Lucy Caye

Lucille "Lucy" Caye, born December 5, 1921 in Eureka, MT passed away April 11, 2014 surrounded by her family.
Lucy was an amazing woman. She loved many things in life but her greatest joy was raising her fifteen children and spending time with her husband.
Before Lucy had children, she worked as a cook in Kalispell. She would often tell stories how much she loved her job and the woman she worked for.
She was a fluent speaker of the Kootenai language and was currently working as a language advisor for the Kootenai culture office. She also served as a member of the Kootenai elder's committee.
Lucy was a life time teacher, receiving an honorary degree from Salish Kootenai College. She taught people the traditional ways of the Kootenai people. She taught many to make moccasins, wing dresses, ribbon shirts and to bead. She was instrumental in bringing back the kalamnana/yaya dolls to the people of the Flathead reservation. She also traditionally tanned various animal hides and loved to tell people how she once scraped ten hides in one day. She was a great storyteller of the past and had a knack for bringing back forgotten songs.
Throughout the many years of her life, she always worked hard and stayed active. She loved being in the woods, cutting Christmas trees and picking huckleberries everywhere and anywhere she could find.
She enjoyed life to the fullest and always had a smile on her face and twinkle in her eye. She loved to watch her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren play around in her backyard as she sat on her porch looking on.
She also loved to travel. She went to Las Vegas, New Mexico, numerous powwows and often travelled with her daughters to Coeur D'Alene for bingo.
Lucy is preceded in death by her parents Sam Tenas and Ann Philip, her loving husband Louie Caye Sr., daughter Loraine Caye and her siblings.
She is survived by her children James(Diane) Auld, Earl(Darlene) Auld, Douglas Caye, Willie Caye, Evelyn(Darell) Joseph, Monica(James) Caye, Wanda Koso, Louie(Gigi) Caye Jr., Alan Caye, Joan Miller, Debbie Caye, Rosemary Caye, Marilyn Caye and Art(Kimberly) Caye; Thirteen granddaughter's; Twenty grandson's; and forty four great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.
A Rosary will be held Sunday, April 13th at 8:00 PM at Elmo Hall. A funeral mass will be held Monday, April 14th at 10:00 AM at Elmo Hall. Burial will take place in Dayton Cemetery.
Read Lucy Caye's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.