The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Arthur Louis Mount was born to Thomas J. Mount Sr. and Hazel Skinner on August 22, 1959, at the Fort Belknap Indian Hospital. He was named after his grandfather, Arthur Skinner, and uncle, Louie Mount. As long as everyone can remember, he was known as "Poody."

Poody spent his early years being raised by his grandparents, Arthur Skinner and Clara Bad Road, at Dry Lake. In the early 1960's he moved to the family home in Hays, MT. He fell in love with the art of horsemanship, which he learned from his father Tommy and maintained throughout his life. He was fearless when it came to riding horses.

Poody attended Hays Lodgepole Elementary School until his first year of high school. Following elementary school, Poody and his sister Annie traveled to and attended their freshman year at Flandreau High School, where he lived in the honor dorm as an honor student. Soon after he returned home to Hays, MT, where he finished his education by obtaining his GED. After this, his love for horsemanship led him back to the rodeo trail.

In his early rodeo days, his dad Tommy took him, Harlen, and Dewey down the rodeo trail, where they rodeoed throughout the states, even ending up as far south as Fallon, NV, and Arizona. They enjoyed staying up all night and roughing it, sleeping in the back of the pickup truck in true roughy fashion.

Following his rodeo journey, he had two daughters, Juanita and Kelly of Ethete, Wyoming. Later came Ty Louis and Arthur "Artie" of Fort Belknap, Montana, and finally, the caboose Jean Rose of Hays, MT.

Throughout Pooty's lifetime, he enjoyed doing leatherwork, making belts, breastplates, hand drums, drawing and quilting star quilts. He was a jack of all trades. He spent many years as a wildland firefighter, laborer, and ranch hand.

He was known for teasing and giving nicknames. His brothers and sisters could always count on him, lending a helping hand. He loved everybody, and everybody loved him.

He has recently been fencing and helping his family restore their family powwow camps.

Pooty is preceded in death by his companion Connie White Bear, his parents, Thomas J. Mount Sr. and Hazel Skinner, and his paternal grandparents, Robert "Bob" Mount and Annie Walker. Maternal grandparents Arthur and Clara Bad Road Skinner. Brother Robert Stiffarm and granddaughter Olivia.

Pooty is survived by his siblings Lorena "Biscuit" Stiffarm, Anita (Frenchy) Weigand, Alma "Allie" Young, Thomas J. Mount Jr., Annie Kay (Shorty) Mount, Florence "Porky" (Willy) Buck. His children Juanita (Miguel Jr.), Kelly (Aeryk), Ty (Camille), Artie (Audrey), and Jean Rose (Donald). His stepson Kyle White Bear. His grandchildren Darwin, Kelynn, Brock, Denaira, Michaela, Swin, Titus, Trey, Wyatt, Isla, Creelle, Alijah, Gabrielle, Hazel and Kale (twins), Oaklynn.