Obituary
‘Aa-wokw Day-sri Marvin “Jake” Welantuk Jones began his journey at Taa-‘at-dvn on August 20, 1974, and began his journey to be with his ancestors on April 20, 2022, in Taa-‘at-dvn, at the age of 47.
He was a man of two rivers, the Klamath and Smith, as a proud member of the Yurok Tribe, and a descendent of the Tolowa Dee-ni’. He lived his entire life on the water and out in the mountains. Spending his days at his village of Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn, or down in Requa, at Dat-naa-svt, or out in the woods. He was a hunter, fisherman, net maker, and lived his life as an Indian person. His heart led all his actions and all that knew him, knew he was rough and tumble, but he was NDN through and through. He could hang a net, skin a deer like no one else, fillet a fish, and fix any motor and make it run. He was always tinkering on his treasures.
‘Aa-wokw Day-sri Jake was always trying to better the world and care for the people he loved. He always shared anything he had with others in need. He loved hard and was always protecting his family.
‘Aa-wokw Day-sri Jake will be sorely missed as he was truly an exemplary gift for us all. He was a one-of-a-kind lover of life, who would do anything, anytime, for anyone without question. He truly was a humble hero who saved many lives of close family and community members from the river, burning homes, and severe accidents throughout his time of service here on Nvn-nvst-‘a~.
He was in preceded in death by maternal grandparents Day-sri Eunice Xash-wee-tes-na Henry of Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn and Day-sri James Bommelyn of Kul-ci-ca-raw and paternal grandparents ‘Aa-wokw Delma Jean Nix of Weych-pues and ‘Aa-wokw Clifford Jones of Woh-sekw.
Hs is survived by his; daughter Chanda Laine (Zach), son Edward Henry, grandson Chaa-yash, mother Vicki Bommelyn, father Marvin Jones, sisters Natalie and Marva, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous other family members and friends he always loved like family.
A wake will be held on Friday, April 22nd, beginning at 6 pm at his maternal village of Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn, 6701 South Bank Road, Crescent City, California on Saturday, April 23rd at 9 am he will take his final boat ride from Requa, CA. Services will be officiated by Loren Me’-lash-ne Bommelyn, beginning at 1 pm at Xaa-wan’-k’wvt (Howonquet) Hall Community Center, 101 Indian Court, Smith River, CA with
Internment at Xaa-wan’-k’wvt Cemetery. Fellowship will immediately follow at Xaa-wan’-k’wvt Hall with a potluck dinner.
Pallbearers are Edward Jones, Zack Quair, Aaron Newton, Nants’vn Jones-Scott, Kai Baugh, Jaytuk Steinruck, Pyuwa Bommelyn, Guylish Bommelyn, Will Bommelyn, Allen Bommelyn, Harold Jones, Rylan Mauai, Whikil McCovey, Chag-Amin Jones, Ki-ee Jones, Jordan Jones, Micah Jones, Brandon Jones, Pete Thompson, Jeff Brittain, and Michael Jones.
Honorary pallbearers are Chaayash Quair, Clyde Jones, Dennis Scott, Kimekwe Scott, Welantuk Steinruck, Luukvm Steinruck, San-t’as Bommelyn, Waa-sayn-ni Bommelyn, Willie Bommelyn, Deegan Donahue, Trevon Donahue, James Bommelyn, Jerod Newton, Don Steinruck, Eric Brundin, Micah Wade, Billy Jo Peters, Walter Singletary, Martin Hall, Al Schoonover, Randy Goose Mattz, Frank Spa-ghe Dowd, Tays Salazar, Brendan Gensaw, Antonio Padilla, Arthur Jones, Sam Jones, RT Jones, Jimmy Eagles, Nathan Scott, Larry Boogs Jones, John Green Sr., Fredrick Scott, Axel Erickson, Josiah Marrufo, Josh Lewis, Pergish Carlson, Delmar Jordon and James Bullcalf Donahue, Christopher Peters, Willard Carlson, Johnny Jones, Shannon Jones, and Paul Kuska.