On July 22, 2026, Marilyn Irene Nelson of Hoopa passed away to the other side. Born on October 6, 1939 in Eureka, Marilyn was a Hoopa tribal member from the villages of Ta’k’imił-ding and Me’dil-ding. She was also of Yurok descent, from the village of Er-ler-gr and also from the Bluff Creek area.

Apart from a brief stint in Oakland during the Second World War, when her parents worked in the shipyards, as well as seasons spent with her grandparents in Blue Lake, Marilyn grew up in Hoopa, a place she would always return to. In the intervening years she lived in a variety of places, such as; Pomona, California; Eagle Point, Oregon; Poplar, Wisconsin; Duluth, Minnesota; and Yuma and Mesa, Arizona. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada raising her children. In 1976 while working as a nursing assistant in Duluth, she made the acquaintance of Anna Larsen, a survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster and was her private caretaker until her death the following year.

In 1980, she graduated from YUHS District School of Practical Nursing and began working in that capacity full time. She worked at Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix and at Sunset Convalescent Home in Eureka, among other places. In 1992, she finally relocated to her beloved Hoopa Valley and began working at K’ima:w Medical Center where she would stay for over 20 years until her retirement. In her final eight years she was cared for at home by her daughter, Janice Jones, and her partner, Harold Myers.

Marilyn was the daughter of Byron Nelson Sr. and Mildred Thomsen, as well as the granddaughter of George William Nelson, Ada Strothers, Chris Thomsen, and Irene Beaver. She was preceded in death by them as well as her brothers Byron Nelson Jr. and Ronald Nelson.

She is survived by her brother Gary Nelson; her children Ronie Dodge, Randy Dodge, Rick Dodge (Jodell), Darin Marshall Sr., Janice Jones (Harold), and Kimberly Dodge; her grandchildren Hillery Dodge, Ricky Dodge, Ricquell Dodge, Darin Marshall Jr., Ryan Jones, Jalen Jones, Jane’a Leonardi, and Savannah Hardiman; and her great grandchildren Jessalyn Martinez, Lillian Martinez, Kylee Leonardi, Kinley Leonardi, Paul Leonardi, Gianni Leonardi, and Brandon Cox.

A graveside service will be held on August 14 at the Hoopa Tribal Cemetery; immediately afterward a Celebration of Life will be held at the Hoopa Trading Post.

Books, music, dogs and family. These are all things Marilyn loved. For those who knew her, she will always be remembered for her sharp sense of humor, aptitude for fun spontaneity, and unparalleled adoration for her family. Her spirit has gone to join those of her mothers and fathers before her; the world is all the better for her having been in it.

Please contact Louisa-Weezie Jones at 530-784-7553 if you would like to contribute food or flowers for the celebration.

###

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