Walking On - Robbie Pearsall, Saige Selwyn and Illauna Long

Robert Lee Pearsall

 July 30, 1966 – Sept. 16, 2015

Robert “Robbie” Lee Pearsall, 49, of Redding, Calif., passed away at Mercy Medical Center on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with his special family members there to provide him comfort.

He was born in Redding on July 30, 1966. He lived there most of his life and work at a slot technician at Wind River Casino in Redding.

Robbie loved fishing, hunting and camping, collecting guns, playing guitar and spending time with his grandparents Bob and Bet Garret of Central Valley, Calif.

Robbie was a happy-go-lucky type of person who would always bring laughs when he would tell stories. Many remember how he would tell family of how he would race cars at the Anderson Speedway alongside his grandpa Bob and brother-in-law Rich Oller on the weekend. He laughed as he told of how when his grandpa would fly by the girls, they would always give him the thumbs up or a wave, and then when they saw him coming, the girls would all yell “Boo!” and laugh.

During his youth, Robbie and his cousin Rex Haller would play and try to catch chipmunks in the trailer park where they lived while their fathers worked on the dam in Libby, Mont. The family will miss him very much.

Robbie was preceded in death by his father, Ronnie Pearsall, also of Redding. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Carlita and Don Hunt; sister and brother-in-law, Vickie and Rich Oller; brother, Joey Pearsall; three nieces, all of the Redding area; and grandparents, Bob and Bet Garret of Central Valley.

A celebration of life will be held at Anderson River Park in Anderson, Calif., at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Family and friends are all very welcome to attend.

Saige Marie Selwyn

May 27, 2003 – Sept. 21, 2015

Tribal youth Saige Marie Selwyn, 12, “Pooh Bear Saige,” a resident of Grand Ronde, walked on on Monday, Sept. 21, from injuries received in a bike and auto accident.

She was born on May 27, 2003, in Portland Ore., to Belinda Mercier, her birth mother, and raised and adopted by Anthony Allen and Marcella May Norwest Selwyn. She had lived in Portland, Sheridan and Grand Ronde areas. For the past three years, Saige attended West Valley Christian School in Grand Ronde. She was ready to enter the seventh grade at the Connections Academy Home School. She was baptized into the Catholic Church on the Saturday before she died.

Saige was assertive in things she tried to achieve. She was a good student and got As and Bs. She loved beading, making rubber band bracelets, sewing, dolls, teaching children what she knew, dancing and powwows. She loved the Elders of the Tribe and always made sure to greet them. Saige enjoyed taking a “selfie” with the police officers’ phones.

She is survived by her parents, Tony and Marcella Selwyn; sisters, Mary Lopez and Codie Haller; brother, Youvani Ring; birth mother, Belinda Mercier; grandmother, Charlotte Melborne; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Clifford W. Melborne.

A viewing was held Sunday, Sept. 27, in the Grand Ronde Tribal gym with a dinner that followed in the Community Center. A funeral service was held Monday, Sept. 28, in the Tribal gym followed by vault interment in the Grand Ronde Tribal Cemetery.

Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center cared for the family. To leave a message or memory, visit www.dallastribute.com.

Illauna Marie Long

Nov. 4, 1966 – Sept. 20, 2015

Surrounded by her family, Grand Ronde Tribal member Illauna Marie Long, 48, lost her battle with diabetes on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015.

Launie was the fourth of six daughters. She grew up in southwest Portland and attended Wilson High School.

She was a kind, gentle-hearted woman who gave her love freely and felt the loss of others deep within her soul. She was most proud of her daughter, grandson and baby granddaughter.

Our Lulu was loved by all of the Tribal children and all of her many nieces and nephews loved their crazy aunt Lulu. She was known for giving kids candy from her home in Tribal housing and eating way too much candy herself! She loved Diet Mountain Dew and visiting the buffet at Spirit Mountain Casino on Mondays.

She loved hummingbirds and embraced her Native culture. Her laughter was easy and contagious, and we all loved her laugh and making her laugh. We will miss her smile and the stories she loved to tell.

The family finds peace in knowing that Launie is now soaring free with her family that has passed: her sister Pamela Faye Sheker, uncle Michael Reibach (Standing Elk), nephew Samuel Elkins (Otter Eyes) and most recently her parents, William Long and Vicki Long (Reibach).

She leaves behind her only child, daughter Pamela Ann Traum; son-in-law Juan Alvarez; grandson Ezekiel Cesar Alvarez (Hopping Hawk); and granddaughter Soledad Vicki Inez Oliva Marie Alvarez. She also leaves her husband, Ronnie Riggs Johnson, who referred to her as “his Little Red Hummingbird.” Also surviving her are four grieving sisters, Dawn Peterson, Valorie Sheker-Tovey (Dave Tovey), Marjorie Long and Nikki Elkins (Ray Elkins); her uncle Jan and aunt “Tah” Reibach; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and her entire Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde family.

Viewing was held Saturday, Sept. 26, at Dallas Mortuary, 287 S.W. Washington St., Dallas, Ore. Services were held Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Grand Ronde Community Center with burial and a meal following.