Daryl Lynn Big Hair

Garryowen, MT – Daryl Lynn Big Hair, 52, “IISHAAKSHE XIISAASH” (Outstanding Young Man) peacefully passed at home surrounded by his loved ones on Thursday, March 28, 2024. He was born in Crow Agency, MT, on July 13, 1971, a son of Dennis and Nora Little Owl Big Hair, Sr. He was a member of the Ties Bundle Clan and a child of the Greasy Mouth Clan. He was married but later divorced; from this union he had two children.  He received his early education at Pretty Eagle Catholic School, St. Labre, graduating from Hardin High School in 1989. While in high school, he participated in basketball, track, cross country, and AAU wrestling when he was in elementary. He attended Salish Kootenai College as an engineering student and a vivid fine arts student, creating metalwork for his parents. Daryl worked at several places, such as Metra Park, AML, and Security. He was the best mechanic to many and did a super job. He was a cowboy hand for the FY ranch at Soap Creek. In his younger days, he was a pool shark. Daryl was a happy person who liked to have fun and was a teaser. He loved to cook, would cook for his siblings when they were young and a protector of his younger siblings. He would love to have barbecues. He had two nicknames, “The Judge” to his high school friends and “Jack,” given to him by Joe Phares.  Daryl’s lifelong ambition was to enjoy traveling to various states to compete in Indian Relays such as Canterbury, Emerald Downs, Festival Eastern Idaho State Fair and Perkins Oklahoma to name a few. Having this ambition, Daryl learned to train and doctor horses and was excellent at it. He loved horses so much that he would spend the majority of his time at the barns, and during the winter, he would still be training horses out at his parent’s homestead. He was a member of the Blanket Bull Team and became the team captain in 2017 after his brother Tee had gone to the other side of the camp. They took the Sheridan, Wyoming Indian Relay Championship in 2012 and the 2014 Crow Native Days’ Championship. They won many Indian relay races too numerous to name. He also helped train his granddaughter, MaShaya Alden, to be a 3x champion in 2021, 2022, and 2023 during the Crow Native Day’s Ultimate Lady Warrior Challenge. Daryl had a special friend, Mike Russell, from Nebraska. Their friendship and bond were horses.  Another special friend was Mike Stevens. He is preceded in death by his brothers Dennis Big Hair, Jr., Thornton “Tee” and Jacob Big Hair, Jr., Duane Costa III, Gary Jo Real Bird, Joe Phares, Newlyn and Bert Little Owl, Spike Medicine Horse, and Rollie; his grandparents, William Ettinge and Agnes Little Owl Sr., Aloysius Big Hair Sr., John and Agnes Holds Sr., his sister Dennell Big Hair, Desiree Old Coyote, Emeri Little Owl; his uncles Jacob Big Hair Sr. Aloysius Big Hair, Jr., and Ettinge, Xavier Little Owl; his aunts Joaney Champ, Hazel Not Afraid, Adelia Stewart, Darlene Hugs, Lucy, Dorothy Little Owl, and Philamine Old Coyote.

Daryl is survived by his companion, Amanda Appenay, his parents; siblings: Deneen (AJ) Not Afraid, Albenis “Spanky” (Raelyn) Big Hair, Dale (Eva) Glenmore;  his children Sean Pretty Weasel, Dacinda Rose and Nora Eldean Big Hair; his grandchildren, Glen, Noah, Bianca, Jasmine, Kaycee, Akyle, Kasen, Elijah, Dakota, Dante, Akaiah, Akeerah and Laila; aunts, Velma Big Hair, Doris Hill, Sarah (Henry) Small, and Denise Goes Ahead; uncles, Tommy (Linda) Little Owl, John (Laurena) Holds, Trunson Big Hair; Special Nieces and Nephews Devin, Delaney, Marshall, Dacee, Cedric, Baby Devin, Presley, Maymee, Alvin III, Tysha, Talisha, Mahalia, Teela, Titus, Trevor, Canaan Taylor, Dane and Gina; sisters Darlena, Harriett Driftwood and Patricia Fritzler, Barbara Medicine Horse, Valerie Dust, Bridgett, Laura, and Quinlyn Little Owl, Aldean (Leo) Good Luck, Dalean (Bernard) Dust, Dorcus (Arlen), Joaney, Trudi, Jaylene, Michelle, Allena, Rosie Big Hair, Jaychelle Ten Bear, Lena, Debra, Joaney Champ, Jonalea (Chester) Nomee, Kim (Bryce) Hugs, Dominica Hill, Tysha Manzenarez, Sherri (Mark) Farwell, Sarah Left Hand, Donna, Patleen, Loretta, Jessica Stewart; Brothers: David Stewart Jr., Whitney, Laramie, John Holds III, Harold Hill Jr., Hans and Helmeg Hill, Ray, Joe, Johnny, Isaac Champ, William Driftwood, Thomas Old Coyote, Cyle Old Elk, Aljay Big Hair, Dominic (Nevessa), Karl (Shannon) and Colt Little Owl;  Adopted siblings: Makalia and Joe Gutierrez, Kevin and Ron Buck Elk, Maureen (Rick) Dionne, Christopher Lunn, Kathleen (Clinton) White Clay, Patrick (Staci) Alden Jr.  Extended families include Big Hair, Birdinground, Little Owl, He Does It, Bell Rock, Bird Hat, Beaumont, Carpenter, Jefferson, Little Light, Hill, Holds The Enemy, Shane, Smart Enemy, Old Coyote, Old Horn, Reed, Caplett, Driftwood, Laforge, Takes Horse, Half, Pickett, Smells, Top Sky, Ceasley, BeeBee, and Healy from Canada, and Appenay families from Fort Hall, Idaho.  Daryl’s family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Billings Clinic Cancer Center, Still Water Hospice, Char, Heidi, Juanita with the Crow Tribal Heath Improvement Program, and Alma McCormick. Our family is very large if we have missed anyone please forgive us during this time of grief for it is unintentional.

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