Ina Mae Wilson was 67 years old. She departed this life on February 15, 2024. She was born October 22, 1956 to Carl Wilson Sr. and Mary Wilson.

Ina grew up and was raised in Humboldt County, graduating from Eureka High School. Ina began her life teaching at Hoopa Head Start and worked in daycares and youth groups. Several years she taught children from Weitchpec, Hoopa, Eureka, Fortuna and Loleta. Everywhere she went kids would be so happy to see her, they would say there’s Teacher Ina. Ina loved teaching and sharing the Yurok language to all the kids and loved singing church songs, nursery rhymes, Indian songs and at ceremonies too. She will be missed and she liked life every day

She was a Yurok tribal member and proud of it. She was known for her beadwork, baskets and had several other talents. Ina loved taking road trips with her longtime friend Sherri Aragon, Mama Theresa and Mr. Ed to church, or running away with her niece Mary Spott just to cruise to town to go eat, go shopping or have some fun. She loved an adventure and was always down to run away especially her rides with her niece Tina who was always making her smile, laugh, or doing crazy videos.

Ina moved away and returned home eventually and found her happiness when she moved to Loleta with her brother Robert and sister Susie, enjoying Sunday family dinners, beading time with all the nieces or going to yard sales with Susie. Soon she found her home back in Hoopa and got to spend time with her grandson Eric and her great-grand babies. Phone calls would be about how much fun she had playing with the boys and how big they got. When Eric came to visit, she loved cooking for him and spending time with him. Soon her granddaughter came along and stole her heart. Ina had lots of friends and family which will miss her daily.

Ina was an awesome mom, grandma, aunt and friend who had a contagious laugh and smile. She gave us all the best memories. Her love for her children was endless and she enjoyed spending time with them. A forever special moment she spoke about were her times on the road to Sun Dance or powwows with her son Harold. Ceremonies held a special place in her heart and she loved learning the traditional ways. Ina started many beading groups teaching many how to bead. If there was a gathering there she was selling her jewelry, Ina was a good person inside and out and lived life in happiness and making the best moments for herself, her family and friends.

Ina was preceded in death by her parents Carl Wilson Sr. and Mary Wilson, Her daughter Marie Marshall and several brothers and sisters Samuel Peters, Tony Peters, Bill William Wilson, Kathleen Sherman, Laura Bell Doolittle, Carol Wilson, Alberta Wilson. Several nieces, nephews and cousins. Survived by her son Harold Marshall and his Children Ki-kya Marshall her three kids Cody, Hazel, and Robert. Cha-gun Marshall, Ronald Marshall, Inaya and Redriver Marshall, grandson Eric Amos and wife Kyra and their three kids Edgie, Eric and Alisa, siblings - Robert and Susie Wilson, Carl Wilson Sr and Karen Spencer, adopted son Art and many nieces and nephews. She loved all of them. She had greater love for her niece Mary who she always would call and spent many of her last days with. Thank you, Mary, for always going to Hoopa to take care of her, take her food or bring her out town to have some fun. Thank you, Kim, for always being there and getting her and to anyone that called, stopped by to visit or took her out of the house. She loved and talked about everyone in her life. As we are all already lost without her, she is now dancing in heaven with all of her loved ones.

The memorial service and potluck will be held on February 24, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the Wiyot Tribe — 1000 Wiyot Drive, Loleta.