Walker

Steven Lyle Walker “Pa”, 66 Passed away March 23rd, 2020 at Syringa Hospital in Grangeville, ID Steve was born to Jessie Lyle and Phyllis (Gray) Walker in Lewiston, ID on January 26th, 1954. He was raised on the farm, and left home young to serve in the U.S. Army in the early ‘70s. He was stationed in Germany and returned to Idaho after his service. In 1974 he met and married “his Kimmie” Kim Webster. While they started and grew their family, he attended and graduated from LCSC’s Auto Body Mechanics Program. After gaining work experience in and around the area, they moved back to Kooskia. Every day for 35 years they ran “Steve’s Body Shop” together, a shop and business they built from the ground up in 1984. And just like their family, it too continues. They also built their 1st and last log home together on Tahoe Ridge where they finished raising their children. With the arrival of their 1st grandchild they became known as Ma & Pa. Steve had a deep love for classic cars. He loved talking about them, finding them, restoring them, and driving them…especially if the top came down. He also loved guns, antiques, rare, and odd things. Of course, he also enjoyed wheeling and dealing in all of these things. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who looked at the world outside as something new to be discovered. He was always devoted to his family, but a pushover when it came to his grandkids. Pa didn’t mind looking silly if it made the kids laugh, so it worked out well that he was just a grown-up kid himself. He was an easy-going person who was hard to rile, but a sight to behold when he was mad. He was a wonderful husband, awesome dad, dutiful son, trusted friend, loving brother, and an amazing grandpa. He was kind, stubborn, honest, clever, and so much more. Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Phyllis and Jesse Lyle Walker. He is survived by his wife Kim Walker of Kooskia; daughter Bridget (RJ) Axtell of Rathdrum, their children Chandler and Stephy; daughter Krissy Walker of Albuquerque, NM, her children Ashleigh and Walker; son Jasun (Ashley) Walker of Kooskia, their children Logun and Mazie; sibling Donna Nash; brother Cliff (Betsy) Walker; sibling Robin Walker; brother Ron “Shorty” (Laura) Walker; brother Scott Walker; sibling Tony Walker, and many more cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. There will be no formal services as Steve’s wishes were to be cremated and then remembered by his family and friends. We will have a gathering sometime this summer when the weather is nice. Thank you to everyone for your love and support. A special thank you from the family to Paul Christianson and Delbert Kolb. There aren’t enough paragraphs to accurately describe a person who is loved and the impact that they have. You just have to be grateful that you had them while you did. All is well.

Harold “Grizzly Bear – x̣áx̣aac” Jerome Walker Jr., peacefully crossed over to ‘éey’snin wéetes (Happy Land) on Saturday, November 2, 2019. He was 60 years old. He loved life, loved his family, and loved that he came from this beautiful land here in Idaho. He was a proud Niimiipuu (Nez Perce) tribal member, being one of the last full-blooded Nez Perce. He was born in Grangeville, Idaho on June 28, 1959, to Beulah “Billy” Oatman and Harold Jerome Walker Sr. He descended from the WhiteBird – lamtáama, Lookingglass – qemnéqe’, and too-hool-hool-zote band. x̣áx̣aac, or better known as Grizz, was an avid hunter and fisherman of the Nimiipuu Land. He often joked that his forever home was along Clear Creek, right next to Lookingglass campsite. He had many memories along the creek, fishing, hunting, and just being with his beloved relatives and friends. “Grizzly Bear” loved telling his stories of night fishing the middle fork of the Clearwater and Selway Rivers. It’s a lost art. Fishing to Grizz was about timing, and he, along with his brothers were shown the holes and times of when and where to best fish. He loved floating down the Selway and Clearwater Rivers. Something he carried onto his fatherhood. All of the nieces and nephews knew that “Uncle Grizz” would get his tubes ready for both the winter and summer months in the Kooskia/Kamiah valleys. He was so loved by all his family!! Grizz was taught how to test his strength and endurance by walking on the bottom of the Clearwater river. His cousins and relatives would see who could last the longest underwater by carrying boulder rocks racing on the bottom of the river. This was most often done right under the old Kooskia bridge. His brothers and him have many memories of jumping off the old Kooskia bridge, floating by, and living from the special river – káyxkaynim kúus. Grizz went to grade school and high school in Kamiah, Idaho, and although he did not get his diploma there, all of his Kamiah class mates knew him his whole life and considered them all family! Grizz obtained his GED from LCSC and then attended Lewis Clark State College Mechanic School where he solidified his love and skills for automobiles. Everyone knew they could call on him for their car troubles, and mechanics were often surprised when he knew what was wrong with his rig and could not outsmart him. His love for being out on the land, fishing, hunting, and harvesting strengthened his relationships with those who surrounded him. He never hesitated to share his knowledge or love for the land, especially fishing and hunting. He showed his unconditional love to all and could always add a smile or laugh to your day. He is survived by his brothers Gary Peters (Yakama), Marilyn Peters (Kooskia), and Ladonna Peters (Kamiah), Paula and Adrian Moody (Culdesac), Linda Belle Walker (Kamiah) and Roy Walker (Along the rivers), Mike Forseman (Nez Perce), and Penny Sue Moffett (Kooskia). He is survived by his children Ivy Walker (San Francisco, CA), Alexis Walker (Lapwai), Bessie Walker (Lapwai), Althea and Monica Walker-Ortiz (Chandler, AZ), Christine Walker and Mike Largin (Phoenix, AZ), Aleck Walker (California), and Ray Sanchey (WhiteSwan, WA). He leaves his legacy to grandchildren Farley EagleSpeaker, Weliix Lookingglass, Hiyk’iwn Walker, Jaycee Sanchey, and Mia Largin. He is preceded in death by his mother Beulah “Billy” Oatman, father Harold Jerome Walker Sr., piláqa (mothers father) Enoch Oatman, qáaca (mothers mother) Annie Smith Parting, qaláca (fathers father) Lynus “Poppo” Walker, and ’éele (fathers mother) Isabelle Moody, sisters Barbara Jackson, Tamzen “Tami” Walker & Simone LaSarte Rodriguez, brother Tracy “Buzz” Walker Sr., nephews Oren James Elwell III, and James “Tiskat” Walker. A dressing will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 1:30pm at the Wa-A-Yas Community Center in Kamiah, ID. Walasat Services will follow on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 5pm at the Wa-A-Yas Community Center, dinner to follow. Sunrise services will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at the Wa-A-Yas Community Center. Burial to follow at the family cemetery – Nicodemus Cemetery in Kooskia, ID. Giveaway and feast to follow at the Wa-A-Yas Community Center. The family would like to express their love and gratitude to Velveeta “Beebus” Hunt, Linda Belle Walker, Korena Popp, Amy Wilcox, and the Grangeville Hospice nurses who helped care for Grizz in his last days.