Ella Vina Smith

Ella Vina (Pepper) Smith was the daughter of Chester Pepper Sr. and Daisy (Alpheus) Pepper. She was born on August 31, 1925 at Ti Bar on the Klamath River. She was raised and lived on the river from childhood to the age of 15; she then moved to Santa Rosa for 40 plus years and returned to Happy Camp and Yreka for her remaining years. Vina was an elder member of the Karuk Tribe. She was a respected, fluent speaker of the Karuk language. Vina is survived by her four children, Zelda Brown of Washington, Mickey Manuel of Sebastopol, Byron Manuel of Medford, OR, and Robert Manuel of Yreka; one brother, Kenneth Pepper of Sparks, Nevada; 32 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Carlino Smith; her siblings Ruth Wingo, Robert, Chester, Mary and Benjamin Pepper; her children, Mary Mae Pepper, Alphonso and John Riate, Loretta Pinola, Vernon and Randy Manuel; and her parents. Her school years were attended at Ti Bar and Sherman Indian School in Riverside, CA. She had worked many years in the cannery business and was a loving caregiver for the elderly. Her last occupation was as a Master Speaker for the Karuk language. She had taught many tribal members the language. She was also very instrumental in working with the UC Berkeley Linguistic Department. She and other fluent speakers helped record and document many chapters of the Karuk language. Vina was an active individual of the Christian walk. She loved studying her bible and singing her church hymns. Everyone knows that she was kind-hearted. She loved to travel and visit many of her relatives and friends. She always had a helping hand for the elders, even when she became elderly. She was a very strong, independent woman that many loved, adored and respected. She will be missed by many but her love and kindness will always be remembered. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Fulton Pentecostal Church, 3380 Fulton Road, Fulton, CA. Burial will follow at the Santa Rosa Memorial Park on Shiloh Road in Windsor, CA. A reception will follow. There will be a memorial planned for later in Yreka.

Ella Vina Smith

August 31, 1925 - May 10, 2015