Yvonne Marguerite “Tootie” Inman Hudson, age 75, a resident of Hoh River since April of 1960, died July 19, at Port Angeles Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Hudson was born on April 25, 1943, in Memphis, Tennessee, to John Inman and Marguerite Law McMinds.
She was a former chairwoman of the Hoh River Indian Tribe, and served in this position during the early 1980s, the Hoh v. Baldridge era. She was a master basket weaver, taught by her grandmother, Ida Law, and her mother-in-law, Pansy Hudson. She often assisted her mother-in-law and other elders in the gathering of basket-weaving materials. She was a provider, like her husband Howard Hudson, fishing tirelessly on the Hoh River. She was one of the best ever at pole net fishing and had many 200-plus fishing days. She was also very skilled with a rod and reel. Both she and Howard taught their kids how to fish and passed along other cultural skills, gathering, etc. She loved to camp and made many harvesting trips.
She and her husband Howard spent their entire lives teaching their relatives and friends various cultural skills. They loved to pick berries and made several trips to Potato Hill to pick huckleberries, which they loved very much. They were always surrounded with kids and always supported all their relatives and friends.
Surviving relatives include a son Joseph Dean Hudson Sr. of Hoh River; brothers William E. Johnstone of Cosmopolis and Edward E. Johnstone and sister Lillian Ida Johnstone of Taholah. Her brother, Frank McMinds, preceeded her in death. Another brother, Quinault statesman, Guy R. McMinds, passed away several years ago. Her grandchildren include Alexis V. Underwood of Taholah, LaToya Jordan Hudson of Hoh River, Tahnee Jo Hudson of Hoh River, Joseph Dean Hudson Jr., Lillian Ann Marguerite Hudson and Tootie and Annette Hudson. Her great-grandchildren inlcude Eddie Rodrigues Jr., Kenia Rodrigues, Novaleigh Hudson, Neena Fisher, Amelia Fisher, Hayzin R. Underwood and Dominique Rodriguez of Taholah. Her nieces include Ancy Grover, Tootie James, Tillie McCory, Alice Johnstone, Holly Mullins, Mae Harrison, Kristi Williams and others. Nephews include Dean Johnstone, Mark Johnstone, Otto Tanner Sr., Ronald Tadios Takeal, Little Otto Tanner, Colton Tanner, Anthony Johnstone, Shawn Johnstone, Shane Bryant, Lester Fisher, Dave Hudson, Dennis Hudson and Clifford Hudson Jr. There are many surviving cousins as well as special friends, including Anna Parris, Mona and Robert Shelton, John and Bev Howard, Ted, Russell, and Aaron from Waikiki, Hawaii and Aunt Karen.
A memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, Aug.10 at the Hoh River gymnasium. It is open to the public.
