Obituary

Ann Loretta Paul Humphreys passed away on May 20^th, 2021 while surrounded by all her loving family from up and down Washington and Canada. At the age of 95, Ann was the oldest female Lummi Elder.

Ann was born on June 6^th, 1925 in Marietta, WA to Eugene and Elizabeth Kanim Paul. She married Arthur Humphreys Sr. on September 28^th, 1941 and they quickly started their 11 woman/man canoe family. Her husband, Art, skippered race canoes for the Lummi Teams from Canada down to Duwamish, and races were held in Elliot Bay, where they are still held each fall.

In the 1940s, Arthur Humphreys Sr. worked in the shipyards in Seattle, leaving Ann at home in Lummi to fish, gather, and raise the growing family. She canned, harvested, and made money picking vegetables and fruit, and was an awesome teacher for knitting and crocheting. She made wool socks, hats, sweaters, and taught all her 10 children to knit with “knitting hour.” Ann would sell their knitted items to Eddie Bauer in Seattle to help support the family’s strict budget. It is the ones that have the deep connections to their ancestors, like Ann, that are compelled to ensure that their family is provided with the tools to carry on. Like medicine, the teachings and traditions go down reluctantly as we rebel against the discipline when young.

As we gathered to sing Shaker & Indian songs, we knitted, consoled, cooked, and told our stories, it all began to sink in; how much you need these teachings right now, how maintaining those traditions, even knitting, is the sustenance during our grief. We live with the assurance that the family tradition will always be there to remind us of those who have gone before us.

Our dear mother, Ann Loretta Paul Humphreys, is the last living link to a Great Chief, Pat Kanim “Issaquah”, and Elizabeth Kanim who was born in the Tolt Longhouse in 1892. Her Grandfather, Pat Kanim, was the Chief from below the falls to Whidbey Island. Now his Granddaughter, Ann, at long last, is up in the spirit world with her husband, Arthur Humphreys Sr.

A Great Spirit Has Been Called Home! Ann Loretta Paul Humphreys was a force of nature, so much so that nature itself understands and responds to her loss – with a Great Storm! Her children and grandchildren have songs, treaty rights, teachings, and land all because of her stances on retaining her land and knowledge. Thank you for our Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Great-Great-Grandmother, Auntie, Queen Ann.

She is preceded in death by stepdaughter, Clara Harvey (Mac Cooper); daughters, Donna May Humphreys, Sue Humphreys Tulee, and Lynette LaClair; son, Arthur II AKA ‘Wild Bill” Humphreys; sons-in-law, Chris “Jigs” Penn, Bill Kline, and Merle George.

She is survived by her daughters, Eileen Penn, Loretta Kline, Judy George, Dorothy (David) Bob, Sharon (Mike) Perez, Kathy (Richard) Shafer; son Tom (Cathy) Humphreys; daughter-in-law, Althea Humphreys; sons-in-law, Hoss Tulee and Joe Paul LaClair; 39 grandchildren; 103 great-grandchildren; 151 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Prayer Service will be held on Thursday, May 27^th, at 6:00PM. Funeral services will be Friday, May 28^th, at 10:00AM. Both services will be held at the Wexliem Community Building.

Please share your memories of Ann at www.molesfarewelltributes.com.