Maurice 'Lee' Merrick

Maurice Lee Merrick

“Little Bear - Ma - Coose”

Chief Lee

Dakota/Ojibway Nation

Maurice was born on August 7, 1968 at Belcourt, North Dakota, and passed onto the Spirit World on Monday, September 30, 2019 at Minot, North Dakota.

Maurice was 51 years old and tribal member of the Long Plain First Nation in Canada and the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe in United States.

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Maurice Lee Merrick - Ma - Coose on Monday September 30, 2019 at the Trinity Hospital, Minot, North Dakota. Maurice was predeceased by his father Maurice Clark Merrick, paternal grandparents Angus and Flora Merrick, maternal grandparents Roy and Rose Ann Poitra and nephew Talyn McCarty.

Left to treasure his memory is his life long friend and mother of his children Evelyn Myerion, his daughters Deidra and her children Kolby and Demi, Deanna and her children Daelyn, Tye and Tyler, Wendy and Mitchell and their children Nova and Oakley and son Paul and his children Arianna and Ethan, his mother Diane Lenoir of Belcourt, North Dakota, his sisters Rosie McCarty of Belcourt, North Dakota, Della Merrick/ Raymond Norquay of Belcourt, North Dakota, Charlotte Daniels of Long Plain First Nation, Manitoba and Kristen Soldier of Swan Lake First Nation, Manitoba and many nieces, nephews, uncles, aunties, good relatives and friends that he cherished deeply.

Maurice grew up on the Long Plain First Nation and started his school years attending the Long Plain Nursery and Kindergarten school. He loved his carpentry work and some of his favourite pastimes were reading true crime and old western books and going out to the back hills to hunt. Maurice loved to travel throughout Canada and the United States. Maurice was given his nickname “Chief Lee” from his late uncle Mervin Merrick when he was a little boy and he was our “Chief Lee” forever since then. Maurice became a father at an early age and began raising his children whom he cherished. Maurice was a very caring man and gave so much love and had a great sense of humour. He will greatly missed especially by his grand babies. The void presence of Maurice here on this side will be deeply missed by his Aunty Carol Merrick, Aunty Shirlee Merrick, Aunty Memory Merrick and his Uncle Ralph Merrick who helped and visited their nephew in his final few months here.

The Merrick family would like to thank Dr. Robert Durkin and the medical staff at the Trinity Pulmonary & Critical Care Unit, Minot, North Dakota, Belcourt Indian Health Services, Belcourt, North Dakota and the AngelMed Flight/Air Ambulance of North Dakota. We would also like to thank Chief Dennis Meeches and Council of Long Plain First Nation, Liz Yellowquill, Long Plain Health, Lorraine Myerion and Jason Prince, Long Plain Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services, Randy, Bob, Myles and Danny Merrick for lighting and keeping the sacred fire going to guide their cousin on his journey to the other side, Melissa Merrick Brady and relatives from New Town, North Dakota, Eugene Ross from Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Freida John from Long Plain First Nation, Chum Herman from Long Plain First Nation, Kalib Eagle from Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, Donna Pratt from Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Eddy Boy Myran from Long Plain First Nation and Keith Cameron from Swan Lake First Nation for preparing Lee's final resting place, Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot, North Dakota , McKenzie Funeral Chapel , Portage La Prairie and the North Eagle Drum.

Last of all we thank you all for your prayers, kindness and love.

Please forgive us if we forgot anybody and it was not intentionally.

The funeral procession will be horseback led by Chum Herman ponying a lone horse for his cousin Maurice from highway 305 to the Sacred Fire site where a honour song that was gifted by Grandpa Frank Merrick to late Uncle Private Lewis Merrick, Princess Patricia’s Canadian 5th Light Infantry will be sung by Chief Dennis Meeches and Donna Pratt.

Traditional Wake will be held on Friday, October 4, 2019 at the Long Plain Spirit Lodge beginning at 4:00 pm. Traditional Feast and Service to begin at 12 noon on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at the Long Plain Spirit Lodge. Traditional Burial at the Dauphin Myerion Cemetery.

“Behold, a sacred voice is calling....” Black Elk Speaks

A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com