Darryll D. Ellenwood, 36, Spokane, WA
Darryll Dewayne Ellenwood, a member of the Nez Perce and Navajo tribes, entered into rest Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA after a long battle with cancer. He was 36.
He was born Sept. 2, 1972 in Shiprock, NM to Dewayne Kenneth Ellenwood and Annie Amy Benally Ellenwood.
Darryll Ellenwood and Shannon Jackson had a son, Lorenzo Maurice Ellenwood.
He graduated from Leigh High School in San Jose, CA. Darryll lived in San Jose and then he and his family moved back to the Nez Perce Reservation in 1992. He later spent time in Tucson, AZ and Spokane.
Darryll was a man of many trades and talents. His jobs included working for DeAtley Construction, working as a carpenter, an electrical worker, and as a customer service representative for AT&T. Darryll loved working with people and enjoyed providing friendly customer service at nighttime establishments in Tucson and Spokane.
One of Darryll’s most memorable jobs was working as a firefighter for the Nez Perce Tribe. Spending the summer fighting wildfires, representing the Nez Perce Tribe, was a job he was very proud of.
Darryll was a talented champion pow wow dancer in his youth. He was a well-known fancy dancer at pow wows in southern California and the Bay area. During the summer of 1987 Darryll traveled throughout Hong Kong, China, performing in the American Wild West Show as part of the Eagle Feather Dance Group.
Darryll also enjoyed playing basketball in high school and in tournaments like Hoopfest. Some of his hobbies included playing and watching both poker and golf, as well as spending time with his son.
He loved watching sports. He enjoyed watching college basketball, especially his favorite team, the Duke Blue Devils. His favorite professional teams included the Oakland A’s baseball team and also the Boston Celtics basketball team.
Darryll is survived by his father, Dewayne Kenneth Ellenwood; his mother, Amy Ellenwood; his precious, loving son, Lorenzo Maurice Ellenwood; his brothers, Kenneth Dewayne Ellenwood, Donald Gordon Ellenwood, Dewayne Kenneth Ellenwood Jr. and Travis Dewayne Ellenwood; and his sister, Cheryl Marie Ellenwood.
He is also survived by several nephews and nieces; many, many cousins; an uncle, Chester Lessor; many aunties; and many friends.
Preceding him in death were his paternal grandmother, Audrey Ordie Davis Lessor; his grandfather, Chet Lessor; maternal grandparents Dobie and Marie Benally; his aunt, Betty Jean Hardridge; and a sister, Catherine Alberta Ellenwood.
Darryll was a devoted father, a loving brother, son, nephew, cousin, and friend and will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22 in the Wa A Yas building in Kamiah. Funeral services will be held at the Wa A Yas Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for Darryll’s services and to assist the many traveling family members. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank.
Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is assisting the family.
