It brings us great sadness to announce the passing of our dear mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and cousin,
TONI LYNN “NAA-PYAA-KII” MORNING BIRD, of the Blood Reserve who passed away suddenly on July 20, 2017, at the age of 47. Toni was born on January 12, 1970, to the Late Rosalita Morning Bird at the Cardston Blood Indian Hospital. While Toni was an infant she was cherished and raised by her grandparents, the Late Harvey and Mary Margaret Morning Bird.
Toni was raised in Lower Standoff, where she grew up and attended school on the reserve. During her childhood she was a curious, and mischievous little girl, and well into her adulthood as well. As a young girl, she was a frail sickly child and everyone hovered over her because of this. As she got older she overcame her frailty and never let the condition overtake her life again. She was always quick to tease, joke, and make you laugh. Something else she carried on into adulthood as well. Toni was always around the family, always would hang with her cousins. Although she had a select group of friends, family is where she knew her home was. Even well into her adult life she would always make time to go and visit with family or to call home. She would always be there if she could. When she met her first husband that is when she decided to move to B.C. and there she decided to start a family. Later she would meet her second husband and had more children. Even though she could not be with her kids all the time she loved them dearly. Toni would always talk about her kids, she loved them with all her heart. Toni had a hard life, and wanted to come back home from B.C.. While Toni did end up moving back home, she would later decide Vancouver is where she wanted to be.
Toni leaves behind her pride and joy, her children Rosalita (Ramiro), Deirdre (Clint) Wells, Heather, James, and Dillion Morning Bird. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Marcus, Maya, Sonya, Javen Kaliyah and one on the way.
Toni is survived by her brothers Corwin Morning Bird and Raymond Morning Bird, Adopted Sisters Elizabeth Big Swan, Gloria Stabbed Last, and Pauline Stabbed Last; Adopted parents Margaret (Dale) Rabbit; God-Mother Joyce (Gary) Bird; Aunties: Rosie (Marty) Reyes, Corolla Calf Robe, Annie Good Dagger, Bernadine Mountain Horse, Paula Steinhaur, Diane (John) Morning Bird, Carol (Henry) Morning Bird, Yvonne (Calvin) Morning Bird, and Betty (Robert) Morning Bird. Great-Auntie Theresa Vielle, Uncles Charlie (Betty) Crow Chief, Gordon (Natalie) Morning Bird. Special Mentions: Cousin Gordon Spear Chief, including numerous cousins of Good Dagger, Vielle, Crow Spreads Wings, Eagle Speaker, Scouts and Tallman.
Toni was predeceased by her late husbands Henry Wells, and Terri Ashum; Mother, Rosalita Morning Bird, Uncles & Aunties: Harley and Harry Morning Bird; Blaise, Margaret, Helen, Bertha Gordon and George Good Dagger; Great Uncle Phillip Morning Bird, and Auntie Hazel Morning Bird.
Special mentions of family legacy: Grandparents Harvey & Mary Morning Bird, Great-Great Grandmother "Nee-tsii-taa-kii" Morning Bird and Great-Great Grandparents George & Annie Vielle.
A Wake Service will be at the Old Saipoyi Gym, Stand Off on Sunday, August 6th from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be at the Old Saipoyi Gym on Monday, August 7th at 11:00 a.m. Interment in St. Catherine’s Cemetery.
TONI LYNN “NAA-PYAA-KII” MORNING BIRD, of the Blood Reserve who passed away suddenly on July 20, 2017, at the age of 47. Toni was born on January 12, 1970, to the Late Rosalita Morning Bird at the Cardston Blood Indian Hospital. While Toni was an infant she was cherished and raised by her grandparents, the Late Harvey and Mary Margaret Morning Bird.
Toni was raised in Lower Standoff, where she grew up and attended school on the reserve. During her childhood she was a curious, and mischievous little girl, and well into her adulthood as well. As a young girl, she was a frail sickly child and everyone hovered over her because of this. As she got older she overcame her frailty and never let the condition overtake her life again. She was always quick to tease, joke, and make you laugh. Something else she carried on into adulthood as well. Toni was always around the family, always would hang with her cousins. Although she had a select group of friends, family is where she knew her home was. Even well into her adult life she would always make time to go and visit with family or to call home. She would always be there if she could. When she met her first husband that is when she decided to move to B.C. and there she decided to start a family. Later she would meet her second husband and had more children. Even though she could not be with her kids all the time she loved them dearly. Toni would always talk about her kids, she loved them with all her heart. Toni had a hard life, and wanted to come back home from B.C.. While Toni did end up moving back home, she would later decide Vancouver is where she wanted to be.
Toni leaves behind her pride and joy, her children Rosalita (Ramiro), Deirdre (Clint) Wells, Heather, James, and Dillion Morning Bird. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Marcus, Maya, Sonya, Javen Kaliyah and one on the way.
Toni is survived by her brothers Corwin Morning Bird and Raymond Morning Bird, Adopted Sisters Elizabeth Big Swan, Gloria Stabbed Last, and Pauline Stabbed Last; Adopted parents Margaret (Dale) Rabbit; God-Mother Joyce (Gary) Bird; Aunties: Rosie (Marty) Reyes, Corolla Calf Robe, Annie Good Dagger, Bernadine Mountain Horse, Paula Steinhaur, Diane (John) Morning Bird, Carol (Henry) Morning Bird, Yvonne (Calvin) Morning Bird, and Betty (Robert) Morning Bird. Great-Auntie Theresa Vielle, Uncles Charlie (Betty) Crow Chief, Gordon (Natalie) Morning Bird. Special Mentions: Cousin Gordon Spear Chief, including numerous cousins of Good Dagger, Vielle, Crow Spreads Wings, Eagle Speaker, Scouts and Tallman.
Toni was predeceased by her late husbands Henry Wells, and Terri Ashum; Mother, Rosalita Morning Bird, Uncles & Aunties: Harley and Harry Morning Bird; Blaise, Margaret, Helen, Bertha Gordon and George Good Dagger; Great Uncle Phillip Morning Bird, and Auntie Hazel Morning Bird.
Special mentions of family legacy: Grandparents Harvey & Mary Morning Bird, Great-Great Grandmother "Nee-tsii-taa-kii" Morning Bird and Great-Great Grandparents George & Annie Vielle.
A Wake Service will be at the Old Saipoyi Gym, Stand Off on Sunday, August 6th from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be at the Old Saipoyi Gym on Monday, August 7th at 11:00 a.m. Interment in St. Catherine’s Cemetery.