Jerome Hugs, Sr

Jerome Hugs, Sr., affectionately known as Oakie, was born on August 22, 1949 to Oliver Hugs, Sr. and Katherine BigHail. He made his decision to go home to The Lord on March 3, 2021 after a short battle with COVID. The family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings for their help and care of Oakie and his wife, Dora. Oakie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dallas Hugs, Xavier Hugs, Sonny Hugs, William Hugs, and sisters Karen BigHail, Linda Hugs, and Pansy Hugs. Oakie was a multiple-time champion of traditional arrow throwing, an exceptional basketball player, and was an all-around athlete. He took joy in teaching his children, nephews, and nieces his techniques in arrow throwing and all of his basketball moves. Oakie and his brother Dallas founded the Castle Rock Ranch, where they successfully trained saddle horses, racehorses, and owned cattle. He lived out his days with the Castle Rocks of the Pryor Mountains as his backdrop. In the mid-eighties, Oakie was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Crow Tribe. Oakie was an important part of the Crow Bible Translation team for twelve years. As part of the Crow Bible Translation team, Oakie travelled throughout the United States and Canada teaching the word of God. As part of his ministry, Oakie held house services throughout Crow Country and preached the word of God in the Crow language. His work in translating scripture led Oakie to work and spread the message via KULR radio. Oakie loved The Lord and wrote out and distributed his last sermon throughout the United States to elected officials with the sole purpose that they would come to know and love The Lord as he did. Once Oakie became a grandfather, his grandchildren became his focus and had all of his attention. Oakie made family a high priority and organized the annual GoesWell Family Reunion from its onset in 2001. Oakie took pride in being a descendent of Chief Plenty Coups and took the time to explain his lineage to anyone who would listen. In his later years, Oakie discovered he had Irish blood from the Morrison side. He made sure all of his children and grandchildren knew it. Oakie's faith and devotion to his family inspires his children and grandchildren to strive to emulate Oakie. Oakie is survived by his loving wife of fifty years, Dora; his sons, Jerome “Oly” Hugs, Jr., Joshua, and Josiah (Taleshia) Hugs; his daughters, DeAndra (Arlo) Stone and Ava (Hugo); his sisters, Shirleen Glenn, Merle Jean Harris, Sherri Hugs, Patricia Laverdure, Lovern Perez-BullTail, and Dorothy SpottedBear; his brothers, Kenneth Toineeta, Frank, Harvey (Cynthia), and Leland Hugs, and Wales BullTail; his grandchildren, Kaitlin, Arlo, Jr., Jeshurun, Jerome III (Roze), Jericho (Makenna), Wade, Jacob, Billy, Taiah, and Jaxon. Oakie is also survived by his special nieces, Honey (Roy) WolfTail and Mallory (Matthew) BrightWings; his special nephews, Bryce (Kim) and Isaiah (Andriea) Hugs. Extended families include those of GoesWell, BullTail, FlatLip, House, Morrison/Yarlott, Iron, Humphrey, BigHail, PlainBull, PlainFeather, GoesAhead, TurnsPlenty, Whiteman, Stops, Rides the Horse, BlackEagle, Morning, OldHorn, and Birkett/Thorson. He is survived by his special friends Martin (Josie) Reynolds, Dale (Judith) Hanson, and Bruce Nagel. Our family is large and we are sorry if we forgot anyone in this time of sorrow.