
Grand Ronde Tribal Elder Nora
Warren Kimsey, 102, died at her
home on Sept. 7, 2011.
She was born in Grand Ronde on
Dec. 2, 1 908, to John Marcel (Bogus)
Warren and Cecille Leno Warren.
Nora was the last remaining and
youngest child of a family of 14
children. However, only four lived
to be adults. The three that Nora
grew up with were Phillip Warren,
Maude Warren Hudson and Pauline
Warren (Tom) Johnson.
Nora was married to Loren Kimsey for 70 years until his death in
September 2000. They lived in Grand Ronde and had three children:
Margaret Provost, Myrna Brandon and Marvin Kimsey, who all reside
in Grand Ronde. Nora has six generations with a total of almost 100
grandchildren.
Nora was an industrious worker who used her time wisely. She
was not one to idle time away, believing that time was a gift. She in
corporated her cultural practices like gathering switches for making
baskets, and going to the mountains to pick huckleberries, salmon,
thimble and elderberries for making preserves. Nora and Loren always
planted a garden, where it was evident that they had green thumbs
for they were able to share their vegetables with neighbors and can
enough for the winter months.
Nora loved animals and visitors were welcomed by protective tiny
barking dogs. The most recent dog that was her partner was named
Tipper, who stood guard over her until the end.
Baking pies and cookies were regular tasty treats one experienced
when coming to Nora's and many looked forward to the holidays
because they could further enjoy her gifts of treats. Along with her
garden and preparing food, she always had chickens with enough
eggs to take care of her needs. These talents helped with the Tribal
Restoration effort for she baked many pies and goodies to sell so that
travel costs were available.
Some may say Nora had many hobbies, but they really weren't hob
bies; they were a way of life with a distinct purpose, like her sewing.
She sewed clothing and on visiting, people often circled around a quilt
ing frame. She was an excellent quilter and many of her quilts remain
as valuable treasures with family members. Nora was a member of
the Mothers of America society at Grand Ronde, where she further
shared her talent of quilting and embroidery.
During World War II, Nora worked in the shipyards as a welder
and she worked in the cannery for 10 years. In later years, she and
Loren worked at Pacific City, taking care of the parks. Throughout
all these years, Nora raised her three children and helped raise her
niece, Cordelia Tom Kneeland, and granddaughter, Linda Brandon.
Children were always welcome at Nora's home and she had a vast
supply of toys awaiting your visit.
Nora recognized that we humans were not placed here by accident
and that one day we would be accountable for what we did on this
earth. Nora loved God and was a very spiritual woman who gently
helped those she could.
With the belief that the good news must be given to the forgotten
Indian people, she and her sisters and niece traveled to many remote
Indian reservations in Canada and the United States. Many stories
were told of their missionary trips and how their needs were provided
when they had very little money but a strong belief that God would
provide, and he did.
One example was when they went to a Nevada reservation. They only
had one hotdog to share between the three of them, but they heard a
knock on the door and more than enough food was delivered in a box.
By the time they left, they had so much that they divided the remain
ing food among the people of the village.
Nora believed in concrete examples of learning. When she was very
young, they had a horse that exhibited stubborn tendencies and refused
to allow them to saddle him. He would lie down, so they pulled him
into the house and made him look at himself in the mirror to see how
stubborn he was. The example of a life well lived is the message that
Nora leaves behind for all of us to follow. Now it is time for all of us
to continue that message so that gentleness, kindness, generosity and
caring for one another are a way of life for all.
A funeral service was held on Monday, Sept. 12, at the Grand Ronde
Tribal gymnasium followed by burial in the Tribal Cemetery. Dallas
Mortuary Tribute Center handled the arrangements.
Loren Francis Holmes
Dec. 15, 1936 - Sept. 17, 2011
Tribal Elder Loren Francis Holmes, 74, a resident of Happy Valley,
Ore., died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Milwaukie.
He was born on Dec. 15, 1936, in Grand Ronde, the son of David
and Vida Smith Holmes. He graduated from high school and served
his country in Korea. While in the military, he was a paratrooper and
taught others how to assemble and disassemble their weapons. He
later served in the National Guard.
Loren worked in the woods as a choker setter and then went to
doing the thing he enjoyed the most, working on cars as a mechanic.
He also worked moving houses for the Bunns. He was a champion
pool player and enjoyed fishing, hunting, going to the casino, target
practice with the bow and arrow and going to the horse and dog races.
He was good at shuffleboard as well. He also loved to travel and visit
friends. He was an Oregon Ducks and Florida Seminole fan. He was
a member of the Catholic Church and loved eagles.
He is survived by his sons, Loren "Buckskin" Holmes of Keizer, Steven
Holmes of Dallas and Dennis Holmes of McMinnville, and an enormous
amount of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He also is survived by a sister, Priscilla Hofenbredl of Grand Ronde.
He was preceded in death by daughters Kathy Holmes and Claudine
Holmes, son Kenneth Holmes and 11 brothers and sisters.
Viewing was held Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Dallas Mortuary Trib
ute Center with a Rosary service held in the mortuary. A funeral Mass
was held Friday, Sept. 22, in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Grand
Ronde with burial following in the Holmes Family Cemetery.
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