hazel sampson had declined to be named as an official member of montler and valadez's project, citing tradition. however, she collaborated closely with her husband and other members. the researchers believed she understood the klallam language better than her husband and the other members of the project. according to valadez, "she said, 'this is ed's work.' she was very traditional." adeline smith died in march 2013, leaving sampson as the last surviving, native speaker of the klallam language.