In this section, we wish to say farewell to our beloved Colville Tribal Members and send our wishes for health, happiness and faith to their families.
We welcome memorials about your loved ones and friends who have passed away, including photographs and poems if you wish. Please send your contributions to: Tribal Tribune Memorials, P.O. Box 150, Nespelem WA 99155 or Email @ editor.tribune@colvilletribes.com. Include your name and address on the photographs, funeral cards or other materials you want returned to you.
As we Lay to Rest, Our Beloved…
Kathleen Jean Finley
January 29, 2003 – March 26, 2006
Family Rosary
March 28, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., “Home” Alice Flatts HUD #4302
Rosary
March 29, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., Keller Community Center
Services
March 30, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., Keller Community Center
Final Resting Place
Family Cemetery, Keller
Officiating, Father Jones
Our little Blessing, January 29, 2003 – March 26, 2006
Kathleen Jean Finley, 3 years old, was born January 29, 2003, one week early, at Coulee Community Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19 inches long.
The first to see this beautiful baby girl was her dad, Nana, Auntie Karen and her Godmother, Khrystle. She was the cutest little girl you ever seen, and you just fell in love with her. This talk was a little difficult and that same stubbornness stayed with her; the best thing that happened to her Mom, Dad, Nana and Uncle Mike. Kathleen coming into their lives really changed them for the better.
Kathleen was named after a very special person, her great-grandmother who was proud to have her as a namesake, she loved her “Little Redhead”.
Her best friend was Kayla Tonasket. Those two were inseparable. She had a special bond with her Uncle Mike and Nana, they loved each other lots.
Kathleen was full of so much life and she loved to share it with everyone. Kathleen loved Scooby-Doo, she loved to laugh, run and play outside with her friends. She would sneak out her Nana’s back door just so she could play outside with Auntie Bear’s cats and Auntie Barb’s dog, Rosie. Kathleen loved animals and The Price is Right. She loved music; she danced her little heart out to the Oldies with her favorite dance partners, Uncle Rick and Nana. She loved hot dogs and cheese and bread and butter and bubble gum and pop. And being at Nana’s, my Kathleen was a handful and never slowed down.
As she got older it was a fight to keep diapers, clothes, and shoes on her, but for most people brushing and fixing her hair was the biggest accomplishment. If she let you finish! She was a handful from the start.
But that is what makes us love her so much; everyday with her was eventful and fun. She had a really cool personality. She was a lot like Nana and Uncle Mike and she also showed Mom’s dad, but she also had a big heart and the sweetest smile. Kathleen was lots of fun.
When she was about 2-1/2 years old, she was given a baby brother, Ryan entered into Kathleen’s life on June 17, 2005 and from that day forward the fight was on. Now it was her turn to teach how to be tough and he found out how to hold his own. Kathleen was proud of her little brother and she was molding him to be like her. Kathleen loves her baby brother so much. She made sure that no one picked on him, and that she was next to him at all times. They were so cute together.
Kathleen also spent a lot of time with Uncle Dave, those two shared a lot of long talks and good meals. Anyone that knew them knows what we are talking about.
Our baby girl will be missed by so many people and by us too, she was a very special little girl and I really will miss our every day together, our fights, us talking, watching her boss her little brother.
Kathleen was baptized on July 13, 2003; her Godparents are Karen, Fred and Khrystle Hoffman and Aaron McCrea. Kathleen would spend time with her Godmother Khrystle and when Kathleen was with Khrystle, Kathleen was an angel. She would totally change her attitude.
Kathleen’s mother is Angela Sutton and her dad is Charlie Finley who both live in Keller along with one younger brother, Ryan Finley, and two older sisters, Theresa Garcia and Rene Finley of Inchelium and four older brothers: Drake Graham, Neil Holford, Levi Hoffman, also of Inchelium and Aaron McCrea who was also her godfather. She loved them all very much. With having so many older siblings to rough her up and make her tough, she learned how to hold her own.
We will always remember the way our little Boss would make us all laugh when she ran, because she ran with her head down like a little bull. Her head would be down like she was going to tackle someone with her curls bouncing and a big smile on her face or when she was roughing her Nana up when they weren’t dancing.
Angie’s parents are Darryl Sutton and Marilyn Tonasket. Her great-grandparents are Tuffy Sutton and Leona Burke, Joe Tonasket and Mary Covington. Her great-great-grandparents were Jim Burke and Kathleen Chucklenasket. Her dad’s mother is Jeanie Seymour and Larry Marchand. Helen Ferguson and Dan “Babe” Finley. Her great-grandparent is Yvonne Charette.
Kathleen
K is for her Kindness
she had in her heart
A is for the appease she causes when she hugs you
T is for the tragic way she had to go, but she will be remembered well.
H is for happiness she was filled with.
L is for the love she shared with everyone.
E is for the energy she
was filled with.
E is for the enthusiasm she had to learn how to talk.
N is for the never ending love we will have for her.
-Sydney-
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Bernadette Sandra Smith
Bernadette Sandra Smith passed on March 13, 2006. She was born on March 24, 1972 to Aleck and Adeline Smith.
She was raised in Nespelem alongside her brothers, sisters and cousins. Bernie loved the water and was taught at a very young age to swim for her own safety – and grandma Norine’s piece of mind. She loved the summers spent camping at Gold Lake with all the cousins and grandma. She loved to pick, dig and get wild mushrooms. As a child she loved the family horse, Bird; the girl could ride. She also loved playing baseball with her uncles, aunties and cousins; the Silver Bullet team. Every summer she played. Another one of her favorite places was Seattle’s Pike Place Market where she and Wade went every fall.
She met the love of her life, Wade Jane in 1986. Since then they had lived together and were inseparable. They were blessed with Rahnee Jane on January 3, 1994. This was a very special day for them; Bernie wanted family, but due to her illness was not able to. Rahnee was her life; she lived for her son and loved him so very much. All who knew her could see this.
She really appreciated the staff at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, and at the Coulee Dam Community Hospital for the care she received and the kindness she was shown while in their care. She spent a lot of time there and they made her really comfortable. We cannot thank them enough for that. Rahnee and Wade for being by her side. Rahnee would not leave his mom during these times and is also well known by the staff.
Thanks to her family and friends who took the time to visit with her, she loved bingo. To Brosco for his friendship and time that he spent helping take care of her.
Bernie was survived by Wade Jane; her son, Rahnee Jane; her mother, Adeline Carden; her father, Joe Aleck; her sisters, Suesan Clark, Doreen Carden, Lucera Carden, and Brettagne Alec; her brothers, Malcomim Carson, Lawrence Harry, Joshua Harry, Joe Aleck, Jeremiah Aleck, Isiah Aleck and Jason Aleck.
She was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, John and Norine Smith; paternal great-grandfather Joe Aleck; great-grandmother, Edna Welch Cloud; great-grandmother, Julianne “Lucy” Saluskin; grandparents, Eddie and Viola Aleck; David and Melvina Aleck; uncles, Willard Burke, Daniel Isadore, Corwin Andrews, Jim Aleck; aunts, Geneva Calloway, Delvine Aleck, Delina Aleck; a brother, Tracy L. Morrison; one baby brother, James Smith; a cousin, Morgan Wipple.
Bernadette, we love you and we will miss you very much.
Lynn “Pepsi” Walksontop
Lynn Walksontop passed away March 9, 2006. Lynn traveled many miles throughout her life, working on several different reservations. She worked in the planning department for the Spokane Tribe and as director of the Spokane Tribe Senior Citizen Program for the last 14 years. Lynn was well known throughout Indian Country.
She is survived by her mother, Agnes McCrea of Wellpinit, WA; brothers, Fred McCrea of Wellpinit, WA, Rodney Nomee of Usk, WA, Gene Nomee of Usk, WA; sisters, Joanna Nomee of Usk, WA, Pat Songers of Ronan, MT, Lillian Nomee of Usk, WA; other brothers, Willard Nomee of Ford, WA, Milton Nomee of Usk, WA, Joe Nomee of Worley, ID, Calvin Nomee of Worley, ID, Alfred Nomee of Plummer, ID; other sisters, Agnes Brien of Worley, ID, Marianne Hurley of Worley, ID, Philomena Nomee of Plummer, ID, Wilma Bob of Plummer, ID, Frances Peacock of Plummer, ID; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Harry Walksontop; father, John Nomee; other dad, George McCrea; other mom, Adeline Burns; brother Andy Nomee; and sister, Lydia Nomee. A Wake was held at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 12, and a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 13, at the Spokane Tribal Longhouse. Interment was at Wellpinit Catholic Cemetery.
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Just A Little Boy
In Remembrance of
Elroy “Aye-aye” James Shavehead
He was just a little boy with a smile to match the sun. He was simply just a boy, somebody’s little son.
He had fears, but he knew gladness; he was playful, sometimes shy. He was loved, and so much wanted; he was quite the little guy.
He could make one roar with laughter, or could flood their soul with tears. If compared to a transmission, he was always shifting gears.
He was bright and he was witty, he could woo you with his charm; but when withdrawn within himself, was he sounding an alarm?
He was just a little boy, he had eyes to match the sky. Who could have known there’d be a time he’d so destroy his life?
Who would have known his inner thoughts? We only heard his song. Who could have known, from good seed sown, …weeds would come along?
It’s hard to hear unspoken words, hear thoughts that go unsaid. One rarely reads between the lines, and a life thus goes unread.
Such a precious little boy, it was hard to say good-bye; but we couldn’t read between the lines, no matter how we tried.
We couldn’t hear the silent cries, nor see the unshed tears. We couldn’t see through camouflage to reach the pent-up fears.
He was just a little boy with an awful lot of charm; but the batteries were missing from the little guy’s alarm.
How a precious little boy could become a … man, is far beyond what anyone, but God can understand.
No one, but God in Heaven, can know the end, from start; and only He can feel the pain that’s locked within the heart.
Only God can open locks and set the captive free. Only He can judge a man, and that’s how it should be.
We knew the little boy, but knew him just in part. God made the little boy, and knew him from the heart.
God’s love is not conditional, it’s for eternity. I sure am glad that He will judge, and leaves it not to me.
God loves the little boy. He wants us to understand He’ll turn His back on evil, but He’ll always love the man.
First and foremost, we apologize for not entering this letter earlier in the year. A personal thanks to those who came by the house to express their sympathies, in the first few days, following Elroy’s passing. It had helped tremendously! We would like to acknowledge the Seven Drums for their services, it was beautiful. We send our gratitude to Pauline Pakootas & family for all their help and support. To the cooks: Rhea Adolph, Raeann & Theresa Chuweah, Lavonne Elwell, Yvonne & Robert Thomas and all the lil’ helpers; your services were very much appreciated. For the hunters and those who made donations to the family, thank you for your time and consideration. A huge thanks to the pall bearers for having the strength to carry our sorrows. A special thanks to all the grave diggers for their assistance in returning our loved one to Mother Earth. We apologize to those we may have left out, we appreciated all your support considerably.
With Love and Respect – Cynthia Stensgar & Family
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Come Join Us for the Memorial of
Naomi Anita Goujon-Price
Born 1/3/1964 – Died 7/7/2005
Blessing of Headstone will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Fort Okanogan Cemetery
At Monse, WA on June 24, 2006
Following the blessing we will move to the Omak Long House for the ceremonial meal Around Noon on June 24, 2006
Will view a video of her family tree and her life. Was put together to follow the meal. Could be approximately 30 minutes long.
The Family of Naomi Anita Price will have the giveaway after viewing the video.
All Friends, Family, relatives are welcome to join us. Any questions, please feel free to call
Tillie Gorr, 509-633-3622
1106 River Drive, Coulee Dam, WA 99116
Thank You
To My Friends and Family,
I would like to say Thank You to everyone who was there for me and my children with their love and hugs.
It’s been a real hard 2-1/2 years for us. I’ve lost 3 daughters and my kids’ sisters. I lost 4 grandchildren also. It has been a hard time for us.
I thank all the cooks, hunters, grave diggers, the ones who sent flowers and cards and the ones who lent us a shoulder to lean on.
I want all my nieces and nephews to know that I consider them like my own children and thank them also.
This is a THANK YOU for April, Sherri and Mary’s friends also for Thomas, Rachael, JT and Samantha’s friends.
Thank you to my children for just being you with all your love for me.
With God’s love, we will make it through these bad times. I know that there is no more suffering or hurt for my kids that went with Jesus. I thank Him.
Jackie Nanamkin
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