Nina Marie Richardson, a beloved mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend, regretfully passed away on January 24, 2022. She was the young age of 22.
Nina was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother Faith Williams and uncle Michael Richardson, her beloved great-grandmother Rada, great-grandfather Leonard Wiechert, Granny Mary Viles, and great-grandfather Melvin Viles.
She is survived by her son Orion, mother Breana Viles, father Cody Richardson and his wife Dusti, sister Sareena Jones, brother Jackson Coxey, sister McKenzie Dornhecker, brother Wyatt Richardson, grandparents Dan and Teena Viles, aunts Sarah Viles, Mandi Jett, and Melissa Cody, uncles Sam Jett, Max Gomber, and Bob Tickle, cousins Skyler and Ginger Jett, and godfather Jacob Curtis. She also has many other family and friends who all loved her infectious laugh and smile. It was such a pleasure to see that smile!
Nina was fearfully and wonderfully made, born November 28, 1999, in Prineville, Oregon and was “Thee most beautiful baby.” Absolutely perfect! Thirty people awaited her birth and they all cried happily when she arrived. Her hair would grow into curly ringlets and her belly laughs melted everyone who met her. The first born daughter, grandchild, and niece was doted on continuously, and gladly. Her father remembers putting on music and dancing with her around the living room. She shared a bond with both her Dad and Mom over a love for music.
She went to school in Crook County. In her younger years, Nina loved to read and played basketball. She proudly graduated later with her GED. It was a very happy moment for her.
Nina took time to notice the beauty around her and pointed it out to others. She had a talent for capturing the beauty she saw in photographs. She was proud of her Native heritage and was a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. She loved going to pow-wows and culture camps. Along with her Grandma Teena, Nina’s favorite color was pink. She enjoyed doing her make-up, painting her fingernails, and spending time with her family and friends. She will be remembered for her wit, being strong minded, and for caring deeply for her loved ones.
She left the world a gift of a beautiful baby boy, 3 year old Orion Tyr. He has been blessed with those same curls. She was a young, but loving Mother. Nina loved to tease, joke, and laugh with her son and her younger siblings. She had a wonderful sense of humor and again, enjoyed laughing. She had a strong relationship with her sister Sareena and had planned on spending time with her to craft every week. They relied on each other and shared a deep connection. She was protective over her child and siblings and always lifted them up.
Nina had amazing strength and a lack of fear that made her an amazing support for anyone struggling. Her name means “mighty” and she was stronger than she believed and overcame many obstacles of her own in her short life. Recently, she was working towards and had achieved some positive life goals. Tragically, an accidental overdose ended her life far to soon.
22 years of positive moments with Nina and, unfortunately, the preventable and tragic way Nina passed could overshadow her very precious life.
Her family is asking for the pain of this tragedy and the lives that she left behind to be a reminder of the dangers of using fentynol and opioids. Please, love your children and remind them of those dangers. When we see the beauty of a whale breaching the surface of the water, we forget all of the beauty and depth that lies beneath.
To the community that Nina was a part of, let her life inspire us all to do better. This tragedy can be a jumping off point for positive change. A celebration of life for Nina Marie will be held sometime in the future.
Here are a couple links to a few organizations that have helped make a positive change in our community.
https://www.oregonrecovers.org/
https://www.rimrocktrails.org/
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