Gloria Morrison Medicine Crow, 85, Lodge Grass, went home to be with her Lord on March 12, 2009. She was a matriarch of the Morrison family.

Shacheecha "Bright Sunlight" was born May 2, 1923, in St. Xavier, a daughter of Alvin Morrison Sr. and Marcia Young Curlew. She grew up in the Big Horn and Black Lodge Districts of the Crow Reservation, receiving her education in Hardin and at the Chemawa Indian School.

Gloria married Joe Not Afraid, Jr. in 1943 and he died in 1945. She and Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow were united in a Crow traditional wedding on April 17, 1947 in Lodge Grass, dressed in traditional outfits. They celebrated a life of 61 years together.

She was an ordained minister for the United Full Gospel Church, evangelizing across the Western United States and Canada. She was a charter member of the Crow Camp meetings, a 60-year tradition of spreading the word of God, a member of the Piegan Clan and was a child of the Greasy Mouth Clan. Gloria raised a beautiful flower garden, collected dolls and was an excellent cook. She was a loving woman, a pillar of strength to her family, who prayed often for her fellow Crow Tribal members. Following a Crow Tradition, she considered all of her deceased brothers' and sisters' children as if they were her own.

Her sisters, Sarah Morrison, Maude Yarlott, Ethel Not Afraid and Lorraine Williamson, brothers, George, Jim, Floyd and Alvin Morrison Jr. and adopted son Harold Enick preceded Gloria in death.

Survivor include her husband Dr. Joe Medicine Crow; daughters Diane (David) Reynolds, Garnet (Sterling) Watan and Vernell Medicine Crow; her son Ronald (Clarice) Medicine Crow Sr.; sisters Mary Carpenter and Caroline Mountain Sheep; sisters-in-law Louella Johnson and Bertha (Francis) Bear Claw; brother-in-law William Medicine Crow; adopted children, Garland Williamson, Pinky (Gary) Bird, and Arna (Daniel) Takes Enemy; grandsons whom she raised Deon Medicine Crow David and Chris Wesley; grandchildren, Joe, Tyrell, Ramona, Chester, Tiara and Aurey; 12 great grandchildren; adopted sister Colleen Jackson; adopted brother Dr. Jay Swallow; as well as her extended family including the Morrison, Hugs, Alden, Humphrey, Goes Ahead, DeCrane, Old Horn, Iron, Bear Cloud, Bull Chief, Other Medicine, Pretty Paint, High Nose, High Hawk, Medicine Horse, Gardner, Roundface, Turns Plenty, Pease, Fredericks, Youngbird, Foote, Mandan, Hall and Chase families. Our family is large; if we have missed you, please accept our apology.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, March 16, in the Lodge Grass First Crow Indian Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.