Leilani Jones

Hi my name is Isabelle Jones daughter of Leilani Jones, I was living with my mom till 21 years of age but I am now going to be taking care of my youngest sister Cleora with my oldest sisters sloan and minnie while our mom Is finally free and at peace.

Leilani Noelle Jones Pole was born in Eureka at St. Joseph’s Hospital on September 13, 1975, to Edith Norton and Arthur Jones. She was a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and lived most of her life in Hoopa. Leilani was a working bee and enjoyed many jobs within the community. After high school she would start working as a tree counter for Ron Lawton in the Forks, her second job with Hoopa Tribal Forestry’s Wildlife Division on their Spotted Owl/Marbled Murrelet Crew. During these years she would start a family giving birth to Sloan, Minnie, Isabelle and later Cleora. While raising a family, she would go on to graduate from the CR Police Academy in 2003 and worked at Hoopa Tribal Police, transferring later to the Hoopa Tribal Court where she worked as a Truancy Juvenile Officer. She would then run for Tribal Council and serve as a councilmember for three terms (six years). This summer she also worked for Hoopa Tribal Fire at base camp for the fires in Willow Creek. She was presently employed and working at the Office of Emergency Services for the Hoopa Valley Tribe.

Leilani loved gathering roots and sticks for baskets and preparing the materials for making regalia and working on her Indian dress, and she loved gardening, reading and music. She attended many concerts over the years and has mourned passed singers as if they were members of the family. She was absolutely psyched to have the chance to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform in the Hoopa High gymnasium and meeting Kid Rock backstage and having her photo taken with him.

The unique spark and personality that Leilani possessed will forever be remembered. She blessed us with many happy memories that are all we have now. Therefore, they are more precious as we start to realize she is no longer with us, but we know that if she was busy here, then she is already taking notes on what needs to be done to improve what she can with that unique spark and personality that she takes with her on the journey, that she is now on. We love you, our family.

I love my Momma so much, my heart is heavy remember she’s no longer apart of my schedule I would constantly check up on my mom physicality, mentally and financially there was never a time where things were too serious. My mom was never able to handle her emotions so she would joke around to make someone feel better not only was she a mom to four beautiful girls but she raised so many people whether it was naughty kids while mom was working as Truancy Juvenile Officer. Unstable cousins who we would see time to time. Her nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters she saw the best In people even after knowing the history she never stopped loving & caring it pushed her to meet more people and to expand her family she was the glue for the family events while supporting her space with open arms and charismatic smile.

The main reason I’m raising money is to help with the last minute funeral planning and for my little sister to have a good life without her mom of course I’ll get help from family members but I don’t know any other way to ask, we will be doing our hardest to fill the role of a mother for our little sister and taking care of moms bills. While also finishing college and going to work. I know it won’t be easy that’s why I am asking for help now. I know my mom wasn’t ready and had unfinished business so I want to complete it for her so she’s really able to have peace.