Neah Bay Elder

[peter webster]

Y'all know about Grandma Isabell?


Isabell Ides


                                                 Nov. 13, 1899 - June 20, 2001
                                                 Surrounded by family,
Isabell Ides, a lifetime resident of Neah Bay and the
                                                 last member of the Makah
Indian Tribe born in the 19th century died at 101.

                                                 She was the daughter of
Jesse and Mary (Napoleon) Allabush.

                                                 She attended schools in
Neah Bay, Tacoma and Bremerton, where she learned to
                                                 speak English.

                                                 On July 17, 1917, she
married Harold J. Ides in Neah Bay. In 1978, she and
                                                 her husband were honored
as grand marshals of the Makah Days parade. Her
                                                 63-year marriage ended
with the death of her husband in February 1980.

                                                 She was one of four
sisters renowned, from the 1920s, in the art of basket
                                                 weaving. She also taught
weaving in the elementary and high schools of Neah
                                                 Bay. Mrs. Ides' own
baskets can be found all over the world.

                                                 She was also fluent in the
Makah language and worked to make sure the
                                                 language was recorded and
taught in the proper manner at both the school and
                                                 museum in Neah Bay.

                                                 In addition to being a
respected storyteller, she was instrumental in the
                                                 identification of the
world-famous Ozette artifacts, now on display at the
                                                 Makah Cultural and
Research Center at Neah Bay.

                                                 Despite decades of
technological change - she lived long enough to see
                                                 transportation from her
home to Seattle go from canoes to motorized vehicles
                                                 on freeways, bridges and
ferries - she worked diligently to preserve the
                                                 culture of her tribe.

                                                 Mrs. Ides was a true
ambassador of the Makah. Through the years, she met
                                                 thousands of people at her
home on Tsoo-yes beach.

                                                 She received an honorary
high school diploma in recognition of her ability
                                                 to speak, write and
project history

                                                 In November 2000, a
potlatch was held to celebrate her 101st birthday.

                                                 Mrs. Ides was a member of
the Assembly of God Church and, for 45 years, she
                                                 was a Sunday school
teacher. She attributed her longevity to a strong
                                                 Christian faith, and
praying and singing into her last days.

                                                 Throughout her life, she
retained the trademark grace and humor that
                                                 endeared her to the entire
community. Teacher, leader, mother, grandmother,
                                                 prayer warrior... words or
labels cannot fully capture the century of her
                                                 amazing life.

                                                 In addition to son Julius;
daughters Carrie Mahone, Doris Secor, Mattie
                                                 McClintic, Mabel Smith and
Genevieve Ides; and sister Ruth Claplanhoo, all
                                                 of Neah Bay, Mrs. Ides is
survived by more than 100 descendants spread
                                                 across six generations,
including 14 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren,
                                                 31
great-great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-great-grandson.

                                                 Services: Saturday, June
23, at 1 p.m., in Neah Bay High School with the
                                                 Revs. James Kallappa and
Al Brown of the Assembly of God Church officiating.
                                                 Burial will be in Neah Bay
Cemetery, Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel, Port
                                                 Angeles, is in charge of
arrangements.

                                                 Memorials: Cards may be
sent to the family do Mabel Smith, P0. Box 63,
                                                 Neah Bay, WA 98357.

peter