NEAH BAY — A 19-year-old man who constantly found success by just doing what he loved will be honored during a celebration of life Sunday.
Monette, a promising 2015 Neah Bay High School graduate and a sophomore at Dartmouth College, has been missing since a wave swept him away at Cape Flattery on Sunday.
The search for him was suspended Tuesday at noon, Makah Public Safety Director Jasper Bruner said.
Rachel Venske said Thursday that Monette, her nephew, will be remembered for his love of the Makah culture, family and friends during the ceremony of life at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Makah Community Gym, 1394 Bayview Ave., Neah Bay.
“He didn’t go out trying to be in any limelight; he just did what he loved to do,” Venske said. “He was humble.”
When Monette sang the Appreciation Song in front of Gov. Jay Inslee last week, Venske said she was brought to tears.
Venske said Monette had a powerful singing voice and felt the words he was singing.
He was the lead singer as the state Senate honored the athletic and scholastic feats of the Neah Bay Red Devils, who this season won their third state football title in three years.
“I can still hear Joshua’s deep, powerful voice filling the state reception room as those who weren’t already familiar with his talents marveled at his delivery,” said state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim. “I’m still marveling.”
Monette was a linebacker on the Red Devils’ state championship football teams in 2013 and 2014. He was class historian of his graduating class and was “being groomed for a long and vital future representing his tribe,” Van De Wege said.
As a Neah Bay Middle School student, he qualified for the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships two years in a row.
He also was a tribal carving apprentice in high school and took part in the annual Canoe Journey.
Monette wanted to leave a lasting impact on the tribe.
He had made it a goal to teach his family the Makah language.
He had taken classes and talked to tribal members who knew the language so he could carry on the tradition.
“He wanted to reach out and have his impact reach out at least 100 years,” Venske said.
By passing down the language to younger family members, Monette was going to make sure the language continued to survive, she said.
He had been teaching it to his younger sisters “from the moment they were looking at him” and had wanted to teach his newest nephew the language as well.
“His goal, what he really wanted to do, was see all of us speaking the language,” Venske said.
Monette was big on family, Venske said. He would make sure everyone in his family knew he loved them, he said.
“He would let us all know and give us a hug every time,” she said. “He loved all of his family, and we have a very big family.”
Venske said her entire family couldn’t be more thankful to those who helped search for Monette after he was taken by the wave.
“That is something that was overwhelming and so touching to [his mother] and the rest of the family,” she said. “I don’t think we can say thank you enough to the folks that did that.”
Bruner said Monette was with a cousin of about the same age at the time the wave hit him. The cousin was farther from the water than Monette.
“There were some pretty big waves that day coming through,” Bruner said.
When Monette was pulled into the ocean, the cousin yelled to nearby hikers on the Cape Flattery Trail who tried calling emergency personnel on a cellphone but could not get reception, Bruner said.
He said the hiker had to drive into the village of Neah Bay for assistance. Cape Flattery is almost 8 miles away.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb contributed to this report.
