Carole Patricia Charlo 'Princess' Sorrell

EVARO - Carole Patricia Charlo "Princess" Sorrell, 63, the daughter of the last recognized Chief of the Bitterroot Salish, and granddaughter of the last Traditional Chief, Chief Charlot, went to join her ancestors on July 13 while surrounded by her loving family.

Carole came into this world on June 27, 1941, in St. Ignatius, the daughter of "Chief" Antoine Charlo and Mary Mitchell Charlo. Carole's father worked for the railroad and she and her family were raised in the Bitterroot, Mission and Jocko valleys before settling in at Evaro.

She attended local schools, graduating from Frenchtown High School in 1962, eventually receiving her degree in Business from Salish Kootenai College in 1999.

Princess Carole married commoner Joseph Leonard Sorrell in a traditional ceremony in 1962, which was featured in Life magazine. She became a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother to her large extended family while working on this degree. Carole worked for Sun Mountain Sports for many years and most recently worked for S & K Electronics.

A woman of great faith, she always believed that God would be there for all of us and He would always be with her. She made her Cursillo journey in the late 1970s.

She was very proud of her family for whom she had a great love, especially her brother Charles Louis Charlo, who was a WWII hero when he raised the first flag on Iwo Jima.

While family and friends were very important to her, she was also very proud of her traditional heritage and would attend as many cultural events as she could. In particular she was proud of Chief Victor Days, a holiday named after her great grandfather; she always attended that event.

Carole particularly enjoyed washing clothes and hanging them out to dry, and enjoyed being with her grandchildren and attending Two Eagle events.

She liked having visitors stop by. Whenever anyone came to visit at the family home, they were always welcomed and Carole made them feel that they were part of the family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents; brothers Charles Louis Charlo, Gene Charlo and Albert Charlo; her sisters, Betsy Charlo and Genevieve Morigeau; niece, Candy Craft; granddaughter Jordan RaLeigh Felsman and godsons Troy and Roy Morigeau.

She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph Sorrell; children, Joseph Sorrell Jr. (Linda) and family, Greg Sorrell, Rick Sorrell and his son Wyatt, Trevor (Casey) Sorrell and family; daughters Carole "Kelli Jo" and family, Ashley Dawn Sorrell (Lenny) and family, and Chauntel Dawn Sorrell; great-grandson Larz Sorrell; her brother, Vic Charlo; her sisters Charlene (Jim) SiJohn, Mary Jane Charlo and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nephews and great nieces, sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, all of whom will dearly miss her.

Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated last Friday in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment was in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.