Lonnie Errol Tamboury, a tribal member of the Karuk tribe, passed away peacefully on the morning of Wednesday November 1, 2023 surrounded by family at St. Joseph Hospital.

Lonnie was born November 30, 1941 in Fortuna to Luis Earl and DeEtta Tamboury the fifth out of six children. He spent most of his childhood in the small logging community of Crannell after his father went to work for Hammond Logging Company when he was 7 years old. He attended Crannell Elementary School from first through third grade and then Trinidad Elementary School from fourth through eighth grade, being one of the first students to attend the newly built school.

After attending Arcata High School he joined the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1963, serving on the USS Coral Sea. Lonnie moved back home to Humboldt County after an honorable discharge from the Navy. He followed in his fathers footsteps joining the logging industry and worked for Wayne Bare Trucking Company until he retired in 2007. As a seasoned truck driver Lonnie taught student drivers in Hoopa for College of the Redwoods and one of his favorite activities while at Wayne Bare was participating in the annual Trucker’s Christmas Parade. At the time of his retirement Lonnie was the trucker with the most seniority after being with the company for over 50 years of employment.

Lonnie enjoyed many pastime activities and could be found outdoors in every season. He loved golfing, fishing, duck and deer hunting, sprint car racing at Redwood Acres when it was a dirt track and beading Native American jewelry. He loved sharing his hobbies with the whole family.

Lonnie loved his family fiercely and unconditionally. Above all else he was a devoted husband, doting father, loving brother and the best Papa anyone could ask for. To know him was to love him. And loving him came with so many laughs.

He was preceded in death by his parents Luis and DeEtta, and siblings Bill Casper and Eleanor Acorn.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Bonnie Tamboury; sisters Lynn Cannon, Nedra Lettinich and Rosemary Casper; children Lonnie II and Leesa Tamboury; stepsons Bill (Shelly)Hammers and Larry (Cindy) Hammers; five grandkids, Alex (Sophie) Tamboury, Jorlynn (Greg) Giles, Jamila (Justin) Wilson, Stephanie (Jonathan) Frederick, Jeremy Santos and three great-grandkids.

Celebration of life will be on Sunday Nov. 5, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the McKinleyville Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1200 Central Ave., McKinleyville.

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