William Earl Jones Sr

June 22, 1941 - February 28, 2016

William Earl Jones Sr

June 22, 1941 - February 28, 2016

Obituary

William “Willie” Jones Sr. (ChaT-ex ‘T), former Chairman, Vice Chairman and Council Member of the Lummi Indian Business Council for 30 years (1977-2007) passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, February 28, 2016.

Willie was born June 22, 1941. He is preceded in death by his parents Earl and Mildred Jones and his daughter Evelyn Jones (baby). He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Josephine Jones, children: Rosanna (Wendell) Jones, William (Regina) Jones Jr., Julianne (Delfred) Jones; 14 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and his sister, Rosalie (Ralph) Scott.

Willie is known of his commitment to education and was instrumental in the creation of the Lummi Nation High School and Northwest Indian College, where he earned an Honorary Degree in Native Science with a Concentration in Indigenous Self-Determination and Education. Willie was also a strong national leader in tribal sovereignty and self-governance and was an active community member in Whatcom County. He was a canoe skipper for many years and carried the canoe philosophy in all aspects of life.

The family invites all of his friends and colleagues to pay tribute to his legacy. Funeral Services will be Thursday, March 3rd at 6:00pm and Friday, March 4th at 10:30am, both at the Lummi Nation Community Building, Wex Liem: 2334 Lummi View Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226.

Funeral Mass

  • Date & Time: March 4, 2016 (12:00 AM)
  • Venue: Wexliem Community Building
  • Location: 2100 Lummi View Rd Bellingham, WA 98226 - (Get Directions)

Prayer Service

  • Date & Time: March 3, 2016 (12:00 AM)
  • Venue: Wexliem Community Building
  • Location: 2100 Lummi View Rd Bellingham, WA 98226 - (Get Directions)

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12 responses to William Earl Jones Sr

  1. Dear Family,

    The Shoalwater Bay Tribe sends our prayers to you. We know Willie was a great Leader, a Leader in the old way, not only in his own Tribe, but he was a Leader to all the rest of the Nations.

    There is no greater gift to the family than being able to be there when the Spirit of their loved one is called by the Creator to come Home. I know the Door to God’s House was wide open and the Light was on. God and loved ones were waiting to greet Him. All of you will see him again in the Morning.

    With love and tears for you.

    Charlene Nelson
    Shoalwater Bay Tribal Chairwoman

  2. Your Footprint in My Life Uncle Willie E. Jones, Sr.
    You and I as FRIENDS have spanned nearly four decades; arm-in-arm, side-by-side –
    We have confronted the challenges and achieved unbelievable success –
    As Tribal Leader you were dedicated to the Lummi Nation and your Citizens and you honored the call to serve – always assuming, in a very noble and humbling way, the many roles that were asked of you –
    As Visionary you provided the window for others who did not know how and where to look –
    As Preservationist you upheld the rights of the ancestors who have gone before you and secured the rights of those to follow –
    As Protector, of Family, Tribe and Resources you have been persistently consistent –
    As a Person of Composure and Control you were able to lead by example rather than cave under pressure –
    Your Confidence in YOU provided others a peek into what is really most important and precious in this life, and the worth of self –
    As the Brightness in the Smile you wore, your presence was that of an angel removing the darkness from my space when I needed it most –
    As My Friend, you were a constant consoler of the bitter, sweet reality of life –
    There are countless reasons why I will miss you Uncle Willie but none more than the memory of that day sitting in what I would consider forbidden territory, the Tribal Council Chambers, when you presented me with two cooler chests running over with Dungeness crabs – I should have gone into a coma while devouring them. But as always your healing spirit was the voice of reason saying “I Can’t Believe She’s Still Eating Crabs” which cheered me on!
    I just never told you how much I appreciated the cleaning-out I got after eating all those crabs!
    This is not goodbye; it’s just a “pause in time” until we see each other again. So for now, “CIAO my dear, loving and special Uncle Willie”. Love Pitt

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