Frank William Ames Jr. was born in Hoopa on March 13, 1957. Frank passed away peacefully in his daughter’s house, surrounded by family, on February 6, 2024, in Trinidad.

Frank was a Hoopa Tribal member with Yurok descent and lived all his life in his homelands on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. Frank Ames enjoyed playing with trucks, bikes, and marbles as a child. He was the eldest son of Frank Ames Sr. and Ruth Ames and had seven siblings. He enjoyed being in Pecwan at his grandfather Jackson Ames’s home. He loved to fish and talk about the pigs his grandpa raised.

Frank picked up a love for music at a very young age. This passion remained with him his entire life. Frank was a talented musician and played in three different bands. Franks’s first band was Rainbow Hotel, formed in high school. The second band he played in with his brother-in-law, General Lee, was New Dawn Tribe, and they toured across Indian Country, opening for bands such as Red Bone. His final band he played with was Friends with a bunch of his local buddies. Frank enjoyed playing music; when he wasn’t playing music, he was listening to music. You could not go anywhere with Frank and not hear him playing music.

Frank married Linda Ames in 1980. Frank took in Linda’s three children as his own. Frank was a devoted father and helped his children Kori, April, and Raymond “Guy” in their passion for Karate, and they traveled up and down California in their Love Machine Van. Frank enjoyed children and doted on his kids. When his grandchildren were born, Frank helped raise them. He loved to watch cartoons and sit around and eat cereal with them. Frank raised his three children and his grandsons, Jakob Sanderson, David Sanderson, and Ricky Sanderson. His greatest joy was to be with these boys and all his grandkids.

Frank is preceded in death by his wife, Linda Ames; his parents, Frank and Ruth Ames; his brothers, David and Timothy Ames; his sisters Diana Pilgrim, Alberta Jackson, and Caroline Lowry, nephews Michael Ames, Robert Lee, and Wyatt Lowry; niece Arli Lowry and grandson Jakob Sanderson.

Frank is survived by his sisters Linda Lee and Debra (Rob) Ulibarri his children Kori Rakestraw, April Nix (Sonnie), Guy Baldy (Meagen), and grandchildren Gary Baldy (Tausha), Alberta Nix (Harley), Keesha Kress, Robert Baldy, Emily Baldy (Tommy), Antonio Correa, Raymond Baldy, Riley Baldy, Santiago Moon, Kateara Jarnaghan (Darin), David Sanderson (Courtney), Ricky Sanderson, Lori Ann Sanderson (Aaron), and Hunter Sanderson, his nieces Carolyn Lee, Stacy and Raven Ulibarri, Roberta Jackson, Jacklyn (KG), Pam (Lisa), Carrie “Shells,” Naomi, Autumn, and TekWes Ames, his nephews Robert Lee, Brandon Lara, Loren Colegrove, Robert and Jody Jackson, Jess and Chet Lowry, James Rickaby III, and his Godchildren Nena and Penny Hames Frank is survived by numerous cousins, great-nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

Services for Frank will be held at the Hoopa Assembly of God at 11:00 am, with burial at Jackson Cemetery and reception at Hoopa Trading Post on Monday, February 12, 2024.

Pallbearers: David Sanderson, Ricky Sanderson, Hunter Sanderson, Gary Baldy, Sonnie Nix, Robert Baldy, Antonio Correa, Raymond Baldy, Riley Baldy, Santiago Moon, Robert Lee, Brandon Lara, Darin Jarnaghan Jr, Thomas Kelley, Aaron Mix-McKown, Harley Crum.

Honorary Pallbearers: David Breakman, Loren Colegrove, Robert Jackson, Jody Jackson, Robert Ulibarri, Jess Lowry, Chet Lowry, Allen Lowry, James Rickaby, Ryan Ames, Jessie Bain, Kaydon Matilton, Cam Matilton, Eugene Masten, Stanley Ferris Jr, Arden McCovey, Charles McCovey I, Gordon McCovey, Inker McCovey, Mike McCovey Mike Gabe, Dominic Obie, Richard Blake, Jack Jackson, Patrick Jackson,Chuck Hames, Pete White

Please forgive us if we forgot anyone. Frank loved so many of his friends and family.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Frank Ames Jr.’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.