Walking On -- Oct. 1, 2011

Nora W. Kimsey

Dec. 2, 1908 - Sept. 7, 2011

Grand Ronde Tribal Elder Nora Warren Kimsey, 102, died at her home on Sept. 7, 2011.

She was born in Grand Ronde on Dec. 2, 1908, to John Marcel (Bogus) Warren and Cecille Leno Warren. Nora was the last remaining and youngest child of a family of 14 children. However, only four lived to be adults. The three that Nora grew up with were Phillip Warren, Maude Warren Hudson and Pauline Warren (Tom) Johnson.

Nora was married to Loren Kimsey for 70 years until his death in September 2000. They lived in Grand Ronde and had three children: Margaret Provost, Myrna Brandon and Marvin Kimsey, who all reside in Grand Ronde. Nora has six generations with a total of almost 100 grandchildren.

Nora was an industrious worker who used her time wisely. She was not one to idle time away, believing that time was a gift. She incorporated her cultural practices like gathering switches for making baskets, and going to the mountains to pick huckleberries, salmon, thimble and elderberries for making preserves. Nora and Loren always planted a garden, where it was evident that they had green thumbs for they were able to share their vegetables with neighbors and can enough for the winter months.

Nora loved animals and visitors were welcomed by protective tiny barking dogs. The most recent dog that was her partner was named Tipper, who stood guard over her until the end.

Baking pies and cookies were regular tasty treats one experienced when coming to Nora's and many looked forward to the holidays because they could further enjoy her gifts of treats. Along with her garden and preparing food, she always had chickens with enough eggs to take care of her needs. These talents helped with the Tribal Restoration effort for she baked many pies and goodies to sell so that travel costs were available.

Some may say Nora had many hobbies, but they really weren't hobbies; they were a way of life with a distinct purpose, like her sewing. She sewed clothing and on visiting, people often circled around a quilting frame. She was an excellent quilter and many of her quilts remain as valuable treasures with family members. Nora was a member of the Mothers of America society at Grand Ronde, where she further shared her talent of quilting and embroidery.

During World War II, Nora worked in the shipyards as a welder and she worked in the cannery for 10 years. In later years, she and Loren worked at Pacific City, taking care of the parks. Throughout all these years, Nora raised her three children and helped raise her niece, Cordelia Tom Kneeland, and granddaughter, Linda Brandon. Children were always welcome at Nora's home and she had a vast supply of toys awaiting your visit.

Nora recognized that we humans were not placed here by accident and that one day we would be accountable for what we did on this earth. Nora loved God and was a very spiritual woman who gently helped those she could.

With the belief that the good news must be given to the forgotten Indian people, she and her sisters and niece traveled to many remote Indian reservations in Canada and the United States. Many stories were told of their missionary trips and how their needs were provided when they had very little money but a strong belief that God would provide, and he did.

One example was when they went to a Nevada reservation. They only had one hotdog to share between the three of them, but they heard a knock on the door and more than enough food was delivered in a box. By the time they left, they had so much that they divided the remaining food among the people of the village.

Nora believed in concrete examples of learning. When she was very young, they had a horse that exhibited stubborn tendencies and refused to allow them to saddle him. He would lie down, so they pulled him into the house and made him look at himself in the mirror to see how stubborn he was.

The example of a life well lived is the message that Nora leaves behind for all of us to follow. Now it is time for all of us to continue that message so that gentleness, kindness, generosity and caring for one another are a way of life for all.

A funeral service was held on Monday, Sept. 12, at the Grand Ronde Tribal gymnasium followed by burial in the Tribal Cemetery. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled the arrangements.

Loren Francis Holmes

Dec. 15, 1936 - Sept. 17, 2011

Tribal Elder Loren Francis Holmes, 74, a resident of Happy Valley, Ore., died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Milwaukie.

He was born on Dec. 15, 1936, in Grand Ronde, the son of David and Vida Smith Holmes. He graduated from high school and served his country in Korea. While in the military, he was a paratrooper and taught others how to assemble and disassemble their weapons. He later served in the National Guard.

Loren worked in the woods as a choker setter and then went to doing the thing he enjoyed the most, working on cars as a mechanic. He also worked moving houses for the Bunns. He was a champion pool player and enjoyed fishing, hunting, going to the casino, target practice with the bow and arrow and going to the horse and dog races. He was good at shuffleboard as well. He also loved to travel and visit friends. He was an Oregon Ducks and Florida Seminole fan. He was a member of the Catholic Church and loved eagles.

He is survived by his sons, Loren "Buckskin" Holmes of Keizer, Steven Holmes of Dallas and Dennis Holmes of McMinnville, and an enormous amount of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He also is survived by a sister, Priscilla Hofenbredl of Grand Ronde. He was preceded in death by daughters Kathy Holmes and Claudine Holmes, son Kenneth Holmes and 11 brothers and sisters.

Viewing was held Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center with a Rosary service held in the mortuary. A funeral Mass was held Friday, Sept. 22, in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Grand Ronde with burial following in the Holmes Family Cemetery.