Grave Side Service for Jay Robert Country "Mato Wocaunhoga" Bear Shield, 39, of Helena, MT will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the Sisseton Veterans Cemetery, Sisseton, SD with Arnold Williams, Guy Chanku, Donnie Eastman, Dennis Gill, and Danny Seaboy Sr. officiating with Military Rites by the Desert Era Veterans. A Wake Service will be held at the Tribal Community Center at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 9, 2014. In lieu of flowers a fund for Jay's children Malea and Koa Country has been set up at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Credit Union c/o Joyce Country. The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Jay was born on January 23, 1975 in Lawton, OK to Hammond Motah and Joyce Country. He graduated from Flandreau Indian School in 1993. He then attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN for 2 years. He then enlisted in the Navy from June 1998 to March 2008. He received the following Military Medals: Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2); Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (2); Good Conduct Medal (3); National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons (5); Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon. Jay married Lexi Folette in June of 2003 in Wolf Point, MT. They moved to Montana. He worked for the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Revenue. Jay passed away March 26, 2014 at his home.

Jay is survived by his wife, Lexi of Helena, MT; two children Malea and Koa Country of Helena, MT; mother, Joyce Country of Sisseton, SD; Father Hammond Motah of Carnegie, OK; Adopted father Edward Red Owl of Sisseton, SD; sisters Gina Cruz of Agency Village, SD and Tina Motah of Sioux Falls, SD; Adopted brothers and sisters; Francis Crawford Jr., Thomas DeCoteau, Dustina Gill, Tammy Redday; numerous aunts and uncles.

Jay was preceded in death by his grandparents Esther and Francis Country Sr. and Lee and Rhoda Motah; great grandfather John T. Williams and uncle Jeff Country.