Ronald Dean Powell Sr.
November 16, 1959 — June 10, 2022

Ronald Dean Powell Sr. was born in Garberville to Ronald Gene Powell (deceased) and Julia (Bussell) Farnum. Dean lived most of his life on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation but was born in Southern Humboldt due to his father’s employment as a sawyer.

Dean was a proud Hoopa Tribal Member, and he was very involved in his culture. Dean loved to dance and participate in his traditional native ceremonies. During his childhood, he was very close with his maternal grandparents, Vernon N. Bussell Sr. and Irene (Davis) Bussell. During his years at Hoopa High School, he participated in JV and Varsity Football, wrestling, and Future Farmers of America (FFA).

After High School, Dean worked in the woods. He was employed with Wold Logging and at Hoopa Forest Industries (HFI). He began as a hook tender and rigging slinger and later a heavy equipment operator. Dean also was awarded a certificate in carpentry from Lassen Community College.

Dean found joy in outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, eeling, hiking, mushrooming, and making paths, especially down to Campbell Creek so his kids, nephews, nieces, and grandkids could enjoy his swimming hole. He also was a very talented carver and enjoyed gifting his work to special people in his life. Dean was also a great horseman; he took pride in breaking the most difficult horses.

Dean was a family man, he was a devoted son, grandson, brother, father, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend; family meant the world to him. At age 18, he fathered his first child, Rachel Deeann Powell. He went on to have seven more children.

Ronald was preceded in death by his beloved son, Ronald “Ronnie” Dean Powell Jr., his father Ronald Gene Powell and step-mother, Margaret Powell, maternal grandparents Vernon N. and Irene (Davis) Bussell Sr., paternal grandparents Everett W. and Inez (Underwood) Powell, maternal uncles: Lowell, Vernon “Tootie”, and Virgil “Beebo” Bussell, and Allen “Cash” Davis; paternal uncles: Vernon, Dean, Duane, Ivan, Keith, and Donald Powell; paternal aunts: Delores (Powell) Dunn, Edith (Powell) Whisnant, and Maxine (Powell) Armstrong; cousins: Sharon and Sandra Powell, Cheryl Bussell, Virgil “Uppity” Bussell Jr., Vernon “Tooters” Bussell III, Branigan Davis; good friends: “Toss” White, “Chuffy” Sylvia, Thomas Blake, “Doomey” Beck, Billy Pearson, and Lori Gray.

Dean is survived by his mother, Julia (Bussell) Farnum; children: Rachel, Jill, Anna Rose, Donald, K’ida:y, K’itsa:y, and Irene Powell; grandchildren: Nah-tes, Alexia “Taryete” “Lexi” and David Jackson, Janae Dunn, Vernon and Joseph Reeves-Powell, and Troy Powell ; siblings: Ronalda Jordan (Danny), Marilyn Powell, Julie Ann Farnum (Terrance McCovey), Lyle Matilton and step-sister Tracey Ramone (Jody); nephews and nieces: Carmeli (Jordan) Begay (Nolan), Leland Jordan, Eric Phines (Ariel Richards), Melissa Phines (Arlen Doolittle Jr.), John Acuna, Natalie (Van Pelt) Scott (Brandon), Brammel, Mckenzie (Monte “Boogs” Jarnaghan Jr.), Stanley “Boy Boy” (Weeya Ferris), and Joseph “Hurkie” McCovey, Jenna Miller, Ty and Clay Ramone; close friends: Ty & Raul Duncan, Carl “C-Mooch” Colegrove Sr., Ronnie “Rubs” Robbins, Curt & Gary Dempewolf and Ted Pearson; Dean is also survived by several cousins, great nieces and nephews, and other friends too many to name.

A wake will be held at Dean’s residence on Telescope Road on Saturday evening, June 18, 2022. Funeral services, officiated by Rodney Vigil Sr., will be held on June 19, 2022, at the Neighborhood Facilities (NF) beginning at 10:00 A.M. His burial will be at the Davis Ranch immediately following his services. A reception will be held at the Hoopa Wildland Firehall after the burial.

Pall Bearers: Donald Powell, K’itsa:y Powell, Nah-Tes Jr. & David Jackson, Ronnie “Rubs” Robbins, Joseph James, Lyle Matilton,

Honorary Pall Bearers: Herman “Shack” Sherman Jr., Sylvester, Doug and Freddie Brown, Walter “Bud” Gray Jr., Carl “C-Mooch” Colegrove, Ty & Raul Duncan, Romane “Shade” Calvin, Loren “Long Gone” McCovey, Alfonso Colegrove, Curt & Gary Dempewolf, Terrance McCovey, Alfred “Alfie” Bussell, Eddie Leach, Kenny Bain, Carlos Miguelena, Tim Bussell, Sr., Arnold Davis Jr., Danny Bushnell, Bob “Soonie” Campbell Sr., Ted Pearson, Denny Colegrove, Kevin Wilder, Warren Leiner, Filmore Harvey, Mike Lee Sr., Leland Jordan, Eric Phines, Brammel McCovey, John Acuna, Stanley “Boy Boy” McCovey, Joseph “Hurkie” McCovey, Willie, Alec, Marty and Andrew Lamebear, Dewey, Sonny, and Jimmy Jones, J.R. Bowen, Jesse James, Clay and Ty Ramone, Mark Scott, Brandon Scott, Arlen Doolittle Jr., Lyle Baldy Jr., Sebastion Ferris, Cheygee Sylvia, Caw-tep Sylvia, Turk Sylvia, Jake Blake, Barry “Beez” McCovey Jr., Boyd Ferris, Logan Ferris, Lance Marshall, Robert “Cash” McCovey, Robert “Bob” Davis, Rocky Colegrove, Billy Colegrove, Brandon Colegrove, Anthony Colegrove, Lonnie “Looney Toons” Colegrove, Lyle Matilton, John “John John” Robbins, Rodney “Rowds” Robbins, Shane, Eric “Herc”, Nick and George III.Nixon, Charlie McCovey, Geno Masten, Sinjin Surber, Glenn Jones, Phillip Pike, Talbert Albert Alvarado, Axel Erickson, Erick Amos, Keg Super, Tim Bussell Jr., Gordon Bussell, George Lewis, David Gray, KG Bain. Dean had so much family and friends, so please accept our apologies if we forgot anyone.

The family would also like to thank everyone for their prayers, consoling words, hugs, food, and hard work.

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