Perry Dorion

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law and friend, Perry Gregory Dorion on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at the age of 54 years.

Our dad will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife Judy, daughters Samantha, Mindy (Nick), Mandy and Cindy, sons Leonard, Kreg, Gary and Jared, grandchildren Declan, Tiana, Serena and Hanna, sisters Mary (Gerald) Houle, Darlene (Chris) Kematch, Dora Kematch and Linda (William) Young, brothers Gabriel (Emma) Dorion, Clifford (Zerlenda) Dorion and Terry Houle, a special niece who he called “my daughter” Margie (Mike) George, aunt and uncle Annie and Sydney Lachose, Godmother Nora Easter, sisters and brothers-in-law Loretta (George) Traverse, Joyce (Garry) Catcheway, Kelly (Clarence) Lavallee, Stella (Norman) Woodhouse, Conrad (Norma) Gabriel, and very special mother-in-law Dorothy Tarty, also his little praying grandchild Jenahya Gabriel, who has been praying for him throughout and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention on both sides of the Dorion / Gabriel Families.

Perry was predeceased by his parents Hilda and Peter Dorion, sisters Ella and Helen, brothers Roger, Nelson, George and Phillip, nephews Archie Lachose and Gabriel Maud, grandparents John and Sophie Lachose and Mary and Henry Dorion, aunts and uncles Rubena (Zarcheus) Umperville, Adelaide (Nelson) Lavallee, Josephine Brass, Nancy Lachose, Jessie, Mary, Bella and Geordie (Maria) Lachose, brother-in-law Rodney Gabriel, special niece Rocelyn Gabriel and special friend John Tarty.

Our Dad was born at The Pas, MB, and raised at Chemawawin Cree Nation (Easterville, MB) where he lived until he met and married our mom Judy on May 22, 1993. They resided at Skownan. In May 1996, they moved with their children and made Portage la Prairie, MB their home. He worked in various jobs throughout his early life, being a fish packer and trapper. Since 1996, he worked for ADRAIN’S Ltd. And AGT Foods. He took great pride in his work (his bosses knew that of him).

Our Dad taught us kids how to work and we worked beside him at the farm until we moved on to other jobs. He made it a priority to teach his son Kreg and daughter Mandy “how to run the business” on their own. He’d be telling everyone at work his daughter was the “BOSS” now and to listen to her. It was his priority that she knew what to do because he was ready to slow down and retire. It was like he knew he was leaving us but we never knew too soon.

He was also a very skilled mechanic, he didn’t need no book or degree, he knew how to fix vehicles. If anyone needed their vehicle fixed, he’d go help out, even if it meant travelling to Skownan or Easterville.

He was always phoning his siblings every day just to check up on them. I’m sure they’ll miss his calls.

Our parents both enjoyed spending time with the family and raised many other kids that came to live with us. He was the pillar of strength and joy. He liked watching hockey and was a hockey player himself in his early teens. He would often play hockey with his sons and their friends outside our place.

His grandson Declan is really going to miss his Papa. They would be facetiming each other all the time. Dad always took him to 7-11 and McDonalds every day. He started to teach Declan to speak in Cree and often would tease his Kokum Judy in Cree.

On his birthday this year, we gifted our Dad his very own armchair and a new truck. He was so happy.

He was always involved in searching for his nephew Dwayne Lavallee who has been missing since September 2018. Whenever he had the chance to go searching, there was no stopping him. It was his desire to help the search team. He fell ill on August 14, 2020, and he often told us to never give up hope in finding Dwayne.

Our Dad also loved going to special church services and tent meetings. His last time going was this year to the  August 9 tent meeting. He enjoyed the Gospel.

In our Dad’s last moments of life, we held his hands. We knew our Dad gave his life to the Lord because we seen a miracle happened. A healing took place in his body, his feature color on his face changed before our eyes, it was like he was sleeping so peacefully. No more pain.

We love you Dad, and you will never be forgotten until we meet again.

Funeral Service will be on Saturday, September 19, 2020 beginning at 12:00 noon at the Dakota Tipi Community Center, Dakota Tipi First Nation, with Pastor Frances Roulette officiating. Interment to follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Portage La Prairie MB.

We would like to thank everyone that financially supported our family throughout our tough times with meal preparation, lunches, phone calls texts and presence at the hospital. Also for the many prayers we got.

The love and comfort that was shown to us is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to both sides of our family for being there with us.

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