Obituary of Gail Beatrice Bear
Gail Beatrice Bear
May 6, 1940 – July 15, 2020
It is with sadness the family of Gail Beatrice Bear announce her passing. Gail passed at her home in Muskoday First Nation on Wednesday July 15, 2020.
Gail was born May 6, 1940 in Loon Lake, SK. She married Bernard Bear in Muskoday First Nation on January 19, 1962. She received her Education Degree in 1991 from the University of Saskatchewan. She worked at Whitecap FN, Shoal Lake FN, Black Lake FN, and Red Earth FN as an elementary school teacher. She also worked at Waterhen FN as a teacher, and then became the Principal of the school for 2 years.
She was employed at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Collage for 20 years, where she was head of the Curriculum Education department. Her final place of employment was at the First Nations University working as a Co-op Teacher Guidance Counsellor. She would observe up and coming teachers in the classroom and offer guidance on how to better their teaching practices.
Gail loved to sing, dance, and she especially loved to jig. She also had a green thumb; her house is filled with plants and she landscaped her front and back yard at her house, and the work has paid off dearly as she has a beautiful yard that we can enjoy today. I’m including a quote from her dear friend and colleague and that is written below:
“A dear friend and colleague has taken leave of us. Hers whose friendship was extended to many and whose kindness was embraced by all who knew her. Hers was a journey well-travelled from schoolteacher, a principal and a director of curriculum development and even an entrepreneur as she once ran a restaurant. She’s a mother as well, loved in abundance those closest to her with reason and affection. That legacy will live on as bright eyes will remember a mother and grandmother who shone brightly.
I had the privilege of working with Gail for several years in Saskatoon in the seventies. In the short time we knew her we were graced by her presence, and we shared the aspirations of an institution then in its infancy. Together we travelled many roads wherever our people gathered to bring an awareness of one’s culture, so that when each child looked into their hearts they took pride in who they were.
We were among the first group to travel to and fro in Saskatchewan and sometimes beyond her boundaries. We drove, we flew and rode out blizzards as well as driving over melting ice with water going over the hub caps on the Saskatchewan. Once, we drove through wet and blowing snow that broke the windshield on the car. Gail kept on driving and I would hang out the side of the vehicle manipulating the wipers by hand. We made it to the school in spite of the weather. We were sometimes referred to as the “culture vultures”, and we liked our name sake. We hovered over the communities and schools to bring smiles and cultural enlightment to the many children we visited.
Now Gail is with our Star People, those who have gone before, each whose light still shines in each of us. So will Gail’s light shine on those of us who knew her well.
Goodbye old friend, until we meet again. My condolences to Terri and all family members who were a big part of Gail’s life.”
– Ray McCallum, An old friend and Colleague of Gail Bear
Gail was a spiritual person and she did attend church regularly on her reserve. She would be asked to recite the Lord’s Prayer in Cree at the services, and she did so with honor and pride.
She took pride in all her children’s accomplishments and she certainly had a soft spot for her one and only grandchild: Malik Adam Bernard Olsen Bear Linklater. She loved listening to him sing and play his guitar.
Gail Bear is survived by: her siblings, Roger (Martina) Cuthand, Carol (Peter) Ferguson, and Mary Voelker, and her daughter Lisa (Todd) Her children; Duane, Keith and Terri (Lyndon) and their children Lyndon Jr. (Stayce), Taylor, Jewels and Ocean, (Lyndon’s four grandchildren: Bonzo, Wowie, Max, and Baby Elle) and Gail’s one and only grandson: Malik Adam Bernard Olsen Bear Linklater and his fiancé Faith Dupuis.
Predeceased by: her husband Bernard Bear, her daughter Wendy Bear; her parents Adam and Beatrice Cuthand, her brother Stan Cuthand, her mother and father in-law, Lena & Walter Bear, her cousin Edna Nighttraveller, & Edna’s daughter Donna Nighttraveller.
We would like to acknowledge her long-time friends: Pauline Bear, Peter Gerber, Marjorie Fraser, Edna Nightraveller, Rose from Winnipeg, many staff from her days at SICC and FNUniv, all of her friends at the Muskoday Elders Lodge, and of course her immediate family of siblings: Mary, Roger and Carol.
Wake: Monday July 20th at 7pm Muskoday Band Hall
Funeral Service: Tuesday July 21st 11am Muskoday Band Hall
Funeral arranged by Grey’s Funeral Home
Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support during this difficult time, it means the world to us and to our mother. She felt truly loved by all who knew her.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306) 922-4729.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gail
Beatrice
Bear 1940 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Prince-Albert, Province: Saskatchewan