Arlen Luther Charles Sr., age 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at his home with his family by his side in Klamath.

Arlen was born on July 14, 1936 at Waukell Flat on the Yurok Reservation in Klamath, California to Ada Waukell Charles and Robert Charles. Arlen was a full-blood Yurok, and very proud of it. He attended school at Stanford University. He worked throughout the departments in the Yurok Tribe, helped re-build the site at Welh-kwel Village Brush Dance pit, and was a supervisor during cultural digs. He had a hard work ethic and loved to stay busy. He worked many years for the Yurok Indian Housing Authority when he retired in January 2017.

Arlen lived throughout California from Oakland, to Ukiah, and Klamath, where he raised his children. Arlen was a very devoted father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He loved the Klamath River and our Waukell Village. He loved fishing, cooking fish on the sticks, making redwood sticks, and making eel hooks. He always had a smile on his face and stayed positive. He had the biggest heart, always wanted to help where he could. He had a passion for reading novels and doing his crossword puzzles. He loved learning new things. Arlen loved cruising, enjoying the scenery, and going on his daily walks. Arlen would always be the first one at the cookout, to start his fire for the fish. He always had an open door for his family and friends. Arlen dedicated his time to his family and shared his knowledge with others. His family was everything to him, he loved everyone.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ada Waukell Charles and Robert Charles, his siblings: Pauline Charles, Larry Charles, and JoAnne Moore, and other family members that include Delray Bates, Jack Scott, Taos Proctor, Angel De Los Santos, Byron Scott, Manuel “Scooner” Frease, Darren Bates, Jessie Donahue, Dimitri Steele, Margaret Martinez, Arthur Bates, Nemechay Bates-Lopez, Brenda Snyder.

Those who left to cherish his memory include his children: Arlen Charles Jr. (Glenna), Terry Evans (Joe), Ronald “RT” Jones, Cassandra Charles (Chay-gee); his grandchildren: Jessica Cedillo (Raphael), Micah Evans, Stacie Evenson (Jacob), Nikita Gorman, Shanah, Re’lee, Kylie and, Henry James Jr., Noah, Melissa Charles, Dominic Story, Sienna, Darrius, Rayvonna Sylvia; His great grandchildren: Darren deLeon-Evans, Kyran, Requa, Sregon, Adalynn, Silvino, and Arlen Cedillo, Kyah, Palyn, Vandelee, and Micah Evans Jr., Louis, Aliyanna, Cameron Evenson and Oliver Daily, Aiden Gorman-Martinez and Hunter Gorman-Thompson, and Shaylene James, Samuel Jones, and Ronald Jones Jr.

His siblings: Jeannette Eberhardt, Lloyd Charles, and Fern Bates (Bruce). His nieces and nephews: David Charles, Crystal Charles, James “Jimbo” Proctor Sr., John “JP” Proctor, Judy Watson, Jolleanne Brittain, Richard Bates Sr., Ronald Bates Sr., Michelle Rainer, Allen, Vicky, and Lisa Bates, Dawn, Aiyana and Awenita Charles, Mary Ellen Jolly, Merle and Rose’el Stevenson, John Donahue. His great nieces and nephews: Richard Nelson Sr., Ross Nelson, Rollie Nelson, James Proctor Jr., Juanita and Jamie Proctor, Andrea Bates, Jay, Lance, Rishondra, and Richard Bates Jr., Ronald Jr., Alicia, and Mark Bates, Jessica Escalera, Annette Frease, Angela Frease, Teresa Hernandez, Joe Bates, Sasha Mitchell. Keith Ray Jr., Robert Ray Sr., Ben Ray Sr., Ryan Ray Sr., and Coty Bates. There are very many more family members that are not in the list but will always cherish his memory.

Arlen will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Family and friends are invited to visitation that will be held at his home at 109 Maple Road, Klamath, CA 95548 on Friday, April 8, 2022 on 4 pm. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the Aawok Ada Waukell Charles Building in Klamath, California 95548. His final boat ride will be at 2 pm. Final resting place will be at Waukell Cemetery in Klamath, California 95548 at 4 p.m.. Dinner to follow at 5 p.m. at the Aawok Ada Waukell Charles Building.