Our beloved mother and grandmother Debra Marie Shields Clark “White Charging Woman,” passed away on Thursday, December 13, 2018. She was 63 years old. She was born March 20, 1956 to Edward Lee Shields and Rosaline Jones Shields. She was a spring baby.
She spent all her life in Poplar. The reservation was her home. She attended school in Poplar and a majority of her life was spent on “the hill.”
In 1979, she met and married Rodney “Rocky” Dale Clark. From this union Rhonda Lynn and Ronetta Lee were born. They later divorced.
In 1982, she met Paul Catches and left for South Dakota. She became part of the American Indian movement. She lived with the Pete Catches family. This period was the highlight of her life. She would tell stories of this time. She was proud to be part of AIM. From this union, Casie Leigh Catches was born. She then moved home to Poplar. The Catches family would come to Montana to hold ceremonies such as peyote meetings. She was a strong believer in her traditional and Catholic ways. They later went their separate ways.
Her past times were cleaning house, listening to her Rolling Stones, and visiting with family and friends. Her favorite visitors were Martha and Loretta Eagle and Sandra and Diane Birthmark. She was a caretaker by nature. She took care of her mother Rosaline Shields until her passing. Her niece Ann Cantrell, her grandson Michael Walton, and her nephew whom she thought a lot Dolano Longtree would come to visit her. She was an avid supporter of the Chelsea Sundance. She would often bring up her cousins Melvin and Floyd Gray Bear. Whenever she needed help she would go to Andrea and Aunty Kelly for help. My mother Debbie will be greatly missed.
She followed another nephew whom she thought the world of Pat Burshia. He went to see her when she was in the nursing home. They loved each other so much that they followed each other.
She was survived by her daughters Rhonda Clark of Poplar, Ronetta (Michael) Clark-McClammy of Poplar, Casie (Bobby) Catches-Garay of Texas; sons Blaine (Mark) Granboise of Portland, Oregon, Bryce (Carina) Granbois of Portland, Oregon, Logan Talks Different Sr. of Frazer; sisters Linda “Shaggy” Shields-Looking of Portland, Oregon, Roseanne Shields of Portland, Oregon; adopted sisters Agnes “Baby Girl” Spotted Wolf, Martha Eagle, Loretta Eagle, Carmen Cantrell, Sandra and Diane Birth Mark of Poplar; adopted daughter Yolanda Parshall “Londa May” of Poplar, Pauline Boxer of Poplar; brothers Merryn Shields, Maynard Longee Sr., Arlie Shields, Arlie Diserly of Poplar, Robert “Bobby” Eder of Standing Rock, North Dakota, Andrew “Andy” Garfield of Poplar; special nieces Johnny Youpee, Claudia (Richard) Brien, Debra Shields, Antionette Shields, Jan (Jerry) Mudgett, Annie Cantrell, Lucy Cantrell of Poplar; nephews Lenny Lambert, Les Lambert, Nathan and Jimmy John Chase, and Nathan “Baby Nate” Chase Jr., Kenny Lee Shields of Portland, Oregon.
We are sorry if we have forgotten anybody’s name. Just remember that mom loved you.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Rosaline Shields; sister Leola Lambert; Brothers Roy Allen Jones (Soggy) Edward, Lee Shields Jr. (STuta); sisters Odessa Fourstar and Gloria Diserly; brother Shep Ferguson; Special nephews Midas “Beanie” Lambert, Pat Ambrose Burshia; special Niece Antoinette “Liz” Fourstar; and a friend whom she thought the world of Byron “Gobidosh” Scott.
We will miss you mom. You will always be in our hearts. We promise to take care of each other like the way you wanted us to. We can’t believe you left us so soon. Now we know God takes only the best!
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements and condolences for the family may be left using the form below.