Dora Bruguier

Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m MDT, Thursday, July 2, 2009 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte with The Right Reverend Creighton L. Roberson, The Very Reverend John T. Tarrant, Rev. Webster Two Hawks, and all other Episcopal clergy are welcome officiating. Burial followed in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cemetery, Cherry Creek. A wake service was held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at the church.

Dora Shoots Off was born at Ash Creek, South Dakota on April 15, 1918 to Douglas and Lucy (Between Lodges) Shoots Off. Dora was the oldest of the children in the family with a younger sister and brother. She attended boarding school at Cheyenne Agency for nine years until her father’s passing. At this time she returned home and moved to Pine Ridge with her mother for one year.

Dora took part in many Lakota ceremonies while she was growing up. She met and married Nelson Iron People by Indian Custom. They had one child who died soon after birth. Nelson died two years after their marriage.

In 1940 Dora married Oliver Bruguier and had four boys and one girl. They were married for 40 years at his death in 1980.

Dora was a housewife most of her life while raising her family. Later she worked out of Dupree as a State Home extension cook, doing Food and Fun demonstrations in many communities on the reservation.

In 1985 Dora moved to Eagle Butte and in 1986 retired from cooking to begin other interests in her life.

Over the years, Dora had a devotion to the church activities. She was a lifetime member of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and served as past chairman of this committee. She served as a lay reader for many years before starting her studies to become a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. Her studies began at Tempe, AZ at the Cook Christian Training School and continued with the Christian Shalom Training Courses, the Niobrara Summer Seminary at Black Hills State in Spearfish and other courses at the bible colleges at Huron, Watertown, Mitchell and Mobridge. The seminary training culminated with her ordination by Bishop Harris at the Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte on February 5, 1994.

Over the years Dora has been honored by many. In 1995 she was chosen as the Native American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA) Woman of the Year, in September 2001 she was a USD Lecturer and in 2008 received a proclamation by the Governor’s Office and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe proclaiming April 15, 2008 as Dora Bruguier Day.

Dora’s life has been very rewarding, especially in her capacity as a Deacon of the Church. She was an advocate of Education. She was a very gracious lady and carried a deep compassion for people. She saw her life as a reward to minister to the sick and wounded in her society and to carry words of encouragement.

Dora is survived by her son: Ivan (Adrienne) Bruguier of Ash Creek; daughter: Esterlyn (George) Medicine Eagle of Rosebud; grandchildren; Denise, Lee, Jared, George “Sunny” Jr., Toy, Katie, Lucy, Alice, Rochelle, Emily, Melody, Emmett, Mariam, Rachel, Abram, Theo Jr., Christian and Shane and many other grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; children: Errol, Emmett and Theophile; grandchildren: Desiree Lynn, Delma Dawn and Oliva Georgiann; great grandson, Zane; two brothers: Elmer and Edward Shoots Off and a half sister, Ella Counting.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Dora's arrangements.

CLERGY
The Right Reverend Creighton L. Roberson
The Very Reverend John T. Tarrant
Rev. Webster Two Hawks
All Other Episcopal Clergy are Welcome

CASKETBEARERS
Joseph Brings Plenty
Steve Emery
Keeler Condon
Tom Iron
Bruce Brown Wolf
Curtis Carroll
Gregg Bourland
Keith Curley

ALTERNATE CASKETBEARERS
"Grandson"
Emmett Bruguier
Jared Slader
Abram Bruguier
George Medicine Eagle II
Lee Bruguier
Shane Bruguier
Theo Bruguier, Jr.
Toy Medicine Eagle

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Sioux YMCA Board of Directors & Trustees
Elderly Nutrition Program
Eagle Butte manor Residents & Staff
CRST Tribal Council
Eagle Butte IHS Staff
Golden Living Center Staff ~ Mobridge
Family, Friends and Relatives

EYA PAHA
Joe Lafferty

EULOGY
Gregg Bourland

MUSICIANS
Mervin Frazier
Vernon Mestes
Tiospaye Gospel Singers
All Other Gospel Singers Welcome

INTERMENT
St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery
Cherry Creek, South Dakota