Howard White Clay

HARDIN - Howard Loren White Clay, 59, of south Hardin, left this world to be with his Savior Jesus Christ on Monday evening, Oct. 23, 2006.
Biia'Hawaxash "Throws away Women," a name given to him by his namesake Austin Stray Calf, was born Dec. 28, 1946, in Hardin, a son of Guy and Eloise Plenty Hoops White Clay. He attended Crow Agency and Billings schools, before graduating from Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma in 1965. He worked for the Todd Shipyards in San Francisco, before enlisting in the U.S. Marines, later receiving his honorable discharge. Following his enlistment, he attended Portland State College, majoring in history.
He was a fine welder and worked for Morrison Knudsen and another company in Colstrip. He later worked on the construction of the new Indian Health Service Hospital in Crow Agency. He also worked in Page, Ariz., in the same line of work. He also did welding work for the Empire Company in Los Angeles.
Howard married Janice Peters and was later divorced. He married Alice McCabe and the couple later divorced.
He was a member Big Lodge Clan and was a child of the Ties the Bundle Clan. He was a well-known maker of fine old time Indian saddles, bridles and beadwork that were passed on to him by his father. He enjoyed reading and was a historian.
During his younger years, he participated in rodeo bareback events, traveling throughout the Northwestern United States. He was a former President of the annual Crow Fair celebration.
Howard was a faithful member of the Pentecostal Church, often sharing his love of God by telling family and friends stories from the Bible. He would spend hours reading, studying and sharing with others. He always greeted people with humor.
He loved his parents and was willing to do anything for them and his family. He loved his sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and grandchildren. He enjoyed and broke many horses, including some for his sister. He was an outdoors person, often going up into the mountains around Sheridan and cutting teepee poles in preparation for the Crow Fair. He liked to fish. He loved to sing his native Crow songs and "49" songs.
His parents and brothers John Frederick White Clay and Willard Spotted Horse preceded Howard in death.
Survivors include his sons, Anthony White Clay of Washington and John White Clay of Arizona; adopted sons, Chey White Clay and Brandon; adopted daughters, Nicole White Clay, Whitney Bernardis and Nikola; his grandchildren, Brittany, Guy, Sid, Mija and Shynne; his sisters, Claudia (Tim) Bernardis, Veronica, Bonnie and Jolene White Clay, Regina Stewart, Colleen Old Elk, Cheryl Plenty Hoops, Sandra (Myron) Shields, Gladys Jefferson, Phylene Big Man, Rachel (Fred) Beatty, Rebecca (Dennis) Buffalo, Verna (Red) Koch, Cheri (Mark) Real Bird and Karen (Tim) Takes Enemy; his brothers, Ronald "Shobe" White Clay, Tyrone (Susan) White Clay, Hugo (Karen) White Clay, Francis "Joe" White Clay, Richard (Jolene), Delano (Alta) White Clay, Kenneth and Vernon (Jolene) White Clay III, Tim (Carrie) McCleary, Willy Bradley, Edwin Springfield, Franklin Plenty Hoops, Clinton LaForge, Kenneth Plenty and Kent Thunell of Sweden; his adopted parents, Bernard and Rita Tallman; his grandmother, Marie Pretty Paint; his aunts, Carol White Clay, Alice Tobacco, Alice Mae LaForge, Laura He Does It, Elizabeth and Eleanor White Fox; his uncles, Tom (Cheryl), Harold and Vernon (Carol) White Clay, Jr.; as well as his extended family, including the Bradley, Fox, Stiff Arm, Colliflower, Short Man, Dawes, White Fox, Pretty Paint, Backbone, Red Wolf, White Hip, Plenty Hoops, Takes the Enemy, Stewart, Pretty Eagle and Two Belly family descendants. Our family is large; if we have missed you, please accept our apology.
We appreciate the special care and concern provided by the Big Horn County ambulance and sheriff personnel.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment with military honors will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.