Dorothy Marie (Pete) McKinnon (Tolowa), age 97, passed away in her home on August 31, 2022.

Dorothy was born in Brookings to Gladys and Gorman Pete on September 1, 1924. She attended grade school in Gasquet and Riverside Indian School (RIS), where she met and married Carl Melton McKinnon (Yurok) in 1942. After RIS they began their married life in San Diego. Later, they moved to live on the Klamath River and build their home on McKinnon Hill. Carl worked in the logging industry and he and Dorothy spent many years hunting, fishing, gardening, gathering, and canning. Dorothy and Carl raised two sons, Carl (Butch) and Dennis, while living the Native American lifestyle along the Klamath River.

In 1962 their family moved to Blue Lake. Dorothy took a booking position in the office of a local lumber mill. At age 50, Dorothy decided to master the art of traditional Yurok basket weaving. Once a week, for over a year, she would travel the 60 miles to Hoopa to learn from her mother-in-law, Nettie McKinnon. Dorothy had always helped Nettie gather basket materials but had not learned the art basket weaving. Dorothy developed her weaving skills and continued weaving baskets into her 90’s. A video interview with Dorothy on basket weaving is posted on the Blue Lake Rancheria YouTube channel.

Dorothy enjoyed many celebrations with family and friends. She loved putting together delicious meals for all to enjoy. Often these were from the pantry she filled from the work of her hands.

Dorothy loved to laugh and did not enjoy sitting idle. She busied her hands sewing, making jewelry, and crocheting. For all of these Dorothy obtained books and publications to read and researched techniques and design inspiration.

In her mid-70s, when most people have been retired for years, Dorothy started a new career. In January 1999, Dorothy accepted a council position on the Blue Lake Rancheria and served on the council until her death. She always looked forward to performing duties and representing the Rancheria. She thoroughly enjoyed her work with the Rancheria and welcomed coworkers as her extended family. Dorothy’s family wishes to thank the Blue Lake Rancheria for the tremendous support and fulfillment Dorothy received from her years serving the Rancheria community. Blue Lake Rancheria lowered their flags to half-mast in honor of the enduring service Dorothy gave as long-time council member for the Rancheria.

The Rancheria hosted a birthday party for Dorothy’s 90th birthday at the Blue Lake Casino. Many of Dorothy’s family, friends and coworkers joined her in this celebration. Days before the event, her grandson Marc caught many salmon while fishing on the Klamath River. So, the day after her birthday party, as Dorothy had done for decades before, she put on her apron, sharpened her knives and began stripping and filleting salmon for the smoke house and canning.

She is survived by her son Dennis McKinnon and wife Janet Phillips; three grandchildren, Marc McKinnon, Kristine Kaschube (husband Chris McCurtain) and Carol McKinnon (husband Will Meyer); and three great-grandchildren, Mason, Cameron and Alexandria. Dorothy was proceeded in death by her husband, Carl; her mother Gladys and stepfather John Sargent; her father Gorman Pete; and her son Carl Wayne McKinnon and her grandson Scott Murdock McKinnon. She is also preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma and Ethel, and one brother, Donald.

Paul’s Chapel in Arcata is handling funeral arrangements.

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