Eleanor Sophia Hewitt
April 8, 1999 – Sept. 29, 2026
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our sweet Elea, beloved daughter, sister, niece, cousin and granddaughter.
Elea was a cherished friend to those she met, an eternal student, a loving soul and a humble servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Elea was born in Eugene and raised in Marcola and Sweet Home, the eldest daughter of Kahlil ‘Bo’ and Pamela Hewitt, and sister to Sarah and Malia (Josie). She was a 2017 graduate and valedictorian of Sweet Home High School and a 2022 graduate of Yale University.
She was passionate about “the potential of regenerative agriculture practices as a facet of the broader solution to the global climate crisis, and as a path forward to a more just and equitable future.”
Elea found communities in Sweet Home that nurtured her growth: Key Club, Swim Club, Youth Watershed Council, and she served as The Huskian newspaper and yearbook editor and sang in the school choir.
She was an athlete and played on teams including volleyball, cross-country, track and swimming. She was especially proud to be a part of her Sweet Home High School team’s two state swimming championships.
At Yale, Elea was engaged and passionately involved in the community, including the Environmental Studies major, the Endowment Justice Coalition, Native American Cultural Center, Yale Women’s Crew, Yale Farm, and the Pundits and Torch Societies.
Elea wrote, “I hope to work toward climate, health, and economic resiliency in the community.” After graduation, she did just that, serving in the Kingdom of Tonga in the Peace Corps’ first cohort to offer climate resilience facilitation.
She loved her work, island life, the people she met there, the language and traditional way of life in which she was immersed; and it was in Tonga that she passed away last month from rapid-onset pneumonia and influenza. Her community was devastated by her sudden passing and honored her with love and respect providing a heart-felt memorial service.
What made Elea so special was the warmth and generosity she brought to those around her. She had a gentle spirit and a way of making people feel seen and valued.
Relationships were the most important thing to Elea, she sought ways to connect and share joy and light: through song, dance, storytelling, writing, listening and community building.
Elea loved the forest, the rivers, the children and the animals – all our relations. For Elea, care for the land and care for people were deeply connected. As she wrote, “In the end, what we have is the land we put our feet upon, and the relatives who surround us. We must take care of them.”
Elea also worked in New Haven, Conn., in urban forestry, in NYC as a kitchen manager at a Michelin star restaurant, and in Sweet Home as a swim instructor, swim coach and lifeguard. Elea loved working on her family ranch, caring for sheep, cattle and poultry.
Wherever she went, Elea worked to serve others and build inclusion through caring and dedication.
Elea is survived by her parents, Kahlil ‘Bo’ R. Hewitt and Pamela J. Hewitt; her sisters, Sarah F. and Malia “Josie” Hewitt; her aunts, Gwendolyn Constance Moore, Rhonda D. Hodges and Linda M. Lenz; her uncles, Craig Moore and Bryan L. Tuft; and her grandmother, Mary C. Tuft.
In celebration of her life, her family is dedicating a bookshelf at the Sweet Home City Library featuring books that reflect Elea’s passions and interests. Topics will include environmental protection, cultural preservation, regenerative agriculture, indigenous and ethnic studies, environmental justice, sustainability, and related subjects. The collection will span fiction and nonfiction for children, young adults, and adults.
Donations or book suggestions made to the “Sweet Home Public Library,” including a note “in memory of Elea Hewitt,” can be mailed to: 1101 13th Ave., Sweet Home, OR 97386-2197.
Donations can also be made to The Friends of Tonga, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. They partner directly with local organizations like the Civil Society Forum of Tonga to build disaster-resistant school infrastructure, fund student scholarships, and supply clean water storage across isolated island groups. www.friendsoftonga.org.
A celebration of life memorial will be held on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. at Boulder Falls Center in Lebanon. A tree planting will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. at Rock ’n’ Wool Ranch, in Sweet Home. Please contact the family for details at [email protected].
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