“Uvayu” Barton Thomas Johnson
Gambell resident, “Uvayu” Barton Thomas Johnson, age 25, passed away unexpectedly April 25, 2016 at his home in Gambell, Alaska.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Gambell School. Graveside service followed and he was laid to rest at the Gambell Cemetery.
Uvayu Barton Thomas Johnson was born April 23, 1991 to Delia “Anasuk” Oozevaseuk and Albert “Jack” Johnson in Nome, Alaska . He was born on the same day as his Great Grandmother Frances “Aukie” Johnson. She was so proud to have the best birthday gift ever.
As a child Uvayu was such a happy, helpful boy, always happy to see his relatives and friends from here, Savoonga, Nome and other places. He loved to take care of “Apa” Estelle when he visits Gambell. He loved all his relatives and friends and offered his help to all he sees that are in need of help, especially hungry children.
Uvayu enjoyed his subsistence way of life, fishing, hunting on the land and sea, providing for his family, elders and friends. On one of his most memorable bird hunting trips by bike, he found gold flakes in the gizzard of a crane and gave it to his parents. He also enjoyed providing technical support for cell phones and computers to family and friends. Uvayu was becoming a good ivory carver of seals, bears and etching on baleen. He was very generous, compassionate and giving to others, thinking more of others than himself.
During his last days here in Gambell, he was changed. He was full of joy and very loving. His face even seemed glowing with happiness and didn’t show any sadness, just full of happiness. He really showed his compassionate self to his cousins and friends that he knew and those he just met. He respected his aunts, uncles and other relatives all the time, no matter what the circumstance may be. Uvayu will be greatly missed.
Uvayu is survived by his father Albert “Jack” Johnson; his mother Delia Anasuk Oozevasuek; sisters Dawn E. Oozevaseuk and Larrisha R. Johnson; brothers Reubin Tungiyan Duane “Melngu” Johnson and Jordan L. Johnson and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins too numerous to mention.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Glen “Ngiiggutaq” Oozevaseuk and his wife Estelle “Pennapak” Oozevaseuk; paternal grandparents Allan L. Johnson, Sr. and Teresa A. Waters; uncle Bert Oozevaseuk; aunts Evangeline Tungiyan, Constance “Connie” Wilson, Francine Oozevaseuk and Patricia Bowling.
The family and extended families are very humbled and thankful to all who prayed, comforted and visited his family in Gambell and many caring, compassionate people in Nome. God will bless you all greatly in his own time. The following people of Gambell who generously donated Bering Air gold points for airfare, Mary Ungott, Prudence Campbell, Merilys Walunga, Erica Apatiki, Megan Apassingok, Jodene Oozeva, Sharla Aningayou and his cousins Howard, Kurtis, Health Aids, VPSO Deborah Apatiki, VPOs Robert Apatiki, McCormick Tungiyan, Robert Soongarook, NEST, Kawerak, Inc., Norton Sound Health Corp, Behavioral Health Services, and Edna Apatiki, Bering Air, and all others we forgot to mention. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The Family of Uvayu would like to express thanks to NSEDC, BSNC, Kawerak, Inc., NSHC, ANB, Sitnasuak, aunts, Sharon Miller in Oregon, Veronica Johnson and Carolyn Schubert of Anchorage, Boogles Johnson, uncle Richard Miller and his wife, Angela Miller, Aunt Eileen Norbert, cousins, Gina Appalloni, Mellisa Heflin, Michelle Kublack, Uncle Branson and his wife, Edythe Tungiyan. Tyler Rhodes, Dorcas Bloom, Erika Apatiki, Wendy Whitteker, James and Rachel Ventress, Sterling Gologergen, Briday Trainor, the NEST of Nome, Marsha Tobuk, Simon Kinneen, the Gambell School, Ellen Baize, Shasta Apatiki, The City of Gambell, Sivuqaq, Inc., The Native Village of Gambell, and the Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory. We would like to apologize and thanks to those we may have missed. Thank you.
Arrangements were cared for by the Anchorage Funeral Home. Please visit Uvayu’s obituary and online guestbook at www.AlaskanFuneral.com
