Mary E. Young Bear, “Bo-na-bi-ga”, 66, of Tama, passed away, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. A Traditional Wake will be held Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at the Bear Clan Ceremonial Building on the Meskwaki Settlement, rural Tama. A Traditional Graveside Service will be held Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Meskwaki Cemetery on the Meskwaki Settlement, rural Tama with Wayne Pushetonequa as speaker.

Mary was born on November 10, 1959, in Denver, CO, the daughter of George and Ernestine (Roberts) Young Bear Jr.

Mary studied at Coe College in Cedar Rapids and received her Liberal Arts Degree from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). She was employed as a Textile Curator for the Meskwaki Tribal Museum until retirement in 2025. In her spare time, she was an avid sewer, beader, print maker, educator, and doll maker. Mary was inducted into the Iowa Woman’s Hall of Fame in 2020. She has pieces in multiple museums and showcases. Her work was featured on PBS for Artist Profile, in the Field Museum in Chicago, and in the Des Moines Art Center. Mary was also well known for helping others.

Survivors include her children, Nyla (Tysin), Sarah (Mason), Achi (Ella), Emily, and Daniel; grandchildren, Eleina, Eleron, Ethan, Gladys, Watheto, Titus, Maddox, Maya, Tysin Jr., Isabel, George Jr., and Emery; brothers, Craig (Mai), Chad, John, and Douglas; adopted mother, Danielle Davenport; adopted brothers, Luke Kapayou, and Simon Buffalo; sisters, Nina, and Doreen; adopted sisters, Marti Jefferson, Reba Blackcloud, and Jana Kapayou-Bear; numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; adopted father, Chester Davenport; brother, George Young Bear III; sister, Kristina Young Bear; nieces, Rachel Young Bear, Leila Young Bear; nephews, Neil Young Bear, Lowell Young Bear, and Edland Walker.

A special thanks to Iowa River Hospice and Mary Bennett.