Jessie “Lenore” Spoonhunter, 88, of Arapahoe, Wyoming passed away at home on Friday, March 22, 2024. A Vigil service with a rosary will be recited at #5 Oldman Circle Drive Ben Gay Heights at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, with wake to follow. The funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, burial to follow at Yellowcalf Cemetery.
Jessie Lavina Shakespeare was born on February 15, 1936 in Fort Washakie, Wyoming to John and Nellie (Friday) Shakespeare. She was an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Her Northern Arapaho Native name was Teii3eihit – Short Nose. She grew up in the Ethete, Wyoming area and attended schools there. She graduated from Central Wyoming College with an AA-Secretarial Science.
Jessie was baptized into the Catholic faith and also participated in Sundance and Sweats.
On March 6, 1956 she married Stanley J. Spoonhunter in Lander, Wyoming. They made their home in Arapaho, Wyoming.
Lenore was a homemaker and worked at JC Penney and the Northen Arapahoe Senior Center as Meals on Wheels delivery for over fifteen years.
She liked to bead, watch western movies, going to the casino, playing bingo, hunting, and fishing. She loved traveling to Pow-Wows, listening to the Pow-Wow and Sundance songs, and being around her family and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her sons, Alden D. Spoonhunter, Sr. and wife, Rosalie, William J. Washington, Brian C’Hair, Sr., Allen Spoonhunter, Sr. and wife, Melissa, Darwin Spoonhunter, Jr., Darwyn Dodge, and Julian Spoonhunter; daughters, Lanette J. Spoonhunter-Dodge and husband, Albert, Jr., and Sarah Tom and Husband Douglas Willow; grandsons, Darwin Spoonhunter, III, Allen D. Spoonhunter, Jr., Jalen C’Hair, Brian C’Hair, Jr. Travis Rides At The Door, and Brandon Whiteman, granddaughters, Theresa C’Hair and companion Rick Willow, Sr., Darlene Spoonhunter, Aldena D. Spoonhunter, Alexis Rides At The Door, and KAterina Dodge; children she took care of, Nick Bearing, Shaw Whiteman, Christopher “Tofer” C’Hair, Mya Antelope, Mariah, Jessalyn, Donovan, Kyrie, Darshwan Spoonhunter; and good friends, Sister Alene Shakespeare and Theresa Wells, 32 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley J. Spoonhunter, Sr.; parents John and Nellie Shakespeare; daughter, Margaret “Peggy” Spoonhunter; sons, Darwin Spoonhunter, Sr., Stanley J. Spoonhunter, Jr., Dean Moss, Jay Spoonhunter-Whiteman, and Ward Michael Spoonhunter; nephews, Alvin Spoonhunter, Dale Jerome “Jerry” Moss, Sr., Howard “Baby Howard” D. Spoonhunter, Alfred “Griz” Shakespeare, Richard “Baby Richie” Lone Dog, Jr., Phillip Spoonhunter, Alfred M. Spoonhunter, Jr., Daniel Whitebird, David Black, Sr., Lyle Black, Jr., Lonnie Shakespeare, Kenny Shakespeare, Curtis Shakespeare, and Shane Moss; nieces, Annette Moss, Nancy Spoonhunter, Josephine Spoonhunter, Germaine Susie Shakespeare; granddaughters, Kraci Spoonhunter, Martika Spoonhunter, Elizabeth Dodge, Brooklyn Willow, and Gilberta Willow; grandsons, Mahlon Spoonhunter, Baby John Spoonhunter, Theron Spoonhunter, Mark Joseph Dodge, and Raymond Antelope; brothers, O’Dell Shakespeare, Leroy Shakespeare, Bobbi Shakespeare, Big Rock Shakespeare, and Cedric Shakespeare; sister, Lettie June Spoonhunter, Amelia Underwood, and Bernice Watan; children she took care of Mitchell C’Hair, Jr., Nick Bearing, Miranda Hanway, Lujuan Antelope, Wendall Spoonhunter; and good friends, Shirley Enos, Ramona White, Patsy Ruth SunRhodes, and Julia Rose.
On-line condolences may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments.