Lorna Bear Obituary

Lorna M. Bear passed away in Towaoc on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at the age of 59.

Visitation will be held at Towaoc Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 8 to 10 a.m.

A traditional wake will be held beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Clint Gruwall home in Cedar View, Utah.

Lorna will be laid to rest at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Fort Duchesne Cemetery in Fort Duchesne, Utah.

Lorna was born Sept. 22, 1952, in Roosevelt, Utah, the daughter of Odell Mills and Ethel Tapoof. She attended boarding school in Ignacio. After receiving her GED, Lorna attended Weber College in Ogden, Utah, and finally received her associate's degree in education from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She continued her education with summer courses from Utah State University at Logan. Lorna worked as the Community Health Representative with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Lorna was a chieftess for the past eight years with Sundances. She was very active in powwows, sweat lodges and the Bear Dance. She loved traveling with family, especially with her granddaughter, Tasheena Perank, whom she legally adopted when she was 4 years old.

Surviving Lorna are her children, Michelle Lopez of Towaoc - Lorna said of Michelle, "she did the best she could"; Jodell Mills Padia of Fort Duchesne, Utah - who was a wonderful free spirit and a kind heart; Tony Padia of Omak, Wash., who has made his home in Washington State on the Colville Reservation and is attending college and working; and Justin Bear of Towaoc, who was Lorna's last son and who had always been by her side. As Lorna would say "he's my baby." Also surviving Lorna are 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; her siblings, Adelbert Tavachute, Joseph Tapoof, and Sandy Pike; and a half-brother, Tommy May.

Arrangements are being made through Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.