Travis Blackbird

Travis Veaux Blackbird left to be with Our Heavenly Father on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Durango, Colorado. Travis was born on August 20, 1973 to Dr. Russell and Mrs. Ann Blackbird. He lived most of his life in Lawrence and Manhattan, Kansas.
Travis was a graduate of Lawrence High School; Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, and Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas; receiving degrees in Social Work and Business Administration. Prior to becoming ill in 2010, he worked for the Southern Ute Indian Education Department in Ignacio, Colorado.
Travis was a double amputee and had experienced several health challenges. However, he remained positive and upbeat through the most difficult times. He enjoyed laughter and would even tease people, just to get them to laugh. He was an avid Kansas State University sports fan and attended a majority of the football bowl games. If he wasn’t reading, he was doing what he took pride in – Native American Art of Beading.
Travis was an enrolled member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of Ignacio, Colorado. He was also from the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa. His Omaha name, Egahshun, refers to “One who goes far off and comes home again.” He is from the Earth Makers Clan of the Sky People from the Omaha Tribe. He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Lawrence, Kansas and the Native American Church of the Omaha Tribe. He was also belonged to the Omaha Helushka Society and Omaha Tiah-Piah Society.
He is survived by his parents, Russell and Ann of Ignacio, Colorado; sister, Twyla of Durango, Colorado; grandparents, Clifford and Sarah Baker of Ignacio, Colorado; several other grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews of Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Elmer and Nancy Blackbird and Mabel Veaux Blackbird.
Omaha Tribal Native American Church services are pending in Macy, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Merrick, Jr. will be in charge. Burial will be at Omaha Tribal Cemetery, Macy, Nebraska. Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender, Nebraska will be handling arrangements, along with Hood Mortuary, Durango, Colorado. A memorial service will be held at a later date on the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Reservation.