Yvonne Leatrice Martineau, 89, passed away April 28, 2014 at her son, Mark J. Martineau's home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She had been living with him the last 3 and half years of her life. She passed of natural causes. She was born on Moxee Ave in Yakima on New Years Day 1925, (And those that knew her all agree she had plenty of Moxie). Her parents were Joseph Ghangraw (Gingras) and Beatrice Guyette. Her heritage was of Canadian French Indian ancestry with many members of her preceding generation being French speakers. She had two older brothers Ferman and Herb Ghangraw. They both resided in Pendleton Oregon for many years until their passing. Her maternal grandmother Mary Guyette was born in Walla Walla, Washington in 1871. Yvonne's father attended the well-known Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, as well as Chemawa Indian School in Salem Oregon, as did her Mother. As a child she moved to Tacoma Washington with her family where her father found work as a longshoreman in the Port of Tacoma. Unfortunately, she was orphaned while still quite young. After her Mother succumbed to Tuberculosis, Yvonne spent most of the 1930's at the Cushman Indian Hospital/boarding School on the Puyallup Indian Reservation in Washington State. She was being treated for TB, but stated she felt well. During this time she also contracted Diphtheria and became gravely ill. Altogether, she spent seven years at Cushman starting when she was six or seven years old. Her time there was broken by one year living with an Aunt in Toppenish, Washington. For her high school years, she was sent to Chemawa Indian boarding School, returning to Toppenish in the summers to live with her aunt. She recalled that World War II was declared during her first year there. She graduated in 1943 from Chemawa and returned to Toppenish. Yvonne met her husband James Franklin Martineau, a WWII Navy veteran while working in the hospital food service in Yakima, Washington. They were married the next month on May 22, 1946.They started their married life in Yakima and later moved to Auburn, Washington where they were longtime residents. They were married 63 years until his death in September of 2009. Yvonne led a very active life raising her six children as well as taking in foster children. She was always ready to sacrifice and did; still those years were full of warmhearted memories. She was known for being a loving mother and a hard worker. She helped support her children by working as a school custodian and later for the Washington Department of Social Health Services caring for at risk families and senior citizens.

She had many wonderful and challenging experiences in this position. Yvonne was known to be very social, non-judgmental, and quick to laugh and find humor in life. She enjoyed making quilts as well as picture collages for her children and grandchildren. In later years she wrote an extensive autobiography including unique memories of the years she spent in the historic Indian Hospital and Boarding schools.

One of Yvonne's favorite activities was dancing and she was quite accomplished. She and "Jimmy" spent many of their retirement years dancing at senior centers and as members of a dance group they were invited to join. During this time Yvonne and Jimmy volunteered regularly to help entertain at nursing care facilities. She always had very fond memories recalling those happy times and dear friends. Along with dancing she loved to sing and knew diverse old songs in various genres. She might treat anyone impromptu with a short piece apropos of the moment or conversation. Yvonne enjoyed many church activities and callings as well over the years. She particularly liked being a Cub Scout Den Mother when her older boys were young. She recalled in her autobiography being very involved in supporting her husband's mission to a Native American tribe on a reservation in Washington State. She also carried warm memories of accompanying Jimmy on his home teaching assignments during their final years together, which he enjoyed as well. The final period of her married life was spend in St. George Utah where James had family. A year after her husband's death she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to live with a son.In Santa Fe, although weakened in her late eighties and at higher altitudes, Yvonne found new outside activities and challenges. She took up weeding and raking several acres of mixed forest. Her toils were broken by reading breaks under the trees wherever she chose to labor. She also found pleasure walking the family dogs backing a reserve in the Sangre De Cristo foothills. Yvonne continued being a prolific reader and world observer keeping abreast of world events and easily engaging in related conversations. She was able to indulge her love of reading, writing, and playing board and card games till the end. Yvonne was blessed to remain independent and active up till the moment of her departing, and full of optimism, encouragement, and love for those in her sphere. She was psychologically ready to pass and still found humor in the moments. In her final days, immediately after a bout of chest pain and severe shortness of breath, she readily quipped with a laugh "I feel silly acting like this". The next day she was back in routine carrying her chair to a shady tree to absorb her latest book and subject. Yvonne is and will be profoundly missed by those closest to her and beneficiaries of her unwavering commitment and affection.
She is loved deeply and eternally. Her children Theodore Joseph and Sandy Martineau, Lori Ann and David Enkerud, Joel Wayne Martineau, Mark James and Donna Nash Martineau and Melodee Yvonne Brown and 16 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren, survive her. Her husband James Franklin and her son Jean Frances predeceased her. There will be a family memorial graveside service at Tonaquint Cemetery in St. George Utah on June 27.