Ulak Hope Jr.

1955 - 2015

Ulak "Homeboy" Hope, Jr. was born in Beaver to Ellen and Ulak Hope on May 2, 1955.
Homeboy was easy going and never hurt or spoke bad about anyone. He was comical, humorous, always smiling and had nicknames for everyone: Nellie baby, Birdie in the trees, Moose island Jenny, Down river girl, Home girl, School girl, Baby love, Old Chief, Rampart baby girl, Betty's baby girl, Girly, Hey girl, Down river Indian friend, Old battle ax, God brother, just to name a few.
He lived in Beaver, where he loved to hunt and travel throughout the Yukon Flats.
Many family and friends will miss him throughout the region, and have been posting wonderful memories of Homeboy:  
"He use to walk around in the woods with just a spear." 
"A little man that was a giant … A giant heart, a nice giant man's hand shake, a real tuff little giant he was, and with a giant smile for everyone he met … sure will miss seeing your smiling face around Homeboy whenever I go home, may you rest in peace my friend." 
"Will definitely miss Arluk …he was an awesome, fun-loving guy. He use to come down to Rampart a lot when we were younger, when Auntie Elsie was at fish camp. When I would run into him in Fairbanks he always called me "Rampart baby girl" or "Betty's baby girl ... sure going to miss his happy face."
"Dang so sad to see. He always was a happy guy! U will be missed buddy."
"RIP Homeboy or as my baby called him Little man." 
"Rest in peace Homeboy, always a smiling face and kind hello."
"There was a morning this summer when a bus load of tourists had stopped and visited. As the 70 Saskatchewans or Scandinavians or somebodys were leaving the Church, getting ready to board their bus, his friend happened to be walking by, smiling. Smiling he stood there greeting them as they left. 'Thank you,' this smiling short figure eyes smiling kept saying, shaking their hands, 'Thank you for stopping to visit OUR Church. Oh HO, Oh HO.' (Note the 'Our'.) They loved it; and smiled back in return. (Because that's the way smiles and friendliness work). And some of us watching rolled our eyes and some of us watching just smiled. He has every sense that his friend now is smiling and shaking hands in That Country of Light, while small pockets of us here sit in the darkening evening smiling and remembering. No one ever ever ever ever heard him say an unkind word about anyone. Ever. And that is not a bad Legacy to leave."
"May your travels in the afterlife always be adventurous with a never ending supply of 'chew.'"
Ulak is the beloved son of Ulak and Ellen Hope (both deceased); brother of Annie Brittan (deceased), James Hope, Judy Leavitt, Mildred Spruell, Samuel Hope, David Hope, Gerald Hope (deceased) and Thomas Mott (deceased); uncle of Gregory and Rochelle Hope, Darlene Leavitt and Bunna Aveoganna, Sheila and Ralph Burke, Ambrose Leavitt Jr., Eluktoona Leavitt, Robert Dale Leavitt, Ambrosia E. Leavitt, and godfather of James Wade Jr.
A spaghetti fundraiser is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., today, Aug. 27, at the Tribal Hall, followed by a potluck at 5 p.m. in the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church Parrish Hall. Donations accepted and appreciated.
Services will be held with visitation at 11 a.m. and service at noon Friday, Aug. 28, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Fairbanks.
Visitation, service and final resting place will be on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Beaver with a potlatch to follow.
Please visit www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer to sign an online guest book.