Sept. 9, 1931 – Mar. 3, 2025
Huddleston McKinley “Hudd” Oates, 93, passed away on March 3, 2025, in Weed, California. Born on September 11, 1931, in Happy Camp, California, he lived a life marked by hard work, dedication, and a deep love for his family and community. He was a proud member of the Karuk Tribe.
Hudd proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. Originally slated for deployment to Korea, he was instead stationed in Germany due to his father’s exposure to mustard gas during World War I and him being the only son. His time in the military instilled in him a strong sense of duty and resilience that carried through the rest of his life.
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My Dad’s name was Jay Hayes. “Hud” Oats and him were very good friends back in the 1950s. “HUD” (Huddleston), Dad and I went fishing into the Park’s lakes in about 1957 or 1958, and caught more trout than we probably should have. Huddleston let me shoot his M-1 Carbine, the first High-powered rifle I ever shot. I wished I’d thought could have caught up with Huddleston before he passed. R.I.P. HUD!