Thomas Ray Old Coyote

Thomas Ray Old Coyote, 51, of Billings, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, September 24, in Denver. Colorado. 

Alaxchiia Duup duutche “Gets Two Coup”, Crow name given to him by his grandfather William Little Owl, was born October 29, 1973, in Crow Agency, a son of the late Lloyd and Philamine (Little Owl) Old Coyote. He was a member of the Ties the Bundle Clan and a child of the Piegan Clan. He grew up and received his early education at the Pretty Eagle School. He attended Lodge Grass High for a year and graduated from Hardin High School in 1992. He participated in cross country, football, and basketball. While at Pretty Eagle, Thomas was a member of the AAU cross country team under the late Art Pitts and participated in AAU Nationals at Boston, MA, and Los Angeles, CA. 

After high school, he enjoyed working on ranches and attending ropings. He started his college career at United Tribes Tech College in Bismarck, later attending Salish Kootenai College. He started at the University of Montana in 2008, completing his junior year. He made some lifelong friends while in Missoula, and it was always “home” to him. He was close to obtaining his Business Degree, but chose to return to work. He attended the Swift Truck Driving Training Course in Lewiston, ID, where he drove semi trucks, delivering to major cities throughout the US, and drove through the major interstate passes in the Northwest. It is during this time he gained excellent driving experience and was always able to gain employment anywhere at any time. He worked for Swift, JTL Highway Group, S&K Construction, Crow Tribal Roads Department, Riverside Contracting, to name a few. He also worked in the North Dakota Oil Fields for Keane Group Frac and Raw Steel.

In 2011, He joined the US Army/Montana National Guard, 12B Combat Engineer, 12N Horizontal Engineer. Thomas served with the 260th Combat Engineer Company and in April of 2012, he was deployed to Afghanistan for a year where he received the following medals and honors; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and NATO Medal. He was a proud Combat Veteran, and when he returned from Operation Enduring Freedom, he was met with an Apsaalooke Warriors Welcome. A Warriors Victorious Homecoming was also held in his honor.

Thomas was a big fan of the University of Montana Griz Football and a long-time Denver Broncos fan. The CAT/GRIZ game was always an event he looked forward to and didn’t want to miss. He always talked smack about his teams on his social media and loved to tease the fans of his rival teams. When he went on a tour of the Denver Stadium, he was able to answer all the trivia questions, and the tour guide asked him if he wanted his job. Thomas was quite the jokester and just lived life to the fullest.  He was known to dance the robot. He won a dancing competition in Bozeman once and was so proud of his trophy. 

Thomas was especially close to his mom and didn’t mind being called a mama’s boy one bit. There was not one thing she wouldn’t do for him, and she was always proud of his accomplishments. She, along with his sisters, helped raise his daughter, Ryanna Ray, who was affectionately known as Ry Bug. She was his little partner, and together they maneuvered life. Thomas’ life got challenging after returning from war and losing his mom, but he always stayed positive and always made sure he and Ry had a home. They made sure they made it to Harvest Church. 

Thomas is survived by his children Robin Bruce, Sylvia Faith, Quardell Tate, Ryanna Ray and Cooper Riley. His fiance Sariah Old Crow and her daughters, Destiny and Abigail. His sisters Bridgette and Laura Little Owl, and Stell Jo Passes. Brothers; Kendall Old Horn, Kelly Dee, Victor and Brendon Passes. Uncles; Thomas (Linda) Little Owl, Robert (Rachel), Dale (Myrna), and Jack Old Horn. Aunts; Nora (Dennis) Big Hair and Barbara Medicine Horse. His grandchildren; Cherish Joy, Mila Rey, and Jon Bruce. Nephews; Tytus and Cyle Old Elk. Nieces; Chelsea, Terin and Joleigh Old Elk, Cori, Haylee and Alyssa Pretty Weasel, and Cecily Real Bird. His sisters’ grandchildren who loved as his own, Tayjon, Tyran, Roddy, Zeke, Jayleigh, Wrenley, Kennedy, Kyrie, Kolbie and Cohen. 

Extended family includes; Little Owl, He Does It, Bell Rock, Bird Hat, Beaumont, Carpenter, Jefferson, Little Light, Pickett, Good Luck, Plain Feather, Reed, Holds the Enemy, Half, Covers Up, Hunts the Arrow, Don’t Mix, Bends, Bull Over the Hill, Old Horn, Old Coyote. As well as the Ceasley, Tallow, Bebee, Healy, Day Chief and Fox families from Canada. Top Sky family from Rocky Boy. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents William and Agnes Ceasley Little Owl. sisters; Desiree Old Coyote, Dora Kaye Falls Down and Kathy Old Horn, brothers; Marty Old Horn and Bert Little Owl. Nephew Coey Real Bird.

Our family is large and if we’ve missed anyone please understand

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