Arlene M. Williams, 79, a resident of the Upper Skagit Indian Reservation in Sedro-Woolley, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
Arlene was born on January 21, 1929 at Tulalip, Washington, the daughter of Arthur& Sarah English Heck. She was raised and attended school in Oakville & Tulalip until moving to Salem, Oregon where she attended the Chemawa Indian Boarding School.
In 1947 she married Sherman Williams, Sr. in Montasano, WA and they lived in the Aberdeen & Queets, Washington until moving to Sedro-Woolley in the early 1960’s.
Arlene had a knack and a talent for weaving things out of cedar. She made marvelous shawls, hats, mats and baskets, and had taught a class in the Indian art of basket weaving.
She was also an Elder in the Tulalip Indian Tribe and a member of the Longhouse.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Sherman & Marilyn Williams, Jr., Terry & Mary Williams, Frances & Felix Victor, Shari & Steve Spane and Lori & Ernest Revey all of Sedro-Woolley. Her sister, Darlene Charles of Queets. 19 grandchildren, Nancy, Shelly, Lynn, Francine, Mary Jo, Angela, Adriene, Lorena, Scotty, Sammy, Sherman III, John, Ricky, Guy, Lucien, Isadore III, Lawrence, Jamie and Maria. 15 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sherman, Sr. in May of 2008; a daughter, Margene Tom; a son, Arlen Williams and a sister, Imogene Joe.
Prayer services will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 6:00 PM followed by a Funeral service on Monday, September 15th at 10:00 AM at the Upper Skagit Indian Tribal Gymnasium with John Cayou & Joe McCoy officiating. Interment will follow at the Hamilton Indian Cemetery.