Obituary - Martin Noel Goenett

Tuesday, December 05, 2006
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Juneau resident Martin "Snooky/Marty" Noel Goenett died Nov. 29, 2006, in Juneau with family members by his side. He was 67.

He was born on Jan. 6, 1939, in Juneau, to the late James Goenett Sr. and Josephine Clark. His Tlingit name was X'ajoosa', Kagwaanton, L'ooknax.a'di ya'di (Sitka Box House). He was very proud of his Tlingit heritage.

He served in two branches of the U.S. military, the Army and Navy, for more than 10 years. In 2002, he returned to Juneau, where he worked for the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaskan Proud (Foodland) for several years, after working as manager at various motels in California and being gone from Alaska for about 50 years.

Family members said he had many traditional talents. He spent many hours researching his family tree, Tlingit culture and traditions. He enjoyed talking, visiting and sharing the culture with elders, friends and family. He was involved in many of the Native activities for ANB.

Martin was a member of ANB Camp No. 2 as a camp council officer; a shareholder of Goldbelt Inc. and Sealaska Corp. and a member of the Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.

He is survived by his children, Martin Noel Goenett Jr., and his wife, Sonny, Jerry Goenett, Joan Guerra and her husband, John, Genevieve Lopez, Joe Pasillas and his wife, Marcy, and William Ortiz and his wife, Jamie; brother, Benjamin W. Goenett-Wallin and his wife, Loretta; sisters, Joyce R. Morales and her husband, Tony, and Eileen M. Goenett; and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rose Coronado; brother, James Goenett Jr.; sister, Rose Goenett; child, Lorraine Hernandez; nieces, Virginia Garcia and Emelia Robles; and nephew, David Garlitos.

Services will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the ANB Hall.

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