CREIGHTON Flora

Flora Creighton (nee Many Horses-Crop Eared Wolf) “Stahsti piik sakii” (Piiksi) residing in Calgary, AB passed away peacefully at the Mayfair Care Centre, Calgary, AB on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at the age of 99 years. Flora was the oldest member of the Blood Reserve and her Clan, “Mamioyiiksi-Fish Eaters,” at the time of her passing. She lived to see four generations of grand/great great great grandchildren (six generations).
Flora “piiksi” is survived by her daughters: Rosabel Yellow Wings and Frances Littlelight, sons Andrew (Benita) Creighton and Eugene (Lorna) Creighton, sister Mary Louise Oka, daughter-in-law Rosaline Creighton and son-in-law Floyd Smith, her stepchildren: Joanne Spearson, Verna Fox, Bernice Fox, and Roland Big Throat. Adopted Sons: Kirk (Lorna) White Quills, Ira Tail Feathers, Levi Black Water, Jr., and Kirby Many Fingers. She is also survived by Four generations of grandchildren.
Also surviving her are the Families of: Shot Both Sides, Many Fingers, Shade, Black Water, Oka, Fox, Red Crow, Standing Alone, Across the Mountain, Small Face, Plain Women, Cross Child, Spear Chief, Bruised Head and Russell (Healy and Davis).
Piiksi was born on July 7, 1913 on the Blood Reserve. She received her education at the St. Mary’s Residential school. She later married her husband Sam Creighton and together raised five children. After the death of her husband she accepted a lot of challenges to raise and provide for her children during the hard times of the 30’s and 40’s but persevered. She worked as a Hospital Aide at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary and Blood Indian Hospital, and then at the St. Mary’s Residential School. She was also a successful rancher. During this time, during the 1940’s, Flora met her special friend, Jim Big Throat and together were blessed with four more children and step- children.
Piiksi instilled in her family the importance of education, spirituality and hard work. She was especially proud of her children and grandchildren’s achievements. The highlight and proudest moment of her life was the birth of four generations of grand children. Her grandsons Robby White Quills and Danny Yellow Wings constantly played tricks on her, and had repeated wrestling matches and teasing with her granddaughter Vera White Quills, who also told fabled stories that grandma believed only to find they weren’t necessarily true. Her granddaughters Peggy and Elaine also lived with her during their youth to help grandma out. Piiksi and her daughters, Olive, Rosabel and Frances followed their mom’s spirituality and had great faith in prayer, and were constantly teased by her other children and called them “Mother Theresa and her Grey Nuns” (inside joke). This spirituality was passed down through the generations.
Piiksi enjoyed her reading, sewing, crossword puzzles, knitting, Bingo, crocheting, painting, western movies and listening to her favourite country music legends Wilf Carter and Jimmie Rogers. She also enjoyed teaching her grandchildren to cook and bake pies, and was especially talented in making and beading moccasins and Indian dresses for her great grand children. She also enjoyed going to Rodeos to see her children, grand and great grand children and nephews and nieces participate. She was especially proud of her brother Pat Wolf who participated in the Calgary Stampede. Her other enjoyments were going to Rodeos, hockey games, Sundance and Indian Days (Standoff & Tsuu T’ina). Piiksi lived a long life and saw all the changes to society: from driving the horse and buggy to the automobile, wood stoves to gas, smoke signals to cell phones, live shows to cable T.V. She lived an amazing life.
Piiksi will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her children, grand children and three generations of great grandchildren, and all who knew her. Throughout her life she maintained her faith and spirituality and instilled it in her family – her faith and example she set to be honest and spiritual will continue to be an inspiration to all.
Pii’ksi was predeceased by her husband Sam Creighton and her special friend Jim Big Throat; parents Aloysius and Teresa (Small Face) Crop Eared Wolf; In-laws Percy and Jessie Creighton; children Olive “Paakaakii” White Quills-Fox, MaryAnn Smith, Teresa Mae “Mac” Creighton, Adrian Creighton, Melvin Creighton; siblings: Agnes (Harry) Shade, Rosie (Jim) Red Crow, Joe (Louise) Crop Eared Wolf, Pat (Ruth) Crop Eared Wolf, Reggie (Alvine) Crop Eared Wolf; grandchildren Robby White Quills, Brenda Yellow Wings and Kevin Day Rider; sons-in-law Isaac Yellow Wings, Eugene White Quills Sr., Bedford Littlelight, Jonas Fox; nephews Levi Black Water Sr., Clarence Black Water Sr., Joe Crop Eared Wolf Jr., Kenneth and Reggie Knife; Peter Oka and Aloysius “Lala” Wings (Crop Eared Wolf); nieces Esther and Cathy Oka; brothers-in-law Harry Shade, Mike Oka Sr., Jim Red Crow, Billy, Stanford, Wallace and John Creighton, Harry Big Throat and Pat Weasel Head; sisters-in-law Violet and Nelly Creighton and Priscilla Bruised Head (nee Creighton).
The Family Apologizes for any names or families that were missed.
The family would like to thank Mayfair Care Centre and its staff for the excellent care they provided to our mother, and to the Tsuu T’ina Health Centre staff Colleen, Ethel and Veronica for their support and assistance.
A Family Service will be held at Eden’s Funeral Home in Fort Macleod at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. Family, friends and relatives are also invited to the Wake Service, following the family service at old Saipoyi School Gym, Stand Off, Blood Reserve, AB from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary`s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Blood Reserve, AB on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Pawal Andrasz officiating. Interment to follow at St. Catherine`s Cemetery, Standoff, AB.
Eden’s Funeral Home and Crematorium
2424 – 5 Avenue
Fort Macleod, AB
Phone: 403-553-3772
Email: condolences@edensfuneralhome.com
www.edensfuneralhome.com