Clarissa Jefferson

On March 9,2023, the lord took our beloved daughter, granddaughter, mother, sister, aunt, and cousin Clarissa Jefferson home to be with Him in Heaven. Her Apsaalooke name Bia-ak-baa-saa-iaa-jaysh was given to her by her great Aunt Clara Smart Enemy-Big Lake and her Cheyenne name Meona'e meaning Trail Woman named after Martha BearComesOut. Clarissa is the daughter of Dora (Dewayne) Costa and Tony Bear Comes Out.

She was born on February 15, 1990, in Crow Agency at the Crow Northern Cheyenne Hospital. She was a member of the Ties the Bundle clan and attended Mountain Crow Worship Center in Pryor, Montana. Clarissa was an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe and a descendant of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. When they were young girls, Clarissa and her twin sister Clarice were raised by their grandmothers in Crow Agency, the late Edwina and Vanetta Stops. After the death of her grandmother Vanetta, the girls went back to live with their mother in Pryor and her grandmother Barbara White-Comes up helped raise her.

When the twins Clarissa and Clarice were babies, they were sickly. In Crow traditional ways they were given to Claudette Black Hawk and her late husband Fredlyn Old Bear, who nurtured them back to health. Clarissa attended grade school at Crow Agency and graduated 8th grade from St. Charles Mission School. She graduated from Plenty Coup High School in 2009. She started employment at a young age with the Crow Summer Youth Program at Plenty Coup Park. She worked various jobs including housekeeping at several hotels; she was a very good housekeeper, even at home. She also worked for the Crow Tribe and was employed at the Pryor Community Center. In High school Clarissa was a cheerleader and played basketball. She was active in Future Farmers of America. While in High School she met the love of her life, Jeremy Gutierrez. From this relationship four children were born: Marek, Matea, Haley and Lexi.

Extended Families: Hawk, White, Bear Ground, Jefferson, Nomee, Smart Enemy, Carpenter, Laforge, Little Owl, Hunts the Arrow, Bear Claws, Goes Ahead, Calf Robe, Russell, Small Eyes, Bird Rattler, and Beaumont. Parents: Dora (Dewayne) Costa and Tony Bear Comes Out; Barbara White-Comes Up who also helped raise her. Grandparents: Mary Lou (Heywood) Big Day, Dorma (Allert) Takes Enemy Sr., Josie (Ben) Stands, Veronica (Brewster) Pretty On Top, Chester (Sharolyn) Nomee Sr., Michael (Rita) Stops, Elroy (Kitty) Nomee Sr. Paternal grandparents Clarice and William Walks Along, Mike and Victoria Bearcomesout, Llevando and Phyllis Fisher, Charlie Bearcomesout, Mary Ann Russell, Peter Bearcomesout, Max Hiwalker, Geofredo and Jacklyn Littlebird, Glenn and Lillian Littlebird. Grandparents: Clinton and Margaret Gair Stopss, Michael and Rita Rose Stops, Clarice and Ronnie Medicine Crow. Grandmothers: Claudette, Elna, Ferol Rose Blackhawk, Bonnie Hawk,(Cheyenne Side) Clemencia Stops, Connie (Bruce) Russell. Grandfathers: Bruce White Sr., Robert Nomee Sr. Siblings: Tye Crooked Arm, Twin sister Clarice (John Demontiney) Jefferson, Joshua Jefferson, Dewayne Costa III, RayKwon Dane Costa, Tailynn Costa, Frank Jefferson, Stephanie (Michael Birthmark) Jefferson, Ryan Old Crow, Starr Stops, Marsha Jefferson, Heywood Big Day III, Martin Cloud, Jessica Old Bear, Tamara Old Bear and the late Raelyn Old Bear, Connie Nomee, Shawna Stops, Theodore Nomee, Richie Shane. Aunts and Uncles: Wesley Jefferson Jr., Roberta Stands-Walks, Raylene Stands-Pretty On Top, Heywood (Veronica) Big Day Jr., Conrad Stands, Derek Big Day, Jace Big Day, William (Veronica) Big Day, Vincent BlackHawk Jr., Dorma (Allert) Takes Enemy Sr., Elna Black Hawk, Ferol Rose Black Hawk, Geraldine Big Day, Doreen White-Stewart, Marilyn (Richard) Chief, Junetta Jefferson, Clemencia Stops, Fray Jefferson Nomee, Judy Jefferson, Rebeka Stovall, Jennifer Jefferson, Geraldine Schreiber , Raymond, Dave, and Thomas Jefferson, Arnold Jefferson, Mike and Clinton Stops, Ronnie Big Lake, Warren Jefferson, Opal Beard Ground. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Vigil will be at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Monday, March 13, 2023, starting at 5:00 PM. The Homegoing Celebration will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 1:00 PM with Graveside Service to follow at Pryor Cemetery.