ELWHA ELDER HONORED ON 92ND BIRTHDAY

ELWHA — “Happy Birthday, Grandma Hazel,” read the black lettering on the bright yellow poster Sunday.

With 11 children, 33 grandchildren, 84 great-grandchildren, nearly 40 great-great-grandchildren and as the oldest member of all three Klallam bands, Hazel Sampson seems to be everyone’s grandmother.

Known to everyone as Grandma or Auntie Hazel, Sampson turned 92 on Sunday, as she joined well-wishers celebrating her birthday. With prayers, songs and a lot of clams, more than 200 of Sampson’s friends and family members gathered at the Lower Elwha Tribal Center yesterday afternoon to honor her.

“She’s a grand lady,” said Howaltid, who uses only one name. Howaltid sang three traditional Klallam songs in Klallam, while playing a traditional drum. “I’d do anything for her,” he said. “That last song was a song of victory and 92 years is a real victory.”

Sampson, a Jamestown tribal member, smiled through the party. She didn’t want to talk, but was enjoying herself, holding one of her great-great-grandchildren.

“Usually she doesn’t like much of a fest,” granddaughter Diane Turrey said. But today was fine and Sampson was smiling as she listened to her children and grandchildren talk of her, their memories and growing up.

“They’ve all been telling stories and Grandma was sitting listening finding out what she hadn’t known,” Turrey said.

“Remember when we used to sneak out and push the truck down the road,” one of Sampson’s sons said, starting a new round of laughter and stories.

The last time the family and friends gathered in this large a group was in 1995, on Sampson’s wedding anniversary after 67 years of marriage to Ed Sampson, a logger and a fisherman. Ed Sampson died the same year, making his wife the oldest living member of the tribe.

Sampson always worked to pass on the history and the tradition of the Klallam. At her age she has a connection to the tradition of the tribe that she has tried to pass to the younger generations.

———————

The rest of this story appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

More in News

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office uses this armored vehicle, which is mine-resistant and ambush protected. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
OPNET to buy armored vehicle

Purchase to help with various situations

Lincoln High School students Azrael Harvey, left, and Tara Coville prepare dressing that will be part of 80 Thanksgiving dinners made from scratch and sold by the Salish Sea Hospitality and Ecotourism program. All meal preparation had to be finished by today, when people will pick up the grab-and-go meals they ordered for Thursday’s holiday. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Students at Wildcat Cafe prepare Thanksgiving dinners

Lincoln High School efforts create 80 meals ready to eat

D
Peninsula Home Fund celebrates 35 years

New partnership will focus on grants to nonprofits

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive just each of the intersection with Hill Street on Monday. City of Port Angeles crews responded and restored power quickly. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Downed trees

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive… Continue reading

Photographers John Gussman, left, and Becky Stinnett contributed their work to Clallam Transit System’s four wrapped buses that feature wildlife and landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. The project was created to promote tourism and celebrate the beauty of the area. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Iconic Peninsula images wrap Clallam Transit buses

Photographers’ scenes encompass community pride

Housing identified as a top priority

Childcare infrastructure another Clallam concern

Giant ornaments will be lit during the Festival of Trees opening ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday. (Olympic Medical Center Foundation)
Opening ceremony set for Festival of Trees

‘White Christmas’ to be performed in English, S’Klallam

Olympia oyster project receives more funding

Discovery Bay substrate to receive more shells

Code Enforcement Officer Derek Miller, left, watches Detective Trevor Dropp operate a DJI Matrice 30T drone  outside the Port Angeles Police Department. (Port Angeles Police Department)
Drones serve as multi-purpose tools for law enforcement

Agencies use equipment for many tasks, including search and rescue

Sequim Heritage House was built from 1922-24 by Angus Hay, former owner of the Sequim Press, and the home has had five owners in its 100 years of existence. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim’s Heritage House celebrates centennial

Owner hosts open house with family, friends

Haller Foundation awards $350K in grants

More than 50 groups recently received funding from a… Continue reading

Operations scheduled at Bentinck range this week

The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be… Continue reading