Ralph Jones

Ralph was born to a fisherman, he started his career with his dad "Breezer" fishing Port Susan. Ralph represented Tulalip as one of the many fishermen practicing in his treaty rights. Serving as a deck hand, he later fell in love with the waters and became a skipper and boat owner himself.

For many years he worked at Tulalip with the fisheries department, working around the waters and became a horticulturist perpetuating native plants. Working with the fisheries department he took part in rebuilding Coho creek and enhancing our ancestral salmon run.

People found him to be a gentleman at sea, with a great sense of humor, who would always help anyone. He was a quiet man and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Ralph is survived by his mother, Dorraine Jones; he leaves his daughters, Jessica Jones and Sonia (George) SoHappy; grandsons, Aiden Echo Mather, and Koli SoHappy; granddaughters, Kylee and Kira SoHappy; sisters, Rae Anne (Mike) Gobin, Karen (Steve) Gobin; brother, Jimmy Jones (Kristie Lawrence); as well as nieces, Shelby Cleveland, Justine Jones and Natosha Gobin; and nephews, Brent, Ron, Josh Cleveland, Kevin (Lani) Jones, Steven Gobin Jr. and Brian Jones Jr; aunts and uncles, Clyde and Maxine Williams, Herman Williams, Arley and Charlene Williams and Jane Wright; special cousins, Frank and Lawrence Wright and Clyde Williams Jr.; and many other cousins; also close friends, Alan Cortez and Charles Comenote Jr.

Ralph is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Jones Jr.; grandparents, Ralph and Edith Jones and Lawrence and Christina (Daisy) Wiliams; great-grandmother, Lena Harrison; aunt, Genevieve Williams; uncle, Darrell Ray Jones; and brother, Kevin Jones; and nephew, Nathan Cleveland.

Viewing will take place from I:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Monday, December 19, 2011 at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home in Marysville.

An Interfaith Service to celebrate Ralph's life will be held at his mother's home on December 19, 2011.

Funeral Services to be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at the Tulalip Tribal Center.