The Fox clan and the Stoney Nakoda community paid their last respects to Fox family patriarch Wilfred Fox on May 12. The eldest son of Joe Fox and Nancy Twoyougmen, Adeden (uncle) Wilfred was a cowboy, rancher, politician and social worker. He was also a respected Elder and knowledge keeper. He passed away two days before his 85th birthday. Moments before he passed away, in a moment of lucidity, he looked at his wife of 59 years, Mary, and thanked her for taking care of him and being his wife. He told his family that it was time for him to rest and took his leave in the presence of his family. Wilfred Fox looked after his siblings throughout his life. His mother Nancy died when he was entering his teens. When their father Joe started a new family it was Wilfred who took on the task of looking after his younger siblings. My father, Kent, used to talk about living in Rabbit Lake in a one room cabin. Their youngest sister Harriet had been taken in by relatives as an infant. It was up to Wilfred to take care of his brothers and their little sister Mary Ann. He would snare small game, hunt and forage. My father never forgot the Saskatoon berry pies he would make them as children. A brother’s love. They attended the Morley Indian Residential School but returned to their cabin each summer. That was their home. When he aged out of school at 16, Wilfred began working. He later met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. Mary Ear took him in sickness and in health and together they had six children. Wilfred was an active parent helping to create the Stoney Rodeo Club to allow young men and women realize their dreams of becoming cowboys/girls. He also organized a local baseball league each summer. Families came together to watch their children play at the Stoney Park ball diamonds. The good old days. Many people remember his rule book and how he often changed them to benefit his son Leonard who was not athletically inclined. It was always a point of fascination but no one questioned him. Memories. Adeden has been part of my life since childhood. He and my father were buddies. They used to take us hiking and skiing. When they realized I wasn’t going to be a cowboy and was not much of an athlete they decided I was the smart one. Adeden was there for my father and for us. In the late 90’s as my father battled ALS, he would stop by every day to visit with his little brother. There was no truer brother or friend to my late father than Adeden Wilfred. I’d like to thank my aunt Mary for taking care of Adeden at home. She was there for him in health, and in sickness. I know that my cousins will forever be grateful for the love you showed for their father. He will be missed. Happy trails Adeden.
