Annabelle Eagle

Annabelle W. Eagle, matriarch of the Eagle family of the Southern Ute Tribe, passes on to the Spirit World on May 14th at her home in Ignacio, Colorado. She was born in Ignacio November 22, 1924 to Olive Tyler and William H. William. For sixty-five years, she was married to Clifford House Eagle, who passed away ten years ago. Annabelle was born to a traditional Sundance family and lived the tenets of the Sundance throughout her life. She taught her children, grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren the importance of family, friendship, hospitality, generosity and respect, especially for tribal identity and community. Annabelle was a teacher at the BIA schools on the Southern Ute and Navajo reservations. She was the first So. Ute woman to be appointed as Tribal Court judge, and worked on the development of the tribe’s first law-and-order code. In the 1960’s, she was one of the So. Ute elders who helped develop the template for the So. Ute Tribe’s future financial and social transformation. Annabelle served on many committees, ranging from housing, education, health, the elders committee, Animas-La Plata Project and Ute Language Committee. Among her many interests in the cultural development of the young tribal members were the Powwow and Miss Southern Ute committees. In 2013 she was honored for her long record of public service by having the national Christmas tree in Washington D.C. named after her. Annabelle Eagle was preceded in death by her daughters: Beverly Harlan and Teresa Eagle; her sons: Clifton and James Dean Eagle. She is survived by her son: Sage Douglas Eagle Remington; daughters: Linda and Ramona Eagle; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 18, 2015 at 11:00am at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ignacio with a traditional burial to follow at Ouray Cemetery. A wake will be held Sunday, May 17th at the Eagle family home, 64 Piwood Circle, Ignacio.