Obituary of Gerald Eugene Kootenay

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day 2Peter 3:8. It is with great sadness and blessing that we announce the passing of our brother, uncle and nephew, Gerald Kootenay, of the Stoney Nakoda Sioux Nation, after a lengthy comatose state at the Dr. Vernon Fanning Care Centre in Calgary, AB. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family in prayers. He had unconditional love for all who knew him. Gerald’s true love was for his wife Lorna Shirley Kootenay (Smith) originally from Montreal Lake, SK. As a young man Gerald was a cowboy at heart participating in rodeos. As an uncle he encouraged our family to accomplish our goals. He will be sadly missed by his maternal uncle, Bill McLean; sisters Kathleen (Paul) Poucette, Viola Kootenay and Clarice, Kootenay, Reba Powderface, and Doris Dixon (Billy), all of Morley, AB; brothers Dave Bearspaw (Lorna), Douglas Kootenay (Laverne), Lawrence Dixon (Loriann); adopted sisters Beverly Tailfeathers and Patsy Simon; adopted brothers Gordon Tatoosis, Pete Bruisedhead; Gerald will be missed by all his nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, his many relatives, and friends of the Stoney Nakoda Nation; Treaty areas numbers Seven and Eight. Gerald was predeceased by his mother Mary Kootenay; father J. W. Kootenay; brother Ralph Kootenay; sisters Rachel, Cecilia and Velda Kootenay, and Shirley Crawler; two nephews Jason Poucett and Clement Crawler; adopted brothers Robert McIntyre, Hanson Twoyoungmen, Hugh Twoyoungmen. Wake Services will be held at the residence of Gerald Kootenay (Morley, AB) on Sunday, October 29, 2006. Funeral Service will be celebrated at the Morley Gymnasium (Morley, AB) on Monday, October 30, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. Graveside Service to follow at Bearspaw Cemetery, Morley, AB. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. The family would like to acknowledge all of those who have cared for Gerald mostly Dr. Gosbee at the Dr. Vernon Fanning Care Centre as well as his dear friend Veronica of the Fanning Centre and Dianne Rider of Stoney Adult and Elder Care and trustees Joy and Keith Newman. In living memory of Gerald Kootenay a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., CALGARY. Telephone: (403) 241-0044.