Eric Pebeahsy

Eric Randall Pebeahsy Jefferson “Shushash” Born May 18, 2000, year of the dragon. He was born the day after the Zillah tornado. Son of Diane Pebeahsy and Gabriel Jefferson. Maternal grandparents Constance Jim and the Late Myles L. Pebeahsy. Paternal grandparents Liman Jefferson Sr. and Lisa Benson Jefferson. This obituary may seem long for such a young man, but he was a person of many talents who touched many lives in his short time on this earth. Eric was loved by many, young and old. You would see this as was he always visiting his elders at various events. He valued the knowledge and stories they told him. He also loved youth and to visit his friends who often would stay with him and his family in their home if they were having a hard time. He liked to laugh and spend time with his girlfriend Jeannette George. He was a very talented young man who learned things quickly. Eric loved to play the guitar, he would often play for his relatives old country songs by Johnny Cash or Hank Williams. He was often asked to perform at local events and gatherings. Eric loved being a Native person. He loved both of his tribes, the Yakama Nation and the Comanche Nation. As a Comanche he loved to dance men’s southern straight style at powwows. He was taught how to dance by his grandfather Myles the real Comanche war dance way. All of his regalia was made for him by his grandmother Sandra Jim. If you ever had the opportunity to see him dance, you were lucky. He was a beautiful dancer. He wore a top hat and war paint. He never liked to contest and often dance just for fun. People would walk up to him and give him money for not being picked because they believed he should have won the contest. He was also little warrior for various powwows such as Yakama treaty days and Veteran’s day powwow. He loved to gourd dance in Oklahoma, Portland and Seattle. He was inducted into the Comanche Little Pony Society at the age of 13 also by his grandfather Myles. He and his older sister also loved to sing Comanche hymns together in the car on their way to powwows and events. Eric had many pastimes such as playing video games, singing songs, playing chess, skateboarding, learning to cook difference dishes (he was his mom’s back up when she cooked frybread) and read books on poetry, philosophy, science and history. He was a budding filmmaker, painter, photography and model. He won several art contests in the Yakima Valley. Eric graduated from Yakama Nation Tribal School in 2018. He loved to sing in the school choir. He enjoyed sports in school such as track and cross country, which he lettered in and received a Pendleton letterman’s jacket for. He loved being called “baby sheep” in sports and school and often had that printed on his jerseys. He aspired to be in the medical field which was inspired by his time at the PNWU Native student internship his senior year. He liked to attend many churches and would partake in services such as Mckinly youth church, shaker church and washaat longhouse where he was learning to sing long house songs. He enjoyed being in Mending Wings Youth Group for travel and cultural show case. On a personal level, Eric always had a kind heart to every living person and creature. He often listened to elders and never rushed them when they him told stories. He helped elders by letting them lean on him when they walked. He would learn sign language so he could talk with his deaf friends. He recognized anxiety in younger people and would take them aside and help them calm down. He soft spot for animals especially cats. Often texting his relatives pictures of his three cats, Belle, Wolfie and Totoro. Eric is survived by Mother, Diane Pebeahsy, step father, Michael T. Sekaquaptewa, and his father Gabriel Jefferson. He is survived by his his three siblings, Carmen L. Selam (and partner Tsos), Reed V. Sekaquaptewa, and Helen B. Sekaquaptewa. He is survived by his maternal great grandmother Anita Lewis Sampson. His grandmother Constance Jim, proceeded by his grandfather the Late Myles L. Pebeahsy. His maternal great aunts and uncles Sandra Jim, Jeanne Smiskin, Carl Lewis, William “Buffy” Lewis, Glenn Lewis. His aunts Robyn Pebeahsy, Desiree Pebeahsy, Nichole Pebeahsy. His paternal grandparents Liman and Lisa Jefferson. Uncles Michael Jefferson, Liman Jefferson Jr., Daniel Jefferson, Douglas Jefferson, Franklyn Jefferson and Patrick Jefferson and his “other mom”/Uncle Travis Steward. He has numerus aunties and uncles that helped raised him on both sides. All his cousins he considered his to be his brothers and sisters. His twin cousin Evelynn “Evil-lynn” Jefferson. It is a misfortune that he died by suicide. He was loved by everyone. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eric Pebeahsy, please visit our flower store.