Orville Hood

Orville George Hood was born on March 4th 1936 to George Emerson Hood and Edna Shoshoni-Gunn-Hood in Tuba City, Arizona. He is preceded in death by both parents, sister, Lorraine Madelyn Duran and brother, Don Emerson Hood. Orville is survived by one son, Richard Hood, one daughter Debra Hood-Grayley, a younger sister, Joyce Willemina Duran, his grandson, Calvin Hood and “his little cat, A.G.”

Orville married his “High School Sweetheart,” Dorothy-Squier-Cherney, with whom he has a daughter, Debra. Orville, later married June Hood, with whom, he has a son, Richard.

Orville attended Rehoboth Mission School, near Gallup, New Mexico, Wasatch Academy 9th thru 11th grades in Mt. Pleasant, Utah and he graduated from Durango High School, Durango, Colorado. Orville was an outstanding athlete in football, baseball, and track, throughout high school and he was a star basketball player.

Orville attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, and Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business. He earned his M.B.A. from Long Beach State, Long Beach, California and he studied Law on a scholarship program at U.C.L.A. Los Angeles, California.

Orville served his country in the United States Marine Corps., where he worked as an accountant. Orville was his Marine Corp. unit’s top sharpshooter. Orville also worked in the aerospace industry in Southern California until he and three other American Indians, with similar backgrounds, created an all Indian owned Bank and Financial services corporation, where he served as “treasurer.” Orville continued to serve his country throughout his career and he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of the Interior of the United States, as a financial officer, auditor and accountant until his retirement.

Orville was a member of the Southern Ute Tribe through his Mother, former tribal council member, Edna Hood, Ignacio, Colorado. Orville was also a member of the Navajo Nation through his Father, former teacher, rancher, and Navajo artist, George Hood. Orville’s Father, George Hood, also served his country by helping to create the original primer for the “Navajo Code Talkers” during WWII. Orville Hood loved his country, he loved the law and he loved fine art, which he filled his beautiful home with. He also loved animals and those who needed help, who he did help. He was multifaceted. He was intelligent, he was charismatic, he was a mover and a shaker. Some would even call him a revolutionary. He was infuriating at times, as is anyone who is human, but most of all he was loved.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday January 19, 2019 in the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Multipurpose Room in Ignacio, with burial to follow at Ouray Memorial Cemetery. Lunch will be served after the graveside.