Ellen Marie Arquette Swan, Lu’mux̱

Ellen was born on October 30, 1952 to Catherine Goudy Arquette and Willard Arquette.

She leaves behind husband John Jerry Swan (whom she met at the “Totem Pole” in Medicine Valley) and children (Jason, Jarod, Julia, Janine and Jordan), along with numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Also left behind are two sisters of Ellen’s, Bobbie and Tina.

Ellen will be reunite with her parents and siblings Betty, Tim and Vicki.

Lu’mux̱ “Ellen” was an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation and raised on both the Washat and Shaker faith. She grew up in White Swan, Washington where she attended school. She also attended college at the University of Washington. Ellen also took numerous classes for first responders and classes for emergency medical technicians.

Early on in White Swan Elementary, Ellen dropped out. At the age of five, in White Swan Elementary, her first lunch had peas.Her teacher told her to finish all her meal, including peas, in order to go out to recess. However, instead of finishing the peas, she decided to leave school and walk home down Signal Peak Road. Her dad, Willard, told her, “You do not have to go back to school.” She took a year off and continued school the following year.

Ellen would switch careers throughout her lifetime; a referee for her younger siblings, a clerk at numerous stores, a fry bread cook, a paper route delivery driver, and lastly a dispatcher, EMT and manager.

Ellen worked for the ambulance/health clinic since the late 1980s where she eventually retired as the White Swan Ambulance Program Manager. Ellen had numerous stories of ambulance rides and even helped a lady give birth to a baby in a parking lot while in the ambulance.

Ellen was heavily involved in her community. She was the leader on the White Swan community dinner that was held at the White Swan school gym, usually around Christmas. She was also asked to be the Grand Marshall for the White Swan Community Day Parade.

Ellen will be reunited with her Atwai sister, Kathe Ann Eneas. Together Ellen and Kathe would explore and be mischievous.The two knew every inch of the Wapato Movie Theater, from the front entrance to the back of the movie screen. They always said, “We didn’t make it to the screening room, darn!” Now Ellen and Kathe are rejoined for more adventures.

Ellen was a huge Beatles fan and she saw Paul McCartney in concert. She also enjoyed music from Tom Petty, watching the Seattle Seahawks, watching YouTube with her magnifying glass, and making traditional regalia for family and friends. She also considered herself a hippy, which lead her to helping people and the environment.

Ellen was a traditional food/medicine gatherer and instilled the traditional way of life in her family and friends. She also helped her husband, JJ, hunt deer and elk on the Yakama Reservation, and their niece Valori would be the little sidekick.

There will always be an open seat at her favorite machine at Legends Casino waiting for her.

The family wants to give special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Harborview Medical Center for their care, Darlene Sam and Susie Black for the Shaker Prayer Service, and her family for being by her side.

She will be greatly missed by all that really knew her.

May the Force be with you, always.

Honorary Pall Bearers

Atwice Kamiakun

Randy Settler

Pat Goudy Sr.

Marcella Settler

Jesse Goudy

Franky Kiona

Anna Goudy

Jan Lewis

Linda Pratt

Carol Lucei

Marion Jim