Family, friends of homicide victim gather for candlelight vigil

Nearly 100 people gathered at the “Keeper of the Plains” statue on Saturday to remember Mekko Stumblingbear, who was killed in a Friday homicide.

People of many different backgrounds came forward to share their memories of Stumblingbear.

Truman Ware, an uncle of Stumblingbear’s, played a drum and sang a “journey song, prayer song, sunrise song” in honor of his nephew.

Codie Dunn, 17, who described himself as a neighborhood friend, told of how Stumblingbear “shaped who (he is) today.”

Family and friends gathered to tell stories of the man who could always make them laugh, who could improve their day with just one smile.

He went through some rough patches in life, said his sister Allison, “but it’s the bad stuff that made him better.”

“It hurts real bad,” she said. “It hurts that we had to come together in such a bad way, but if he was here, he’d be sitting with a big grin on his face.”

Selena Bozeman said her son looked up to Stumblingbear as a father figure.

“He protected my son in a car accident – without him, I wouldn’t have my baby boy,” she said, crying.

Everyone who stepped forward to share their memories agreed on one thing: Stumblingbear would not have wanted his friends and family to be crying for him.

As the sun set and candles were lit, Megan Stumblingbear, Mekko’s mother, was able to smile occasionally.

Those assembled raised candles, feathers, sage – whatever they came with – and shouted, “We love you, Mekko!”

“My nephew has stepped beyond, into the Great Mystery,” Ware said. “The Great Creator decided it was time for him to go, and we don’t disrespect the Great Creator. He knows.”

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Family, friends of homicide victim gather for candlelight vigil."