Our mother, grandmother, auntie, babysitter, and friend Faye Louise (Shegonee) Perry went home to be with the Lord, her brothers, sisters and parents on December 26, 2013 at the Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point, MT.
The cause of death was due to cancer.
Faye was born to Gilbert Ahn-Wap-Nah Harrison-Shegonee and Melvina Wewasson Shegonee on July 22, 1943 in Crandon, Wisconsin. As a child, Faye was raised in the woodlands of the central United States. She attended school and graduated on May 11, 1966 from Neilsville High School in Neilsville, WI and later moved to Chicago, Illinois. She is a tribal member of the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indians in Kansas but lived majority of her life in Poplar, which she considered her home.
On July 20, 1968, she was joined in holy matrimony with Victor Perry in Chicago, IL. The couple moved to Poplar and for the next 14 years they raised their daughters, LeeAnn, Lisa and Vicki Perry. The couple later separated and she remained single devoting all her time and energy on raising her girls. She was also a Second Mother to Louis Montclair. She loved him very much and took him as her adopted son.
Faye was a dedicated and hardworking employee throughout her life. In her early years, she worked as a sewer at A & S Tribal Industries, a teacher’s aide at Fort Peck Head Start, and also worked at numerous Day Care Centers in Poplar. Her last job was at the Poplar Schools working with the special needs children in the elementary school. However, due to heart surgery in 2007 and a stroke in 2009 she was forced to retire.
In 1994, she became a college student and enrolled at Fort Peck Community College. During her first year she joined the FPCC Knowledge Bowl Team and placed 2nd at the annual American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). The next year, she helped carry FPCC to first place. This was one of the proudest moments of her life.
Faye loved taking care and teaching all children whether it was at home, a day care center or at school. Her true love of life was children.
Her second love was reading and many times she would finish a novel in a day. She also really enjoyed “rummaging.” Whether it was a yard sale, a second hand store, a community clothes dig or the flea market this is where she had the most fun. You could always count on her to be one of the first ones there and she made sure she got “treasures” for everyone.
She knew the true value of rummaging and passed this on to her kids and granddaughters.
Faye was a very humble, giving and kind hearted lady who was always willing to help in anyway. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
Faye is survived by daughters LeeAnn, Lisa, and Vicky Perry, and adopted son Louis Montclair; granddaughters Kaylyn (John Frank) and Alisa (Al) Perry and Troylynn Brown and Shelby Renz and her one and only grandson Schon Michael Youngman; great granddaughters Eva Joyce Figueroa and MacKenzie Faye Charbonneau and great grandson Zeke Jack Brown, all of Poplar; and a brother, Loyal Shegonee of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also has numerous relatives in Illinois, and Wisconsin and many in Poplar too numerous to name.
Family children she cared for were: Clifford Country, Charley, Vern and Randy Red Elk; Silas, John and Thomas Montclair; Carly Sioux Stump; Joseph and Taylor Buckles, Casey Ferguson, and Miles Buckles.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Delbert and Joseph “Joby” Shegonee and an infant brother, who died at birth; sisters Catherine “Cathy” Shegonnee Rockman, Laura E. Shegonnee Marquez, Barbara A. Shegonee Marin and Verna M. Shegonee.
A family service will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the Activity Center in Poplar. A funeral service will be held 11 .am. Thursday, January 9, 2014 at the Activity Center in Poplar. Interment will follow at the Poplar City Cemetery.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family using the form below.
Wilberta Red Tomahawk says
Teacher Faye…
You was a wonderful, humble, loving lady. I remember when you would tell me I needed to eat my peas & spinach, you was always so nice & soft spoken.
Your family is in my thoughts & prayers, rest in peace!
Louis Montclair says
She was of Poplar, spent most of her life here.
Bonnie Clincher Red Elk says
You became “grama Fay” to us all because of all our kids who you used to watch so patiently and kindly. Cgar-Baby grabbed me and cried when she came home last night. You took the time and energy to play with our kids when we couldn’t be there. Dress up, restaurant, etc… Our kids used to tell us to go so grama Fay could come and “babysit.” We will miss your humble and gentle spirit.
Love, Clifford, Char, Vern & Red & their parents
Rhonda Kirn says
It is so difficult to say goodbye to a dear friend and neighbor, so Fay, we will say “see you later”. With loving thoughts and memories over many, many years of raising our children and making sure their on sturdy ground remembering you with all loving thoughts. Rest in peace my friend. Always. Rhonda Kirn.
Donna Black Dog says
My condolescences to the family of Faye Perry who was a very nice, friendly, easygoing lady. She will be missed by the people who loved her.
Richard says
I am here to offer my Condolences to the friends and family. I did not know her but I to am Prairie Band. I would just like to pay my Respect.
Tyger Ricker says
Im wishing my very well candolenses to the family. I know i have bad spelling but im very sorry. She too was my day care teacher. I remember her at young age.
Yvonne Boyd-Misiaszek says
I did not know Faye personally; but her brother, Loyal, showed me a picture of her years ago – she is beautiful. My condolences to all of her family and friends. I just wish I could have met her; my daughter lived in Wolf Point and Poplar for about a year and I was there often when I worked at the Crow Hospital. My deepest prayers for all who will miss her.