Sharon Wesley

Tahyepum, Sharon Marie Wesley of Wapato, WA followed the great law of the land and went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator, Tamanwithla, November 10, 2015. She was born October 12, 1955 in Yakima, WA to the late Robert H. Wesley and the late Esther L. Skahan-George. She reached the beautiful golden age of 60. Sharon was well known for her loving, caring, crazy, happy go lucky personality. She was a food gatherer of the traditional roots and berries of the Yakama people. She was a renowned Master Basket Weaver and her work has been recognized all around the world. Her teaching of basket weaving was passed down to her from her mother, atwai Esther. Over the course of 30 years, through Tahyepum, her mothers' teaching reached thousands of people from all walks of life. Two of her proudest accomplishments as a teacher is when she taught classes at Camp Chapparal and a course, May of 2014, at Stone Bear Village in the Tahoe National Park in California. She was a traveling soul. Her travels took her throughout all of Indian Country. In most recent years, she spent a lot of time traveling up and down the Pacific coastline, specifically venturing in Quinault country. Yet, her heart belonged to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. She had a great love for EVERYONE!!! Especially her alas, all her grammys and of course her puppy Mr. Tippy Piggy Pie. She attended school in many places. Indian boarding schools in Chilacco and Ft. Sill both located in Okalahoma and Chemawa in Oregon. She obtained her GED at the Central Washington State University in Ellensburg, WA. Then, she continued to further her education and completed her program at the Trend Business College in Yakima, WA, Next, she attended classes at the Yakima Valley Community College. Later she studied Medical Terminology with a program through People for People. She held numerous jobs throughout her lifetime; many years with various programs for the Yakama Nation including fire management as a fight fighter, Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic and Hanford. Her employment even took her as far as Dutch Harbor, Alaska working in the fishing industry. Her latest place of employment was at the Alan Brothers Inc. in Naches, WA. She was very fortunate to have lived a fulfilling life and making many friends throughout her lifetime and having a hand in raising her two ala's. She is survived by her two sons; Sahtanus Columcus (Chantel Peters, grandbabies: Evangeline and Sahtanus Jr) and Elijah Columcus. Sisters: Gwenn George of Warm Springs, OR, Gail Mosney of Toppenish, WA Georgianna Frank (Joe) of White Swan, WA, Geena George (Nikki Root) of Wapato, WA. Brothers: Andy George Jr (Muriel) of Goldendale, WA, Richard George (Anita) of Wapato, WA, Gerald George of Wapato, WA, and Scott George (Victoria Napolean) of Toppenish, WA. She also had numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, & friends. She was preceded in death by her mother Esther Skahan-George, father Robert Wesley, brothers Willard 'Geezil' George, Earl 'Gooey' George, Wendell Guy John George, Robert 'Dink' George, and sisters Carol Jean George, and Althea Wesley and her daughter-in-law, Deeanna Morrel-Columcus. Dressing services will be held Thursday, November 12th at the Toppenish Longhouse at 1:00 pm. Further arrangements are to be announced after the dressing. However, she will be laid to rest next to her father in the Yesmowit Cemetary in Medicine Valley. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sharon Wesley, please visit our flower store.