Funeral services for 41-year old Dawn Jean Cuny are Thurs, Dec 16, 2021 at 10:00 at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson, SD, with Ms Joyce Tibbitts & Father Edmund Yainao, S.J., officiating and traditional Lakota services by Mr Percy White Plume
Burial is at St Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson, SD
A one-night wake service starts Wed, Dec 15, at 3:00, also at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson
Dawn Jean Cuny “Wacinhin Pejuta Win” ~ Medicine Plume Woman~
was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1980 in Pine Ridge, SD to Donald “Cuny Dog” Cuny and Cleo (Clifford) Gates. Dawn made her journey to the Spirit World on December 7, 2021 at home in Manderson, SD.
Dawn attended Our Lady of Lourdes School, Wounded Knee District School, and Pine Ridge High School. Dawn then went on to join the Kicking Horse Job Corps in Montana.
She also lived on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona for many years, where she was a pharmacy technician and faithful Walmart employee. She also lived in New Orleans for a few years, then moved home to White Horse Creek and was a Casino Employee.
Dawn enjoyed taking care of her nieces, nephews, and her mother. She loved to bake and help her family with whatever they needed. She loved her dogs with a passion. She was loved immensely and will forever be greatly missed.
Dawn is survived by her parents, Donald “Cuny Dog” Cuny and Cleo (Clifford) Gates; very special friend & companion, Joseph “Joe” Richards, Jr.; sisters, April Hussman and Jaci & Cassie King, Brad Hussman, Cruz & Perez DeLeon, and Xavier and Wallace Big Crow; Sonia Bear Runner & Family, Sandra (Tyrell Brewer) Cuny & Family, Felicia Gates & Family, and Tsi-yaa Cuny & Family; brothers, Hoche DeCora & Family, Dennis Cuny & Family, Otto Cuny & Family, James Cuny & Family, Elwood Cuny & Family, John Gates & Family, and Jay Allison & Family; aunts, Penny Clifford-Wolters, Peggy F. Morgan, Angie Clifford, and Betty O’Rourke; uncles, Bitsy Trueblood, Loren Ray Clifford, Sr., Percy White Plume, and Jerry Cuny; brother & sister-cousins, Sissy, Oglala, Laura & John Cole Clifford, Heather Kelly, Lisa Janis-Steele, Lora & Jeffrey Catches, Jason & Benjamin Wolters, Peggy Morgan, Ahta Morgan, Chance & Colby Clifford, Maria Helper, Canku, Daniel, Brandon, Angela, and Eric Clifford, Darrell, Imo, Paul Harold, and Eunice Trueblood, Crystal, Loren, Jr., Tyra, Henry & TC Clifford; her dog, Punchy; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends & relatives.
Dawn was preceded in death by her brother, Adrian Sayers; grandparents, Collins L. Clifford & Katherine Black Elk-Clifford, Madeline Brewer-Clifford, Ernest Cuny & Ruby Knutson-Goldman; stepfather, Frank Gates; uncles, CJ Clifford, Dave C. Clifford, Charlie Cuny, Bill Knutson, and Joe Morgan; aunts, Debi Hall and Sharon Clifford; cousins, Davey Clifford, Chad Clifford, Emmette Kelly, and Mason Kelly.
Pallbearers will be Josh Steele, Garfield Steele, Kevin Ramos, Freedom Chase Alone, Kayla Peoples, Jennifer Spotted Bear, Martin Black Tail Deer, Peaches Yellow Bird, and Howard Little Dog.
Honorary pallbearers will be all friends & relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD