MARCH
smok
15, 2025
1Naakli
21
signalz
O w. . .
Dwight Ursell Summerlin
LaDonna Terri Hembree ( Norwest)
Oct. 20, 1944-
Dec. 31, 1968-
Jan. 30, 2025
Tribal Elder Dwight Ursell Summerlin
Jan. 30, 2025, at the
on
away
age
passed
Tribal Elder
of 80 in Tum-
Dwight
the age of 56 in McMinnville,
born Oct. 20, 1944, in McMinnville,
was
by family.
childhood
He started
spent between
was
looked
being
often
were
a
six.
formed.
a
for
fondness
One the first
cars.
motors
he
ever
built
was
school with the guidance of a man named Mr. Leighton who owned a
wrecking yard. He would leave written instructions every night with the
motor
and Dwight would work
a
high school and
love of
lifelong
graduated
After graduation,
diligently completing his
building motors. Dwight
in 1964 from North Salem
Dwight proudly
Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he
During
his time in the
service,
first built
motor
worked through
High School.
the decision to serve his country
made
in the United States Air force. After completing
was
his training at Lackland
in Thailand.
serve
sent to
he learned to weld, with that skill he became
part of Strategic Air Command
well
as
Studies
as
Observation
Group.
Being a part of these groups was a great honor to Dwight.
Dwight told many stories of his time in the service and lots of
of friends he
memories
forgot. Dwight
never
II
w,
She moved
with her
i!-
vinyl records, agates and liked to bead. She
meals.
after
that sparked
Oregon.
LaDonna worked retail at Seaway Market
and The Grand Ronde Shopping Center, and
in security at Spirit Mountain Casino.
She loved to go fishing and was always
ready to go on an adventure. She collected
Throughout his schooling, he sold sketches for
nickel and worked in the kitchen to pay for his
Dwight had
RI
uated in 1991 from West Valley Academy.
after
from the young
of picking hops,
working
He told many stories
blueberries and green beans. He worked along-
side his cousins and many of his first friendships
age
of
s
and California,
— .
family from
Ketchikan to the West Valley area in 1971.
She attended Willamina schools and grad-
Alaska.
Summerlin.
Oregon
Hembree
She was born Dec. 31, 1968, in Ketchikan,
Oregon, to Emma ( Riggs) Summerlin and Ursell
Much of Dwight'
Terri
Norwest) passed away on Feb. 22, 2025, at
Washington.
water,
Feb. 22, 2025
LaDonna
happy
stationed in Guam,
was also
he enjoyed cliff diving and attempted to learn scuba diving. That
was cut short with his one close encounter with a great white shark. He
where
loved to drive up Spirit Mountain listening
to Etta James and the Eagles, reminiscing about family. She loved going
to the river and being outside in nature.
She is survived by her daughter and son- in-law, Alisa and Nick Mull of
Grand Ronde; son and daughter- in- law, Michael and Amber Rose Norwest
and sisters, Shirley
Norwest of Salem, Daniele Powley of Grand Ronde, Jackie Brown of Ben-
ton City, Washington; and three grandchildren, Kaywah Norwest, Sunny
of Gresham;
brother, Johnny Norwest of Lafayette;
Mull and Hope Mull.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Marcellus and Sharon Nor-
west; brothers, Lonnie, Robin, Marcellus Jr., Andrew, John " Big John"
Norwest
and Lyle Johnson;
and sister, Carmen
Norwest.
A viewing was held Wednesday, March 5, at Bollman' s Tribute Center
in Dallas. Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Thursday, March 6, at the
Tribal gym, followed by a gravesite service at the Tribal cemetery and a
meal at the Tribal Community Center.
said he swam the fastest he had ever had in his life back to shore and he
walked the 20
diving.
was
the end of him and scuba
endless others
in a way that would make
back to base and that
miles
Dwight told this story and
you laugh and feel as though it was just the other day.
In 1968, Dwight finished his service and honorably discharged at March
Air Force Base near Riverside, California, where he started a family with
then- wife Lenore Coffey. Together
they had three daughters, Maureen,
Tracey and Teresa. In 1977, Dwight moved to Washington state with his
family in search of more opportunities. He continued to work within the
field of welding
In December
had three
and production.
he married
1981,
more
Dwight started his
his second
Marjie Olmstead,
wife,
and
Melanie, Dwight and Matthew.
children:
career
with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremer-
ton, Washington, in the spring of 1985. During his time there Dwight had
a very fulfilling career. He had obtained a red badge security clearance and
was a crew foreman. Dwight worked on many large- scale projects often
working overtime for weeks straight. He did this with a sense of pride and
the work ethic he developed in his youth.
In 2010, Dwight retired from his career with Puget Sound Naval Ship-
yard. During his retirement, Dwight enjoyed collecting models, knives
and movies. He also spent time working intermittently on various proj-
ects and upgrades on his vehicles. Dwight was preceded in death by his
and
parents and siblings. He is survived by his children, grandchildren
his beloved dog, Jack.
Funeral Alternatives of Washington assisted the family.
Tribal Library merges with
Regional Library Service
The Tribal Library has merged with the Chemeketa Cooperative
Regional Library Service, said Tribal Librarian Kathy Cole.
Tribal members can now get books from libraries in Polk, Yamhill
and Marion counties, as well as access to many free programs.
Tribal Library patrons should visit the Tribal Library and update
their information and obtain a new Regional Library Service card.
For more information,
contact
Cole at 503- 879- 1488. •
Are you moving?
Do you need help with First, Last, and Deposit?
This program_ has limited
undin
and will be . i
first come, first served program.
Contact Social Services for more information
ELDERS
L
V
i
WITH
503) 879- 2034 or ( 800) 429- 0232
LONELINESS
IN
WHEN
ADULT
ELDERS
ASSUME
SOCIAL
MOVE
THAT
LIFE
THEY
THEY
THEIR
FAMILY
INTO
WILL
HAD
THAT
INDEPEDENTLY_
&
FOSTER
ADULT
FOSTER
CONTINUE
WHEN
THEY
FRIENDS,
THEY
WILL
TO
CAR
'-
CARE .
WE
HAVE
WERE
ssdinfo@grandronde.org
THE
LIVING
CONTINUE
PARTICIPATE
You can also email us at
IN
TO
SEE
EVENTS ,
MOVING
NEARLY
IN
40 %
ADULT
FROM
OF
FOSTER
ELDERS
CARE
DEPRESSION
LONELINESS .
LIVING
f
SUFFER
AND
0
0