Funeral Service for Morley Edward Kirk, Tatanka Cante Hoksia, "Buffalo Heart Boy", 22 of Agency Village, South Dakota will be held on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, SD with Jr. Heminger CLP and JC Crawford Elder officiating. Organist will be Billy Kohl and special music by Pat Schubert. Drum Group will be Dakota Nation. Pallbearers will be Pat Deutsch Jr., Scott Deutsch, Skyman Redday, John Redday II, KK DeCoteau, Theo Bobtail Bear, Francis Crawford, Taylor German, Morley Spotted Bear and Earlwin Greybull.   Honorary Pallbearers will be TZ and SHS class of 2014, Pat Schubert, Jalen Cordell, Mike LaFontaine Jr., Doug Peters, DJ Amos, Bailyn Bursheim, Brianna Greybull, Kristy Keeble, SDAA Ref's and Ump's. Bob St. John, Daniel Keeble, Dean Abraham Jr., Vance DeMarrias and his many cousins, brothers and sister, family and friends. Interment will be in the Goodwill Presbyterian Cemetery, Agency Village, SD. All night Wake Services will be held at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, Wednesday, May 30, 2018 and Thursday, May 31, 2018 starting at 7:00 P.M.
John 3:16 (NIV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Our dear Morley blessed our family on February 20, 1996 our second son; he was named after his dad's best friend. Morley was baptized at Goodwill Presbyterian Church, later joined Goodwill at the age of 12. Morley began his education in Sisseton Elementary and Middle school and TZTS High school. He received numerous awards for student of the month; He was valedictorian for the class 2014, and was also admitted to the National Honor Society. He was accdepted to the University of Minnesota Morris, but chose to work and do online college classes. His dream always was to work in the medical field and he was a certified EMT. He worked at the youth center, Dakota Magic Casino and currently at the WWKHC IHS Sisseton, SD. He was a certified referee. He started in high school he was one of the states youngest certified referees. He also was state certified in Track, Baseball, Softball, Basketball and Football. He loved to referee and ump games, he met a lot of friends his mentors were the Deutsch Boys his Deksi's who he loved and admired. He was blessed to have his grandparents; grandpa Buddy and grandma Sweet to help raise and guide him; he was their pride and joy. Morley also liked to play keyboard, go hunting and fishing, listening to music, watching NCIS and was a faithful Green Packers Fan. He served as a TZTS School Board Member and on the SWO Judicial committee for the Old Agency District.
Morley was an old soul in a young body. He was always so compassionate, loving, joking, a friend and a brother to many. He faced many challenges in his life that he fought, in 2013 he was diagnosed with Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, he had his stomach removed, Dr's gave him less than 2 years without surgery. He had said that was his biggest challenge and he succeeded. Morley recently became ill and fought this illness with everything he had and more, his body was tired. Morley left us to be with God on May 28, 2018, he rejoiced seeing his dad and loved ones.
Morley was an awesome son and brother who cared and always had your back; he lived up to his Dakota name "Buffalo Heart Boy" he received from his Kunsi Ida Little Owl. He took care of his nieces like his own children.
He leaves to mourn his mom Nettie Kirk; brothers, ViJay Kirk, Aydan Kirk and Theo Bobtail Bear and sister, Thea Bobtail Bear; nieces, Tayden, Ziah and Aycia; grandpa Albert Decoteau, Grandma Norma Decoteau, Alberta Crawford, Arlene Spider, Godmother Della Shepherd, many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his father Fidel Kirk, Maternal Grandfather Sam Crawford Sr., Paternal Grandfather Cornelius Kirk Sr., maternal great grandparents Norman and Rena (Heminger) Decoteau, and Edward and Jeanette Crawford; paternal great grandparents Percy Kirk Sr., Ida Roy Little Owl, Sampson and Mary Red Thunder Spider and Special Aunt Hopa Crawford.