It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a dear son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, LEON VINCENT (WEST) ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN “Poksi’kaa’yi” in Lethbridge on May 30, 2016 at the age of 43 years.
Leon was born on April 17, 1973 in Cardston, Alberta to the late Verna Across The Mountain and Lonnie Black Face. He was raised by his great aunt and uncle Eileen & Dan Crane Chief in the Levern and Little Chicago areas of the Blood Reserve. Leon attended Levern School and St. Mary’s High School. During his elementary years, Leon was able to travel with Leo Fox to Disney Land in California and also to Vancouver. Leon was also given the name “Poksi’kaa’yi” by his great grandparents Sam & Lucy (GVB) Hairy Bull because he was a fast runner. Being raised by Aunt Eileen and Uncle Dan made Leon a fluent Blackfoot speaker and resulted in being very close to his Crane Chief cousins, adopting many of them as his aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. After leaving high school, Leon attended Red Crow Community College and discovered his passion for art. His paintings have been sold to various venders and tourists and can be seen hanging in homes of his friends and family. Leon also enjoyed music - his favorite genre - Rock and Roll, his favorite group - Guns N Roses. From his passion for music, Leon developed a talent for playing the guitar. He was always proud of his guitar and would play for family and friends. Leon also had a close relationship with Ruth & Ira Provost’s family forming a special bond and friendship with their children and grandchildren. Leon will be remembered for his kindness, teasing his cousins and his resilient personality.
Leon leaves to mourn his passing, sister Pamela (John Thomas) Calling Last; adopted mother Evelyn Across The Mountain; uncles Calvin Across The Mountain, Ronald (Rose Mary) Across The Mountain, Charles Cole & Clarence Crane Chief; aunts Lucille Across The Mountain, Christine (Melvin) White Man, Wanda Crane Chief, Brenda, Rosabelle (Delores), Roxanne Bare Shin Bone, Debbie (Rex) First Charger; great uncles Martin Hairy Bull, Joseph, Rex, James and Norbert Across The Mountain, Martin (Elizabeth) Vielle; great aunts Christine (Jeff) Delorme, Mary Ann Across The Mountain , Margaret (Ron) McDonald; great great aunts Mary Rose & Frances Gros Ventre Boy; great great uncles Pete (Rita) Many Fingers and Donald Big Swallow; nieces and nephews, Cecil, Teona, Rhiannon, Little John, Erika, Keifer (Brooke), Tenise Across The Mountain, Shannon, Audrey, and Marcella Crying Head, Gerald Crying Head; also numerous other relatives from Across The Mountain, Hairy Bull, Bare Shin Bone, Crane Chief, Gros Ventre Boy, Shot Both Sides, Eagle Plume, and Big Swallow families.
Leon was predeceased by his mother Verna Across The Mountain; grandparents Roger & Cecile (Hairy Bull) Across The Mountain; great grandparents John & Lily (Gros Ventre Boy) Hairy Bull; great aunts Mary Stella (Paul) Bare Shin Bone, Bernadette (Paul) Hairy Bull, Isabel (Frank) Cole, Lily & Mary Across The Mountain, Theresa Across The Mountain, Eileen (Dan) Crane Chief, Celina (Joe) Rabbit.
(The family apologizes for any names missed.)
A Wake Service will be at the STREETS ALIVE MISSION, LETHBRIDGE on Friday, June 10th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. continuing at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve from 7:00 p.m. all night. The Funeral Service will be at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Pioneer Cemetery. Email condolences to:[email protected]
LEGACY FUNERAL HOMES LTD., CARDSTON Assisting the Family. Phone 403-653-3222.
Leon was born on April 17, 1973 in Cardston, Alberta to the late Verna Across The Mountain and Lonnie Black Face. He was raised by his great aunt and uncle Eileen & Dan Crane Chief in the Levern and Little Chicago areas of the Blood Reserve. Leon attended Levern School and St. Mary’s High School. During his elementary years, Leon was able to travel with Leo Fox to Disney Land in California and also to Vancouver. Leon was also given the name “Poksi’kaa’yi” by his great grandparents Sam & Lucy (GVB) Hairy Bull because he was a fast runner. Being raised by Aunt Eileen and Uncle Dan made Leon a fluent Blackfoot speaker and resulted in being very close to his Crane Chief cousins, adopting many of them as his aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. After leaving high school, Leon attended Red Crow Community College and discovered his passion for art. His paintings have been sold to various venders and tourists and can be seen hanging in homes of his friends and family. Leon also enjoyed music - his favorite genre - Rock and Roll, his favorite group - Guns N Roses. From his passion for music, Leon developed a talent for playing the guitar. He was always proud of his guitar and would play for family and friends. Leon also had a close relationship with Ruth & Ira Provost’s family forming a special bond and friendship with their children and grandchildren. Leon will be remembered for his kindness, teasing his cousins and his resilient personality.
Leon leaves to mourn his passing, sister Pamela (John Thomas) Calling Last; adopted mother Evelyn Across The Mountain; uncles Calvin Across The Mountain, Ronald (Rose Mary) Across The Mountain, Charles Cole & Clarence Crane Chief; aunts Lucille Across The Mountain, Christine (Melvin) White Man, Wanda Crane Chief, Brenda, Rosabelle (Delores), Roxanne Bare Shin Bone, Debbie (Rex) First Charger; great uncles Martin Hairy Bull, Joseph, Rex, James and Norbert Across The Mountain, Martin (Elizabeth) Vielle; great aunts Christine (Jeff) Delorme, Mary Ann Across The Mountain , Margaret (Ron) McDonald; great great aunts Mary Rose & Frances Gros Ventre Boy; great great uncles Pete (Rita) Many Fingers and Donald Big Swallow; nieces and nephews, Cecil, Teona, Rhiannon, Little John, Erika, Keifer (Brooke), Tenise Across The Mountain, Shannon, Audrey, and Marcella Crying Head, Gerald Crying Head; also numerous other relatives from Across The Mountain, Hairy Bull, Bare Shin Bone, Crane Chief, Gros Ventre Boy, Shot Both Sides, Eagle Plume, and Big Swallow families.
Leon was predeceased by his mother Verna Across The Mountain; grandparents Roger & Cecile (Hairy Bull) Across The Mountain; great grandparents John & Lily (Gros Ventre Boy) Hairy Bull; great aunts Mary Stella (Paul) Bare Shin Bone, Bernadette (Paul) Hairy Bull, Isabel (Frank) Cole, Lily & Mary Across The Mountain, Theresa Across The Mountain, Eileen (Dan) Crane Chief, Celina (Joe) Rabbit.
(The family apologizes for any names missed.)
A Wake Service will be at the STREETS ALIVE MISSION, LETHBRIDGE on Friday, June 10th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. continuing at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve from 7:00 p.m. all night. The Funeral Service will be at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Pioneer Cemetery. Email condolences to:[email protected]
LEGACY FUNERAL HOMES LTD., CARDSTON Assisting the Family. Phone 403-653-3222.