The last surviving child of Harry Lossing, the first Chairman of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, has passed away.
Rosie Lossing was born at Fort McDermitt to Harry Lossing and Effie Bobb.
As her father helped establish the reservation in 1934, Rosie was a companion to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent’s daughter, where she learned to speak English.
She also translated from English to Paiute for her father, as she grew up on the reservation.
She later married Benjamin Collins and they moved to Hawthorne, Nevada, where Lorene “Judy” Jackson and Lois Collins were born.
Rosie also bore a baby boy, Michael, who did not survive, now buried in Schurz, Nevada next to his father. Rosie later married Floyd P. Crutcher.
They worked side by side in the fields and managed the stock on the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation and various ranches.
Together, they had ranch babies including: Bradley Crutcher (Jane), McDermitt, N.V., Vallery Hernandez (Seth – Deceased), Pine Ridge, S.D., Ricky Crutcher, Ft. McDermitt, N.V., Floyd Jr. Crutcher (Deceased), Brenda Jackson (Alfred), Elko, N.V., Dee Crutcher (Deceased), Arlo Crutcher (Sheila), Fort McDermitt, N.V., and Floydine Crutcher (Deceased).
Relatives also sent their young men, Webster “Luther” Thomas, Dwight Thomas, Guy Dodson, Wayne Brown and Virgil Pretty (Deceased) to the ranch under the supervision of Rosie and Floyd. Rosie also raised Dalane “Bo” Crutcher and Donnell “Gene” Curtis since they were small boys.
Rosie passed away peacefully in her home on March 20, 2022. She will be dearly missed by many relatives and friends.
Rosie is proceeded in death by her parents, Harry Lossing and Effie Bobb, aunt Annie Lossing Barr, siblings Irene Jack, Evelyn Crutcher, Della Lossing, Ruby Lossing, Laverne Williams, Lucille Pete, Irvin Jimmie, Edgar Lossing and Weldon Lossing; daughters Floydine Crutcher, Dee Crutcher and Lois Collins; sons Michael Collins and Floyd Jr.; grandson Cody Crutcher and granddaughters Georgianne Abel and Delores “Chickie” Abel.
Rosie is survived by her children, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Viewing for Rosie will be held at 4 pm on Friday, March 25, at her home, 550 South Reservation Road, Fort McDermitt, Nevada. The funeral services will be held at 12 noon, on Saturday, March 26, at the Fort McDermitt Tribal Gymnasium, 111 North Reservation Road. A traditional feed will follow.
