Tony Joel Sylvia-Masten danced his way home on Sunday.

Before he left, Tony had a dream in which he was walking along a trail with his sister. During the course of the walk they passed through many seasons and his sister was enthralled at the wonder of it. But Tony was receiving a song from the angels and became impatient with his sister for getting distracted by the seasons because the song is where we need to keep our focus.

Tony was raised with his brothers and sisters in Caw-tep, among his elders and extended family in the Down River Community. He was a visionary, he had an extreme intuition and was born with a keen understanding beyond his years — he saw the potential in people and in life. He was able to see the unique beauty in everything which brought out the best in everyone he was with and every medium he encountered.

Tony was worldly for being from such a small place, and his pursuit of knowledge about all things took him well beyond the boundaries of home; He dedicated his life to learning and because of his adeptness to do everything to the best of his ability, his focus produced excellence. His many projects, soul searching, and quick wit drew people in, he won friends and added to his family wherever life took him. He had the power to not only see the best in people but to bring it forth through his method of gracious thoughtful generosity with a healthy dose of teasing.

Tony loved completely and without condition — he made sure his people knew they were loved by him. A person was never just a friend, they were Brothers and Sisters. Every child was “Babe” and all knew him as “Uncle”. He was a jokester. He was playful and candid and he brought joy to everyone he knew. He was a force and it was impossible not to adore him. He had nicknames for everyone -especially the kids that he had a special ability to connect with on their level and make laugh. His family will always treasure memories of our lake trips with his early morning tarzan yells, his half-strangled rooster crows and Miffy dog barks. He was a beautiful man and he had a beautiful spirit.

He is survived by his husband Daniel, their daughter Ishpuuk and a large loving family- many who were that by blood and many who later became so. He leaves us a legacy of his art work, his songs, the spirtual understanding that he shared, and the creative spirit that he has nurtured in all of us.

He left so many of us richer people just for having grown with him.

Services will be held on Wednesday, November 30th at the Wautek Indian Shaker Church. A reception to follow at the Morek-won Community Center. Pallbearers will be his nephews. Honorary Pallbearers are Carl A., Carlos Cisneros, Bud, Junkie, and Wally Gray, Paul Kuska, Billie Joe Peters, Amos Pole, Damian Scott, Bob Kane, Brian Tripp and all of his treasured great-nephews.

Tony’s family would like to acknowledge our sincere appreciation to those friends who became family to Tony and helped him through the difficult final season of his life, for you all made it possible for him to begin his new journey to kue Plo ‘Oohl ‘we-‘o’ possible.

Boneyard. Teeword. Uncle. Brother. Husband. wok-hlew, wok-hlew, wok-hlew.

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The obituary above was submitted by Tony’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.