Ron A. Laws September 2, 1942 - July 2, 2015

Ron A. Laws, 72, of Sisters, passed away Thursday, July 2.

Ron was born September 2, 1942 to Arty and Lauraine Laws and raised in Rogue Valley.

Ron grew up in the beautiful Applegate and Rogue River valleys of Southern Oregon. It was said that in the old-growth forest growing there, if one were to listen to the wind late at night, there were stories to be heard.

In his own words:

"Often I imagined myself to be one of the great trees, standing tall and proud.

In their sacred presence I felt the miracle of my heart beating, the gift of pure air filling my lungs, my feet rooted in the earth ...

and in the gold light of the sun I would spread my arms as great branches and my thoughts, like birds, would soar.

I was Free! Singing with my coyote brothers, my heart flying in great circles with the hawk.

And when I danced naked amidst the pines, the wisdom and music of creation flowed through my being as effortlessly as wind moved through the branches above me.

Sometimes, from deep in the mystery of this wondrous world, I would hear stories whispered, perhaps by the old-growth, about those who had danced in this meadow before me, and who had, each in their times, been drawn away into this busy world of Men where there were many tasks to accomplish and many lessons to learn."

In 1994 he began hand-crafting Native American flutes in a shop near Bend, Oregon and continued this work in Sisters, daily visiting the rivers and mountains of Central Oregon, playing his flutes. Ron was one of the finest craftsmen in the business and a member of the International Native American Flute Association (INAFA).

He was a performing musician and a founding member of the music group "COYO." He taught flute classes, played for local hospice, and held workshops with at-risk youth. He facilitated Lakota hand drum workshops and was held in deep love and regard as an elder and wisdom-keeper in his vast community bringing his teaching of love, peace, compassion and the Sacred Hoop.

Ron is survived by his son, Sean Laws; his sister Elizabeth Laws Bestul; and two grandchildren, Nicole Laws Grantham and Kyle McCreery.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at the HarmonyHouse, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. http://www.skyway

flutes.com or 541-280-1821.