Eva Shippentower Watchman (Kata putnay) passed away on April 29th, 2014. She was 95 years old.

A Dressing Ceremony will be held Thursday, May 1, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Agency Longhouse in Mission. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Washat Service at 7:00 p.m., both at the Longhouse. Final Washat Service will begin Friday morning, May 2, 2014, at 7:00 a.m. at the Longhouse. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Catholic Church, followed by burial at Agency Cemetery. The dinner following will be held at Agency Longhouse.

Sign the online condolence book at www.burnsmortuary.com. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of Pendleton.

Born on April 20th, 1919, in Pendleton, Oregon, she was nearly the eldest enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She celebrated her 95th birthday a week ago on Easter Sunday with family and friends at her home on Mission Road.

Her parents were Anderson Shippentower and Alice Barnhart. Children include Bertha Case, Lewis Case, Eugene Carter (deceased), Ray Watchman, Bernadine Watchman-Cook, Annie Watchman-Sinclair (deceased), Francis Watchman, and John Bevis. In total 13 children, 21 grandchildren, nearly 50 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. She was married/widow to Lewis Carter and Daniel Watchman.

Eva attended Chemawa Indian School in the 1930s then moved to Nespelem, Washington, where she was cared for by a member of Chief Josephs band. She then moved back home and has lived on the Umatilla Indian Reservation for the past 75 years.

Eva was a hard worker proven by her 28 years of dedicated service as a laundress at St. Anthony Hospital, often walking the two-mile to work. She also harvested peas and wheat in the local fields in the summer time.

Her hobbies were playing pool, bingo, crochet, gardening, beading, keno, watching science fiction shows, knitting, going on senior trips, attending the Round-Up, playing the harmonica, swimming, riding horses and cooking her favorite dishes such as lukameen and baked yeast bread.

She often told stories of Celilo, catching eels and picking berries at Mount Adams. She was a member of the health committee that helped build Yellowhawk Clinic.