Tela Juanita Donahue Lake
May 3, 1959 to October 22, 2022

Tela “Starhawk” Juanita (Donahue) Lake, 63, of Redding, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2022. Youngest daughter and one of eight, she was a member of the Yurok Tribe and grew up in Del Norte County. Tela was a homemaker, author, medicine woman, and Sundancer. She had a love for family: spending time together camping, storytelling, gathering rocks, and at sweat lodge ceremonies. She loved to find agates, go on trips to the high country, and attend tribal events. She could find a four-leaf clover anywhere.

Tela lived her life for her children and grandchildren. She had unmatched spunkiness and sassiness, and kept everyone in the family connected. She was an international traveler who could always bring the fun and unexpected. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Tela is preceded in death by (Aawok) her parents Alveretta Spott-Green and Chuck Donahue; brothers: Baldy, Whisky, and Pergish; sister Marjorie; the father of her children Bobby Lake Thom; nieces: Lovebug, Angel; and nephews: Hoot-Se, Jessie, and Benjamin.

Tela is survived by the love of her life, Kevin Arias; stepdad, Kenny Green; sisters, Phyllis and Gladys; brother, Bobo; children: Chay-gam-em, Moon Raven, Wind Wolf (Delores), and Kanawha (Luna); grandchildren, Angelina, Sierra, Lily, Loyalty, Alexus, Aaliyah, Evalyn, Thunder, and Lance, Jason, Leland, Ada; great grandchildren: Nova and Cela; as well as many, many nieces and nephews, and people she loved.

Pallbearers: Kevin Arias, James “Bobo” Donahue Sr., Wind-Wolf “No Name” Lake, Frank Kanawha Lake, Brian “Eagleboy” Donahue, James “Bull Calf” Donahue Jr., Chris Peters Sr., Delmar “Seagull” Jordan, Roger Buckskin Jr., William Bommelyn III, William Bommelyn Jr., Santee Martin Sr., Santee Martin Jr., and John Donahue (Little John D).

Honorary Pallbearers: Kenny Green, Ron Griffith, Frank Thom, Rick Arias, Ricky Alemania, Chaley Thom, Robert Ray Jr., Phillip Shaw Santmier, Levi Tripp, Erik Barnes, Kagett Donahue, and Chris Hawkins.

On Saturday, October 29: Viewing from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Elk Valley Sovereign Building; graveside services in Requa at 4 p.m. at the family’s plot; followed by a memorial dinner to be held at Yurok Tribal Community Room, Klamath, 5 p.m.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Tela Lake’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.