Lois Cecilia Chilcott (April 20, 1935 – May 21, 2018)  Great Spirit, Creator, Heavenly Father our beloved Chante Wastewin has completed her journey and now rests in glory in your loving care.  Thank you for giving her to us for 83 beautiful years.  We are comforted to know that she lives with you now in the Mansion you have prepared for us.

Lois was born Lois Cecilia McPherson in 1935 on tribal land in Wisconsin, and was an enrolled and proud member of the Menominee Nation.  She graduated from High School in 1952 and made her career as a Budget Analyst with the Burea of Indian Affairs in South Dakota, and retired in 1990 from The BIA office in Portland Oregon.  Lois had 4 sons and 1 daughter, 7 grandchildren, as well as 6 great grandchildren. Lois was deeply loved in the Native American community in Portland, and served her community throughout her life in such organizations as NARA (Native American Rehabilitation Association, NAYA (Native American Youth and Family Services) Pi Nee Waus, and PIES G (Portland Indian Elders Support Group) serving as a board member on each of these groups. She also was involved in organizations such as NICWA (National Indian Child Welfare Association) as well as working for CRITFC (Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission). Lois attended church at Wilshire United Methodist and was involved at the National level with the United Methodist Women.  She participated in Bible study with fellow Native American women every Tuesday.  She served her Native and Church communities any way that she could, especially by making Native Shawls and applying her sewing skills, as well as cooking and baking.  Lois was often asked to use her special gift of public speaking to open functions with prayers and invocations.  Most of all, Lois will be remembered for her stunning examples of unconditional love, kindness, and generosity.  Her genuine warmth and sweetness affected many lives and the Portland Native American Community honored her with a Naming Ceremony in 2002 giving her the name “Chante Wastewin” which means Happy Heart Woman.

Lois is survived by her children Randy, Rodney (d.2009), Martina, Ronald, and Ryan, and her 7 grandchildren Rachel, Ross, Cecilia, Mary, Adam, Lawrence Jr, Jeshua and their families including 6 great grandchildren Makayla, Sophie, Hailee, Harlow, Chloe, and Hailynn.

An open service will be held 11 AM-1:00PM at Omega Funeral Home 1005, 223 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97233 on Sunday May 27, 2018. CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS