Carmen Louise McCovey Moon
February 12, 1938 – February 23, 2023

Carmen passed away peacefully at home on February 23, 2023, surrounded by family.

Carmen was the 11th of 12 siblings born to Charles Jr. and Sadie McCovey at Notchko. The story was when Sydney was lying in bed with her parents, their dad told her that she was no longer going to be the baby since he had been kicked in the back by Carmen who was in her Momma’s belly. Carmen was born on Friday the 13th according to her mom, but the Government put her date as the 12th. She never knew that until she was applying for her passport, and they made her go get an official birth certificate to get the “correct” date.

Carmen always had an adventurous spirit, always willing to go on a road trip with whomever would take her. She cruised halfway across the country with her favorite son-in-law Danny and daughter Ronalda to go visit her good friend Dorothy Chezem in South Dakota. She also loved each time she went to Hawaii. The last time was for a 60th anniversary trip with a small group of 11 family members, going to see where they used to live near Sunset Beach.

She loved being a mom and loved being a grandma even more, but her favorite was being “GramGram” to her great grandbabies, who meant the world to her. She made each one of her babies feel the love she had for them, and she lit up their world with it. She loved to laugh and was well known for her giggle.

Carmen and Fred met when Ronalda was just a baby. Within the year, Carmen and Fred were married with Little Fred joining the family right after. A year later, Delores Faye dazzled this world, and two years later, on the same day, Richard came. Their baby Marjorie completed their family. Lila and Little Clyde spent a lot of time with Fred and Carmen, and being double first cousins with the kids, they were just like one of their own.

She had many hats from all the jobs she worked throughout her life. She worked at Humboldt Fire in Hoopa, then moved to working at the Nursery in McKinleyville while Fred was working his Moon’s Barbershop along Central Avenue. During her time at the Nursery, they used to go out as a fire support crew. When the nursery closed, they formed their own camp crew called “The Native’s” with Carmen, Ida Liles, sister Sydney, and niece Laura Borden. They were well known in fire camp for with their neon green hats. After retiring, she loved it when her former crew members came up to her to say hi and check in when they’d see each other.

She was proud to be a Yurok Tribal Member and loved going to her East District meetings. She was a part of the United Indian Health Service (UIHS) Board of Directors and she served on the Yurok Tribe’s Election Board for many years. At meetings, her favorite thing was when her many nieces and nephews would come up to her and say, “Hi Auntie”. Family was always such an important part of her life. She loved being a part of her church family as well, and was grateful for all the friendships that she had created with them.

Carmen lost the love of her life, Fred, two years ago. Marjorie was able to keep her busy with many adventures from driving North to visit her good friend and Sister-in-law Kayo, going on the Skunk Train ride outside of Willits, staying overnight in Redding to shop and making sure she got her pedicures and manicures too. She loved camping at Fish Lake, especially being out on the lake in a boat. Camping brought back the memories of all those years at Fire Camp with her crew.

Carmen was preceded in death by her love Fredrick Moon Sr., son Fredrick Moon Jr., nephew/son Little Clyde, grandbaby Billy Dee, granddaughter DeeFaye, grandbaby Serenity, her parents Charles and Sadie McCovey, and her siblings Allen McCovey, Bernice Roubidoux, Ramona “Coonie” Trimble, Darrell McCovey, Charles “Big Boy” McCovey, Howard “Edgie” McCovey, Stanley “Cart” McCovey, Florence “Flossie” McCovey, Marion “Shoeshine” McCovey, Delores “Dee” Reed, and her nephew/brother Allen “Buzz” McCovey.

Carmen is survived by her best friend/sister Sydney “Syd” Carroll and her sister-in-law Kayo Moon. Her children Ronalda and Danny, Delores, Richard and Tammy, Marjorie and Lila. Her grandbabies: Carmeli and Nolan “No”, Leland “Leapin’ Lee”, Christina, Medero “Hector”, Annalisa “Ducky” and Rashauna “MeMe”, Liles “Two scoops of Poopa Loops” and Yvonne, Little Richard “Cha-bon”, Meagen and Guy, Darrell and Ernie, Travis “Travi-o-so”and Chern, Jasmine and “E”, Nena, Shaleen and Bobby, Damon and Hailey, Aaron and Rochelle. Her greatest loves, her great grandbabies Raymond “Mr. Woo”, Helena “Heyney Bug”, Rylan “RC”, Eric, Melia, Little Medero, Mederiona, Emony, Prince, DiAuni, London, Brooklyn, Little Liles, Queenz, Raymond A, Dianna Faith, Naschewen, Richard, Fred, Kaycen, Kayrich, Dolly, Robert, Emily “Emmer-nemmers”, Raymond B “Old Baby”, Riley, Anjelica, Issac, Antonio, Santiago “Chago”, Jaycon, Carmen, Little Darrell, Paisley, Anthony, Malia, Malachi, Michael “Tecka”, Chai, Faith, Woodsey, David, Kylie, Kalissa “Peach”. And her great greats Alani, Cartier and Cash.

There will be a wake on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, at the Hoopa Assembly of God Church on Tish Tang starting at 7 p.m., and the services will be held on Thursday, March 2nd, at 11 a.m., also at the Hoopa Assembly of God with Juan Armand officiating. She will be buried next to her love Fred at the Moon Cemetery on Pine Creek Road. The gathering will be at the Hoopa Trading Post following.

Pall Bearers: Leland, Darrell, Travis, Liles, Damon, Aaron, Guy, and Robert.

Honorary Pall Bearers: Danny, Larry Jordan, Nolan Begay, “E” Booth, LG McCovey, Ron Reed, Greg Trimble, Roy Ammon, Bob Borden, Huna Borden, Bobby Lee Tatum, Toby Carroll, Greg O’rourke, James Lee McCovey, Kenny Roubidoux, Kash McCovey, Inker McCovey, Kelly Burns, Terry McCovey, Aaron Kane, George Moon, Junior Moon, Clyde Moon, Mike Orcutt, Kevin Orcutt, Gabe Moon, Raymond Moon, Leonard “Super” Bibancos, Willie Hoaglen, Loren Norton, Marlon Sorrell, Tim Casey, Blaze Carpenter, Willy Masten, and Rod Johnson.

Please know that she loved everyone, and if we forgot your name, it was not intentional.

We have a special thank you to Heather Mace for all the love, care, and the laughs that you gave mom on your weekly visits. Thank you to Susan Walsh for all the years of helping Mom with her health care.

Arrangements are under Paul’s Chapel in Arcata.

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