Dwayne Clyde Ferris

Dwayne Clyde Ferris
May 2, 1945 – April 12, 2020

Dwayne Clyde Ferris 74, went to continue his spiritual journey on April 12, 2020 after a lengthy battle with Leukemia. Dwayne was raised by his parents the late Wilfred Ferris, Sr. and Zona Drake-Ferris in Orleans. Fifty years ago, Dwayne married the love of his life ,Patricia Marshall, and together they raised five children. He was a proud member of the Karuk Tribe.

Dwayne leaves behind his beloved wife of 50 years, Patricia Marshall-Ferris, his daughters Kimberly and Haily Chiokai, Dana and Kevin Lane, Poppy Ferris, Trisha and Adam Trimble and his son Richard Bradberry, his grandchildren Hillery Dodge and Sergio Martinez, William & Coho Chiokai, Michelle and Natasha Bradberry, Pateisha and Talbert Alvarado, Deja George, Evelyn George, and Merv “Son” George III, Dayton and Ishpuk Trimble, Dwayne Hawk Lane (Taylor), Traci Lane (Jamie), Jacob , Katrina, and Kevin Lane III; great-grandchildren Jessalyn and Lillian Martinez, Gigi and Penelope Alvarado, Ulyis Duke George, his mother Zona Ferris, sisters Elaine and Lester Stevens, Sandra Ferris; aunts Betty Baycock, Shirley Bates, Ella Benedict, Beverly Drake; and his uncle Dave Drake.

Dwayne is proceeded in death by his father Wilfred Ferris, Sr., his grandparents Dave and Lonnie Drake, Ike and Dora Ferris, Uncles Clifford, Lesly Ferris, Aunts Ethel Star, Helen Beck, Dorothy Jordan, Lavern Glaze, his brothers Dale and Sonny Ferris, sister Noreen Ferris, William and Thelma Marshall, Grandson Travis Chiokai, Tommy Williams, Fred Valdez, Maylon Marshall, Stephanie and Julie Ferris.

Dwayne attended Hoopa High School and graduated from Del Norte High. He then moved to Los Angeles with his aunt and attended vocational school to become a heavy equipment operator. From there he went to San Francisco with his friends Vic and Bart Starritt to attend welding school where he worked as a welder. He later moved home and worked in the woods as a heavy equipment operator/cat skinner, and he fell trees with his father Wilfred and his father-in-law, William Marshall. He constructed many roads in Humboldt County and made many friends along the way.

Dwayne was a true mountain man. He was raised in the mountains along the Klamath River. He grew up hunting the back country with his father Wilfred, Sr., his Uncles Cliff and Leslie, and Grandfather Ike. Much of their time was spent in the Salmon Summit area where the Ferris camp is located. He cherished the spiritual mountain Indian Rocks and hunted the grounds for decades. His Grandfather Ike raised cattle near Indian Rocks and built the historic cabin known as “The Ferris Cabin.” Dwayne and his brothers Sonny and Dale grew up hiking the back country, fishing the lakes and expanding their hunting grounds. Dwayne always had a gold pan in whatever truck he drove. He loved panning for gold and high bank mining and was able to make many rings with the nuggets he mined.

Dwayne met his wife Patricia Marshall, a descendant of the Hupa People, and together they had five children. Patricia was raised in the mountains of the Trinity Summit where her family raised cattle, fished and hunted the grounds. Together Dwayne and Patricia joined their knowledge of the mountains and eventually became ceremonial dance leaders for the Karuk Tribe. Those who knew Dwayne found him to be very knowledgeable and people found themselves flocking to him to learn skills that came natural to him. Dwayne was an artist by nature and could make anything he put his mind to. He carved beautiful elk horn purses and spoons, finished Jump Dance Baskets, repaired regalia for museums and families and did the work out of the kindness of his heart. He carved and polished stunning abalone pieces and loved to design items that were unique for the dresses his wife made. Together they created a large collection of ceremonial dresses, necklaces, baskets, men’s dance skirts, and brought back the traditional wolf head blind. Dwayne was called upon by many in the dance community to teach them his skills or make new regalia for the Karuk and Hupa. He made his grandchildren their own necklaces, scratchers for the flower dancers, and men’s dance sticks for the Flower Dances. He danced and sang in all his granddaughters Flower Dances and helped prepare the items necessary to make the ceremonies happen. He passed his knowledge onto his children, grandchildren and family in the construction of soap stone pipes when it came time for them to take high mountain training. He was always there for everyone to go to when something needed to be made or fixed or learned. He always encouraged everyone to learn. He was the man everyone could count on because he always knew the answer. Dwayne spent the last 26 years with his wife at his side as Fire Owners for the Karuk Mountain Dance. He built the road into the historic dance village with his caterpillar so vehicles could reach the site. He built a water system so the dance families would have running water in their camps and taught the young boys who grew up in camp many of his skills. He and his wife along with David and Jane Tripp, Terri Supahan, Deanna and Jim Rose, and Richie and Cathy McClellan, his late aunt Lavern Glaze took great pride in bringing back the Karuk Jump Dance when it had been taken away for 99 years by foreign goldminers.

Dwayne built his own sled boat and loved taking his family in the canyons along the Klamath and Trinity rivers to fish and camp. He taught himself how to construct metal knives with deer and elk horn handles inlaid with abalone which he would give out as gifts to his family. He and his wife always grew large vegetable gardens, made homemade applesauce and canned the fresh foods for their children to eat. He and his wife had many horses and pack mules and built a special hunting camp several miles in the wilderness of the Trinity Summit where his family and friends would stay during the summer months and hunting season. He would pack his mules with sawbucks and tie them together to pack ice chests full of food and camping gear to what he named, “Pat’s Camp.” Dwayne will be remembered for his desire to do as much as he could while he was here on earth. He was not a man that took his time here for granted. He was in constant learning and teaching mode while he was on this physical earth. His ability to lead, will surely be missed by many.

A special thank you to those who have helped our family along the way. We could not have done it without all of you; Dr. Eva Smith for being there at every moment we needed you, UC Davis – Dr. Brian Jonas for never giving up, Stanford Medical- Dr. Gabriel Noah Mannis for leading the way, Eureka Oncology - Dr. Kahn for working as a team player, St. Joseph Hospital – Dr. Rai for fighting as hard as you knew how, William Chiokai for being our driver and rock, Darren Rose for all the hospitality while away from home, Eureka Oncology for all the girls, especially Cassandra and Becky for always going the extra mile, Eureka Ambulatory Infusion Center – Vicki and all her staff, Evergreen host Jeanette for making life easier and K’ima:w Medical Center staff for their support.

Pall Bearers: Rick Bradberry, William Chiokai, Merv George, III, Adam Trimble, Talbert Alvarado, Dayton Trimble, Kevin Lane, Dwayne Hawk Lane, Haily and Coho Chiokai, Ishpuk Trimble, and Duke George, Tuekwe Ferris-Hunsucker, Jacob and Kevin III, Lane, Murphy Green, and Uncle Dave Drake.

Honorary Pall Bearers: Josh and Ben Saxon, Michael and Ulysses and McLaughlin, Jimmy Campbell, Trever and Marques Super, CC Croy, David Tripp, Terry Supahan, David and Emilio Trip, Phil Albers, Terry Supahan, Bruce Avela, Richie McClellan, Beau Donahue, Stanley and Raymond Ferris, Tony and Tiger O’rourke, Joe Hostler, Darren Rose, Perry Lincoln, Marty and Waylon Young, Gene Bodine, David Motta, Leaf Hillman, Everette “Tweet” Colegrove, Everette “Muss” Colegrove, Tony Risling, Tyke Robbins, Dakota and Andrew Green, Lincoln Ammon, Randy Dodge, Clay Ramone, David Masten, Joe Lemieux, Vic Starrett, Victor Knight, Sergio Martinez, Darin Jarnaghan, Jason Jones, Wayne King, Loren Norton, Wes Crawford, Richard Myers, Wilfred “Beez” Ferris, Philip Williams, Hector and Hector Natt, Jr., John John Robbins, Lester Stevens, Tommy Farnum, Alme Allen, Jesse McCovey, Ronnie Sanderson, Hawk White, Pete, Dale and Frank Lara, Virgil Moorehead, Dayton Moorehead, Roger Sanderson, Levi Tripp, Clearance Hostler, Paul Van Maclin, Mike Hostler, John Marshall, Leo Carpenter, David Super, and Kevin Wilder. Our deepest apologize if we left your name out.

Dwayne will be laid to rest in the Marshall family cemetery in Hoopa on Friday, April 17, 2020. The Ferris family will hold a private ceremony and have a memorial at a later time.