Venetta Avonne Dawes

CROW AGENCY - Venetta Avonne Dawes, 69, of Crow Agency, passed away Feb. 26, 2011, in the Billings Clinic.

She was born Dec. 21, 1941, in Crow Agency, a daughter of Gus and Caroline Shane Other Medicine. The late Sarah Jane and Geraldine Shane raised her as their own. She grew up and received her education in Crow Agency.

Avonne married Norman Dawes Sr. on Oct. 13, 1959, in Pryor. The couple lived in Pryor before making their home in Crow Agency. She was a member of the Baptist Church, Native American Church, Greasy Mouth Clan, and was a child of the Whistling Water.

In her younger days, she enjoyed the Powwow circuit, often participating in the Push and Round Dance. She was a good mother, grandmother and homemaker, who was known for her good housekeeping. She enjoyed being a childcare provider, caring for the children of Cameron and Kallie Black Eagle, Emerson (Smiley) Other Medicine, Marquel Windy Boy and Jocilyn Funke, treating them as if they were her own. She made fringe blankets, elk tooth necklaces and beaded moccasins. She loved to play bingo, attend church and walk with her friends.

Her husband, a baby daughter, her parents, grandparents, a sister, two brothers and two grandsons preceded Avonne in death.

Survivors include her daughters, Karna (Thomas) Yarlott and Norma Jane (Gordon) Morning; her sons, Tom (Cheryl), Bruce (Mary), Gary (Janice), David and Norman Dawes Jr.; her sisters, Dineen and Ardena Other Medicine, Sarah House, Marie Lincoln, Ann (Ricky) Bird in Ground, Gwendolyn (Larry) Plain Bull and Georgeann Bad Bear; her brothers, John Paul (Elizabeth) Other Medicine and Rudolph (Iva) Shane; her best friend, Beatrice Bear from Canada; three grandchildren whom she raised as her own, Darwin (Crystal) Spotted Sr., Kingsley and Gary Dawes Jr.; 19 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; her adopted children, Koeshay Adale Spotted, Deeann Dawes of North Dakota, Mary (Thomas) Ten Bear, Leda and Jolene Rides the Horse, Al (Jonni) Big Hair, Paul (Evangeline) Pryor, Bryson (Patricia) Rogers and Jonathan (Terry) Lawton, Farrell Shortman and Mark (Ann) Custalow; her beloved sisters-in-law, Irma Jane Bird Hat, Warlene Comes Up; her aunt, Violet Other Medicine; as well as her extended family, including the Other Medicine, Shane, Bird in Ground, Takes Horse, Lincoln, Bird Hat, Comes Up, Graybull, Two Leggins and Passes families. Our family is large; if we have missed you, please accept our apology.

Carolyn Faith Spotted and Kara Eliza Faith Yarlott, two inspirational granddaughters, provided care and prayer for her while she was a patient in the elderly home.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in the Crow Agency Spirit of Life Four Square Church. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.