TALLOW, May

TALLOW

Payo’tainihkata

We, the family of MAY TALLOW, announce with profound sadness the sudden passing of our precious mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, auntie, and cousin on Thursday, October 24, 2019, at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital, surrounded by her family.

May was born on May 8, 1938, at the old Blood Indian Hospital to Kiitohiipottaan (John) and Siipikkitstaki Mary (Striped Wolf) Many Chief. Her paternal grandparents were Aakainaa John and Payo’tsikamo’saakii Jane (later married Flying About) Many Chief. Her maternal grandparents were Kiihtsipapi’si (John) and Kaahka’saakssin (Rosie) Striped Wolf.

May, as a young child, became a Ninaimsskakaipokaa for which she was forever thankful to her parents for giving her such a good start in life. May went to St. Mary’s RC Indian Residential School at the age of eight. She would entertain us with stories about adventures she and her school friends, such as, Odile Young Pine would get themselves into. She remained friends with them throughout her life. Whenever they met, they were always happy to see each other and reminisce about their school days.

May started working at the age of sixteen, babysitting for Charlie Ivan’s family. She went to Calgary and continued to work there. Mom met Dad at a rodeo, and they were soon married. May and Cecil were both hard working individuals and provided a good home for their children. They were members of the Iitsikinna’yiiksi for 18 years and May was a member of the Mao’to’ksiiksi for 9 years. Mom worked as a seamstress, Healthcare worker, and cook, which she retired from with the Canadian Armed Forces, Calgary, AB in 1989. She left the workforce to take care of Dad when he started to get ill and took care of him until his passing in 1993. May continued her journey as a spiritual elder for many people including her children and was a traditional knowledge keeper.

May was pre-deceased by her husband Cecil Tallow, sons: Merlin and Ivan, granddaughter, great-grandson, brothers: Ray (Adeline), Leo, Bernard, Cecil, and John Many Chief. Sisters: Dora (Robert) Big Sorrel Horse, Mary, and Nora Scout. Her parents John and Mary Many Chief, paternal grandparents John and Jane Many Chief, maternal grandparents John and Rosie Striped Wolf, Mother-in-law Helen (Henry) Cochrane, Father-in-law Mark Tallow, Brother-in-law Roy Tallow, Sisters-in-law Josephine (Wallace) Oka, Dinah (Alred) Red Crow, Queenie (Morris) Shouting, Della Crow Chief, Rosaline (Louis) Crow Chief. Ten nephews and nine nieces.

May was a loving mother and a guiding light to Marvin (Marlene), Debbie (Warner) Many Bears, John, Cameron (Joann); and Tina. Grandmother to Tira (Vincent), Vanessa, Lana (Lance Crow Chief), Marvin Jr., Charmaine, Chad, Cheyenne, Marisa (Sage Shade), Kyle (Emma) and Shayla (Emerson); Corwin (Stephanie), Shayna, Allysa (Wilber Jr Yellow Old Woman), Stasi (Alex Shade), Dwight (Zoe); Desirae, Mae, Keisha, Kristen; Jasmine (Willie Shade), Hank, Melissa, Taylor, Tiara, Tyson, Travyn; Brad (Ingrid), Logan, Jay, Joseph, Shalayne (Jonathan Oka); Hailee (CJ) Scout, Cammie; Jason, Cody (Chelsi), Riley (Dakota), LC. (Marlin), Sonya, Trish. 56 Great-Grandchildren; and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren. Pete Knife, her companion; Teresa Scout (sister), Santanita Many Chief (sister-in-law); Mary Rose Many Chief (sister-in-law); Pauline Tallow (sister-in-law); Joan (Joe) Whiteman Left (sister-in-law), Charlie Crow Chief (brother-in-law). 18 Nephews and 16 Nieces. Adopted children Joe and Toni Martin, Nimachia Howe, Heavy Head family, Jenny Bruised Head and family, John and Carol Murray, William and Mary Long Time Squirrel, Evelyn Across the Mountain, John Bird, and many more adopted children and grandchildren too numerous to mention. Iitsikinayiiksi Magpie Society and Young Eagle Society her Spiritual brother and sisters and Mao’to’kiiksi her spiritual sisters. May came from a large extended family too numerous to mention everyone.

A Family Service will be at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston on Friday, November 1st at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Wake Service at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve, AB from 7:00 p.m. all night. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, November 2nd at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Blood Band Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent at: www.legacyfuneralhome.ca