Melody “Mel” Blackburn-St. Clair, 67 of Fort Washakie, Wyoming passed away peacefully at her home with family at her side on Thursday, August 1, 2024. A Vigil with Rosary will be recited at 7:30 pm on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at the family's residence, 95 Shipton Lane Fort Washakie, a prayer service with Arlen Shoyo will be at 8:30 pm with a wake to follow. Traditional funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, August 5, 2024, at Rocky Mountain Hall in Fort Washakie with burial to follow at Sacajawea Cemetery. Feast will follow at Rocky Mountain Hall.
Melody “Yellow Hair'' Blackburn was born on October 17, 1956 in Riverton, Wyoming to Lillian Marie Blackburn. She grew up on the Wind River Reservation, she attended Arapahoe Elementary and graduated from Wyoming Indian High School. After high school she enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia and then in Hawaii. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, she returned to the Wind River Reservation and attended Central Wyoming College. She earned her Associate of Science Degree in Accounting and attended the University of Wyoming where she earned her Bachelor in Business Administration.
Melody was an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and a member of the Native American Church.
On February 14, 1995 she married John Robert St. Clair in Fort Washakie, Wyoming. They were married for over twenty-nine years.
She worked numerous jobs throughout her life. A few to name are Early Intervention and the Northern Arapaho Tribe for several years.
Mel enjoyed sewing, beading, traveling, watching and attending sporting events, bingo, and going to the casino. She enjoyed helping people as much as she could. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She loved watching her favorite NFL football team, the Dallas Cowboys and WNBA team - Las Vegas Aces.
She is survived by her husband, John St. Clair; daughter, Lily St. Clair; sisters, Melisa (Arturo) Carrillo, Sandra (Jack) Little Whiteman; brother Ronnie “RK” (Claudia) Kane; cousins, Ramona (Vernon) Frerichs, Glen Blackburn, Ricky Blackburn, Betty (Paul) Johnson; in-laws, Lucille (Frank) Foote, Bonnie (John) Washakie, Violet (Leo) Lajeunesse, and Iva (Tex) LeClair; nieces, Desi Rae Willow, Shelly (Robert) Anderson; Loni (Tomas) Ybarra, Hannah Blackburn, Marie Kane and Vanessa and Lisa Frerichs, Josslyn Mills, Courtney and Jamay Blackburn and their children; nephews, Louis Whiteplume, Norman/Emeryl Willow Jr. (Baby), Jonathon and Nick Blackburn, Angel/Laramie Carrillo, Javier, Valente and Charles Carrillo and Michael Frerichs; grandchildren, John R. St. Clair-Leonard, Kale Ferris, Kimora, Kekoa, Kenzo and Kenneth Wallowing Bull III, Jacob LeBeau, Noah and Ava Red Willow, Malcolm, Shawn, and Brandon Whiteplume, Isaiah, Shalene, and DeAndre Velarde, Lillian Posey, Jaclynn (Julz) Warren, Librada Moreno, Raquelle Duran, Dayanna Spang, Trinity, Quentin and Madison Martel and Kayla and Dakota Raymond, Alyssa Frerichs, and Lynette Schofield; the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Edward (Shirley) Blackburn and Jimmy (Ruby) Blackburn.; and numerous other cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mom, Lillian Marie Kane; brothers, Steven Blackburn, Dwayne Blackburn, Perry Dean Blackburn, PJ Blackburn, Gary Blackburn, and Larry Blackburn; sisters, Sarah (Norman) Willow, Karen Sue, and Kim Blackburn; nieces, Kellie Nicole Willow, Kami Warren, and Tiffani Manley; nephews, Alton Whiteplume and Michael Manderson; grandchildren, Aspen Wallowing Bull and Kane Warren; aunts, Margaret , Lucilla and Elizabeth Blackburn; uncles, James (Ruby) Blackburn, Edward (Shirley) Blackburn, Mickey Blackburn, and Kenneth Blackburn; and many other family members of the Blackburn, Brown, C’Hair, Lujan, and Yellowrobes.
We apologize if we did not mention your name. She loved everyone.
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.