Sharon Yellow Owl

Sharon was a known Star quilt maker and hand quilter; she was taught how to make star quilts using the diamond method by her Aunt Artie CrazyBull. She was an avid yeast frybread and bun maker, and she loved to cook-many people would request her help with feeds and would always ask her to bring some of her bread. Sharon would sew daily, or she would be playing with her material to think up her next project and spending all her time with her spoiled companion Cuddles Yellow Owl, and the late Snowball and Pup.

Sharon was born in Poplar, MT attended Poplar Schools until 8th grade in 1973-‘74 and later transferred to Busby Indian School until her 11th year. Throughout her life, she has kept busy being a part of many councils, societies and organizations. She was always willing to help others, but her pride was being a Dakota Woman helping many Tribes, especially the ones that she was descended from. Sharon received her Chanupa in 1988. She was a humbleceya and inipi with many people all over Turtle Island, she has sundanced many years at varying locations that requested her presence-Chelsea, Montana under Melvin Grey Bear and her Uncle Floyd Youngman, under Joe Flying By of Standing Rock, North Dakota, Pete Catches Sr and Jr of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Green Grass, South Dakota and Bell Butte, South Dakota under her nephews Eric Cross and “Bear” Derek Cross, under her Brother Vernal Cross of the Ghost Nation of Pine Ridge, South Dakota and she had since remained with the Ghost Nation family after Vernal’s passing in 1996. Sharon was a member of the Women Wellness Alliance of Fort Peck that was founded by the Fort Peck Community College in the late 1970’s where she taught women home making skills. She was a member of the late 1980’s and 1990’s Sioux Council of Fort Peck, Montana; and 1990’s Sioux Treaty Council of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, she was a member of the Pine Ridge AIM Chapter in 1986 and continued her work with other members of the Pine Ridge AIM Chapter along with the Fort Peck AIM Chapter, and a member of the Poplar Community Organization throughout her lifetime. She worked on these organizations and dedicated her time volunteering throughout the United States, she traveled extensively and made Treaty issues a top priority for the Great Sioux Nation. She actively supported the local Powwow committees and would volunteer her time by organizing and tabulating. She would support the local drum groups by donating anything she could while they were visiting and singing for any events she attended. She also sold concessions at the old roller rink where she accumulated many youths as her adopted children. She was an active election judge and commissioner until her passing.

Sharon is survived by her children, Sunshine Eagleman, Season Eagleman, Chad Eagleman and Jonnie Huerta; grandson Denny Craig Owens, whom she raised since he was 6 years old; Sharon also had 11 grandsons and 5 granddaughters; great grandsons Ryan and Jeremiah and great granddaughter Rita and Kylene Owens; her siblings Michael “Mike” Yellow Owl and James “Fish” (Yellow Owl) Burshia-Bighorn; hunka daughters Audrea Scott-Boyd and Sue Ann Big Leggins; hunka sisters Rose Morsette, Connie Fast Horse, Diane Wolf Plante of Minnesota, Rosella Sky Arrow Eder-Wilson, Mary Plante; hunka sons the Class of 2003 Brockton High School Basketball team that played with her son Donald Eagleman III; the Walking Buffalo Singers of Prince Albert Canada; Matthew “Son” Scott Jr; hunka brothers Vernon “Tuffy” First, Gordon and Levi Plain Bull; special nephew Russel Derek Janis and family.

Sharon is preceded in death by her mother Gertrude Shields (Yellow Owl); her father Raymond Yellow Owl; hunka Ina Gladys First, Hazel Longee, Maggie of McLaughlin, South Dakota’ paternal grandparents James Yellow Owl and Dora Youngman; maternal grandparents Charles Shields and Lucy Emma Feather Earring; brothers Raymond “Willie” Yellow Owl Jr, Myron Yellow Owl, Warren Yellow Owl, Douglas Yellow Owl, Charles “Charlie” Yellow Owl; baby brother Yellow Owl; hunka brother Vernal Cross who adopted Sharon in 1998, John Morsette; sisters Arlene (Yellow Owl) Red Eagle, Marie Yellow Owl, Rhonda Yellow Owl, Corrine “Sis” Yellow Owl; hunka sister Vi Bruce of Washington state who she met at Chelsea Sundance and kept a lifelong relationship with each other; children Teri Lynn Long Elk-Red Star, Donald Alan Cody Eagleman Jr., Donald Alan Eagleman III; hunka children Annette, Renae and Dustin Scott; grandchildren O’Ryan Red Star, Chas’Lynn Atchico, Emilio Ramirez; special nephew Conrad Scott.

Sharon descended from maternal; Feather Earring, Shields, Red Boy, Elk, Bad Temper Clan, Shoots the Tiger Clan, White Hollow Horn Clan, High Bull Clan; paternal Yellow Owl, Youngman, Got the Warclub Clan, Touches the Clouds Clan, Chief Medicine Bear Clan, Black Bull Clan; hunka families include the entire Cross family of Kyle, South Dakota, Sean Swift Deer-Brown, Darren Costello, Melody, Sheri and Sheila of Washington State and Canada, Mark Mora, Sid Bad Moccasin, Vernon Turning Heart, Ethelene White Hawk and family, Adelbert Lone Bear Jr and family, LaVerne LovesHim and family, Charles and Delores Lester and family of Standing Rock, Hansil Longtree of Iowa, Parker Gray Hawk and Jaxon, Maureen Gray Hawk and family, Maureen Dionne and family, Connie Thompson and family, Turning Heart Family.

Mom loved her Aunt Pearl Nation. She was her biggest supporter and her favorite travel partner. They went everywhere together and had many stories of helping people. Grandma Pearl came after Mom in her last days, she would visit with her and laugh and talk about Grandma Pearl the most.

She loved to travel and everywhere she went, she made new hunka relatives. She did not forget you; she just couldn’t remember names during the last days of her life, forgive us as this was not intentional. She would always encourage you to push yourself and to never carry fear in your heart. We never saw Mom as weak. She was the strength of our family.

No other word can describe Mom other than FEARLESS.