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Ethel Ruth Marshall Davis was born on June 23, 1931 in Hoopa and went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus surrounded by loved ones on August 17, 2025. Ethel left her large family and loving community with a great legacy of: faith, perseverance, strength, love, kindness, hard work, and lasting memories.

For 94 remarkable years, Ethel met life’s challenges with courage, leaving behind a legacy as a cherished mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, cousin, teacher, and friend. She grew up on the Marshall family farm, where she lovingly cared for her elders and, in the process, blossomed into the woman we all came to cherish and love.

During her 27 years working at Hoopa Elementary School, Ethel made countless lifelong friends, mentored many children, and selflessly dedicated her time and energy to fundraising for youth events and trips. Ethel was deeply proud of her service on the Hoopa Tribal Education Board and the Hoopa Recreation Committee, where she worked to create opportunities that helped shape what is now the second-longest running All-Indian annual basketball tournament in the nation. More than 40 years later, she witnessed her grandsons and other local Natives bring home the championship—an achievement not seen in over 25 years and not repeated since. That year’s jackets were purple, her favorite color, so the team honored her with one of her own, which she will wear on her journey to be reunited with her loved ones.

Ethel had a gift for turning her talents into joy for others. Her famous divinity candy (which she started making at the age of eighteen), fresh bread, and homemade pies weren’t just delicious—they helped support her family, youth fundraisers, and brought smiles to friends and neighbors. Every summer, people knew exactly where to go for the best fireworks, as Ethel proudly became one of California’s top sellers. And if her kids or grandkids were playing ball, you could count on her being in the stands, cheering them on with all her heart — sometimes even threatening to run out on the field or court with her cane if the refs missed a call.

Her love for dancing, including winning contests with the jitterbug, traveling (especially to Hawaii, Reno, and Bishop); the pride she took in her flowers, plants and the beauty of her yard; and nice cars, always bringing a great amount of spirit for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. All were some of the things that made Ethel who she was. She took a lot of pride in self care and maintaining a positive image. She loved music, especially Elvis Presley and was very proud of her dad Gilbert Marshall Sr., one of the first Hoopa Tribal Councilmembers, who played in an all Native band that traveled the country, even playing in presidential inaugurations.

Ethel was the backbone and matriarch of her large family, and a pillar of the Hoopa Community for the better part of the past 100 years. Her personality and stable spirit made it easy for any of her family or friends to lean on her during moments of need. Her smile, charismatic persona, and well-disciplined lifestyle will be deeply missed, but is now embedded into all who she knew. She now enters into rest as the eldest Hupa Tribal Member, a distinction that she was proud of.

She is survived by her sisters Eloise Marshall; Daughters Robyn Reed (Ron Sr.) and Raylyne Davis, Daughter in-law Elizabeth “Tissy” Davis; Grandchildren JJ (Stacy), Jason “Baby Boy” (Ramona), Janelle (Asa), Rony Jr.(Perla), Charley (Danielle), and Ryan Reed, Aaron Williams (Alaina), Talon Davis, Samantha Norton (Travis), Joseph and Stormie Lewis, Angela, Joe (Kayla), and Nancy Davis, Crystal Williams (Dave), Melissa “Annie Bear” Kane (Curtis), April Peters (Mike), Ronny Dean Davis Jr. (Dolli), Celestina, Rayme Lee and Jonah Davis, her nieces Cindi Marshall Sylvia and Amber Baker, Jill Sherman-Warne (Jim), Leslie Sherman-Hunt (Tim), Stevie Davis Jahrnaghan (Joe), Filomena Harvey, Nisha Blake, Mary, Sherri, Gilberta and Cindy Marshall nephew Harold Marshall, Filmore Harvey Jr., Eric Caserdarna, Duane Sherman Sr. (Kayla), Arnold Davis (Connie), great nephews and nieces are Kikya, Cody, Hazel Fletcher, Robert McBride, Josh Dillon, Phylecia, Duane Jr., and Briaunna Sherman, Barbara, Marilyn Randle; close cousin Melvin Marshall, and best friends Gloria Shuster, Joe and Elaine Aguado, Ethel Maloney, Viviana Masten and Lori Davis. Ethel also leaves behind 41 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren. And last but not least her beloved dog, Teddy Bear. Ethel raised and came from a large family so we apologize for anyone who we may have missed.

Ethel is preceded in death by her parents Gilbert Marshall Sr. and Elizabeth Montgomery, sisters Marie and Ronnie Marshall, brothers Goober Marshall and Filmore Harvey Jr., her four sons Reginald Jr. “Babe”, Rayme, Deanie, and Ricky Lee Davis, newborn baby daughter Rory, her husbands Reggie Davis Sr. and Alme Allen, brothers Gillie Marshall, Corky Blacksmith (Duane Abbot) and Filmore Harvey Sr., granddaughter Shana Davis, grandsons Anthony “Lil Tulalip” Williams, Arlen Williams, and Jordan Allen, Uncle Julious Marshall, and many more.

A service in honor of our beloved matriarch will be held on Friday, August 22, at 11 a.m. at the Hoopa Neighborhood Facilities, with Pastor Harold Jones officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Hoopa Tribal Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Hoopa Fire House.

Pall bearers will be Aaron Williams, Talon Davis, Joseph Lewis, JJ, Jason, Rony, Charley, and Ryan Reed, Jonah Davis, Joe Davis, and Ronny Dean Davis Jr.

Honorary Pall Bearers: Curtis Kane, Allen Kane, Ron Reed Sr., Jayden Reed, Mike Peters, David Williams, Asa Donahue, Harold Marshall, Melvin Marshall, Dale Risling, Carlo Miguelena, Chance Carpenter III, Arnold Davis Jr., Duane Sherman Sr., Troy Fletcher, Duane Sherman Jr., Tashone Rice, and Tyler Hunt. Harold Jones, Keoki Burbank, Bobby Perez, Chase Gatlin, Finnigan Gatlin, Joe Aguado, Earl “Babe” Moon, John “Knox” Marshall, Emil Marshall, and John Marshall of Visalia.

Ethel’s family would like to thank everyone who came to visit, her caregivers including the K’ima:w Hospital at Home Team, St. Joseph Hospital, and other family members. Grandma Ethel left a wonderful impact on many, many lives and we will always be thankful. We “love you more,” Grandma.

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