Mass of Christian Burial for Georgia Gunville age 72 of White Horse will be 10:00 AM Monday, November 14, 2016, at All Saints Catholic Church, in Eagle Butte. Interment will be in the Gunville Family Ranch Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will begin at 6:00 PM, Sunday November 13, 2016 with prayer service at 7 pm at All Saints Catholic Church. Family and friends are asked to meet at 4-mile junction at 4:00 PM on Sunday. Georgia passed away Monday, November 7, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, SD.
Georgia Ann Gunville was born November 9, 1943 at Old Cheyenne Agency to Kenneth Pearman and Stella (Azure) Pearman.
Georgia's Lakota name was Sina Ota Ta "Her Many Robes". Georgia wanted her Lakota name passed on to her namesake and great granddaughter, Jorja Gunville.
Georgia grew up at the Old Agency Camp and attended St Joseph Indian Boarding school at the age of 5 until she graduated the 8th grade. The Pearman family relocated to Compton, California until attending Immaculate Conception as a freshman where she met the love of her life, a senior, Harlan Gunville who was an athlete and a cowboy.
Georgia graduated high school from Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School in 1962. Georgia stayed in the dormitory throughout her high school years and her Uncle Duane Pearman and Aunt Eleanor would check her out to spend time with her cousins in Armstrong county.
Georgia married Harlan Gunville at St. Theresa Catholic church on November 23, 1963 in White Horse, SD. Georgia and Harlan resided with Joe and Evelyn Gunville on the Moreau River. Georgia loved her in-laws and took the time to talk highly of them when the opportunity arose. In 1964 Harlan Eugene Gunville Jr. was born. Georgia was proud of her son and was honored as a mother that he served in the armed forces to protect his country. In 1966 Georgia's only daughter was born, Marjorie Estelle Gunville, "Chip". Georgia was equally proud of Chip but her heart couldn't be happier that Chip graduated as a teacher. In 1973 Glenn Ewing Gunville was born. Harlan Sr. was upset with his wife because he just bought a brand new stock saddle and she ruined it when her horse swam across the river while she was in labor with Glenn. One of Georgia's proudest moments was when Glenn took over flanking bucking horses. In 1979 Goldyn Richard Gunville was born, regardless of what his brothers and sister thought, he was the apple of his mother's eye. Georgia was so proud of Goldyn when he graduated from college and supported every move he made. The boys were always vying for the position to be her number one son.
Georgia raised two of her granddaughters Chloe Rose and River Georgia; she was proud that they were going to college. Georgia was proud of Jordyn, Chloe and River for going to college and would say, "one day they will become doctors".
Georgia loved all of her grandchildren just the same and was proud of each one them: Jordyn Ann, Chloe Rose, River Georgia, Ranger Quill, Glennee Jo, Tia Mae, Lawrence Joseph and Peter Thomas.
Georgia was Harlan's number one ranch hand at the old place. Georgia was a homemaker and rancher's wife; she took many turns watching the heifers calve in cold dark nights. Georgia was proud that they raised hereford cattle on their ranch. Georgia always welcomed her brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and many others to their home. Throughout Georgia's life she raised many young men and women and always made sure she was there for them. Georgia would help her husband put up hay, check heifers and pull calves and sew up cows. She was a cowgirl. She had a love for horses and she would help ride. She always remembered one time that they had a PRCA rodeo and the trucks couldn't make it into the ranch. They could only make it as far as the Robert Lawrence Ranch. In the pouring rain, Georgia trailed the bucking bulls and her daughter ran all the bucking horses.
The Gunville family moved in 1974 to the Jim Warrior place next to the Moreau River. Georgia also referred to Moreau River as the Little Owl River because that was what it was traditionally named.
In 1975 Harlan and Georgia purchased an appaloosa gelding from the Casey Tibbs Bucking Horse Sale, and his name was Jumping Jack, this started the beginning of Gunville Rodeos.
Georgia was the rodeo secretary for all of the Gunville Rodeos and was the secretary for the Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association for many years. She showed several women how to secretary and time at rodeos. Many rodeo contestants would be short on entry fees and they would ask Aunt George and she would always help them out, many famous rodeo contestants would call her Aunt George which made her proud. In 1976, Georgia along with Harlan and others went to the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Salt Lake City, Utah and watched Gunville's bucking horses.
Georgia was a grandma and mom to just about everyone she knew, she would always have a hot meal ready and the house was never empty. Georgia was known as grandma or aunt George to many in the White Horse and Eagle Butte surrounding areas. Georgia opened her home to any little cowgirl or cowboy and they as they grew older they all thought it was a privilege to know her and be part of her life.
Georgia was a lifetime member of the St. Theresa's Catholic Church, she served as a Eucharistic Minister at the church for many years and was also a lifelong member of the Alter Society. Georgia was very involved within the White Horse Community, and helped do anything for kids from Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies or the YMCA, she was there to lend a helping hand. Georgia was involved with other religious communities or any other activity which proved she wore many hats and played many roles.
Georgia was very involved with the Head Start in White Horse not only because she loved working with kids, but because her first son would be one of the first students to attend when the school first opened. Georgia would take trips with the kids and help out with any activity the school would have she watched the kids grow up starting at head start, through all of their graduations. Georgia would encourage and congratulate each and every one of them as they achieved their goals, she never missed a graduation and was there every step of the way.
When the White Horse Community wanted to start the Wild Cowboy's Rodeo they went to Georgia and Harlan for guidance and advice. As Georgia and Harlan's children grew into adulthood they always tried to incorporate rodeo into their lives, their kids did such a good job with rodeo in their lives that their grandchildren are now partaking in the Gunville tradition.
The owner of the Diamond A Restaurant first asked Georgia to be the hostess of the restaurant where through certain associations she became interested in Tribal Law and the Court system. Georgia started as a part-time associate judge and would give up her weekends to be a bonding judge. During her time at Tribal Courts Georgia finally served as Chief Judge for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Courts. In 2010 Georgia decided it was time for her to hang up her Judges robe to be able to spend time with her grand-children. Georgia was known as the Judge who was strict and fair and it didn't matter if you were related to her, her court room was a place of law.
During her spare time, she enjoyed participating in the trap club league at the Eagle Butte Gun Club, Georgia could out shoot many of the men. She was involved with the Sioux Spiritual Center in Milesville, SD. She was also responsible for sponsoring new candidates to go on the Chanku Luta (Red Road) Retreat. Georgia actively served as a Board Member for the Medicine Wheel Village Board and did so until the time of her passing.
Georgia's everlasting love of her husband Harlan shined when she took care of him at the ranch until the time of his passing, Georgia showed her love for him was eternal. Besides her children, her greatest loves were taking care of her flower garden, horses and canning, even if she had to buy her fresh fruit from the store. Georgia's love of rodeo continued to as she always continued to raise bucking horses. She was proud of her children and grandchildren and wanted the best for them, and she would make sacrifices for them so they would be successful in life. Her devoted son Goldyn moved home and took care of her wants and needs up to her last day of her life.
Later in life Georgia always looked forward to Spring to catch a glimpse of the new crop of colts on the ground. In the Fall she loved to watch and give out orders when it was time to cut studs and brand colts. There were many who helped out when it was time to gather but, she could always count on her nephews to help (Romey, Dawson, Kenny and Blaine) when it was time gather bucking horses, many competed for the title of favorite nephew but she loved them all the same, even though there were at least one who thought he had the title wrapped up.
Georgia dearly loved her daughter-in-law's along with her son-in-law. Georgia was close to her sister-in-law's Adele Birdsall and Alvina Lawrence; she loved her sisters and brothers and their spouses and children. Georgia had numerous relationships with different people that made all those who interacted with her unique. She had a special nephew Ross Lawrence, whom always looked in on her and checked on her daily, she always enjoyed their visits. Georgia was a humble, loving, caring and devoted Catholic woman.
Georgia Ann Gunville is survived by Harlan "Harley"(Wanda) Gunville Jr, Chip (Trini) Bird Necklace, Glenn (Tammy) Gunville, all of Eagle Butte, SD, Goldyn Gunville of White Horse, SD, adopted sons Harold Frazier, White Horse, SD, Willie Charging Cloud, Eagle Butte, SD, and grandchildren Jordyn Ann (Jarvis) Gunville, Shawnee Kansas, Chloe Gunville, Lawrence, Kansas, River Gunville, Omaha, Nebraska, Lawrence (Jahna) Rousseau, Sisseton, South Dakota, Peter (Bailey) Rousseau, Ranger Quill Gunville, Glennee Jo Gunville, Tia Mae Gunville all of Eagle Butte, South Dakota
Great Grand Daughter her namesake Jorja Gunville, Shawnee Kansas and her beloved ranch cat Flufferly her constant companion.
Brothers James (Terry) Pearman, Ron (Nita) Pearman, Sue (Kenny) Traversie, Sally (Pat) Pearman, Toni (Wayne) Pearman, Carson (Charlie) Pearman, all of Eagle Butte, SD, Steph (Gerald)Davidson, Rapid City, SD. Adopted Sisters Vivian Smith, Promise, SD, Virginia Traversie, White Horse, SD, Numerous God Children, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harlan Gunville, Sr., her parents Kenneth "KP" and Stella Pearman, Toni's twin Infant sister Karla, Brothers Charlie Pearman and Kenny Pearman, Sister Patty Pearman and Grandson baby Aaron Gunville, and other relatives too numerous to mention.