Aletha Ellen Tom

Aletha Ellen Tom, 77, of the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Moapa, NV, passed away on November 29, 2023, surrounded by family. Aletha was born on August 26, 1946, in Las Vegas, NV to Gan Dosak Tom and Ina Segmiller [Tom].

She was a loving mother, sister, cousin, aunt, grandmother, and a friend to many.  She was the youngest of her father’s children:  Donald Tom (deceased), Rosco Tom (deceased), Ruben Tom (deceased), Boyd Williams Tom (deceased), Preston Tom, Lavinia Tom (Myers), Eugene Tom (deceased), and Mary Tom (Levi), and a sister, who passed at birth. When her father passed away, she became the oldest of her mother’s children:  Myrna Undergust (Monroe) and LaDawn Wall (Levi) (deceased).

She attended elementary school in Moapa Valley, then attended Stewart Indian Boarding School and graduated in 1965.

Aletha dedicated her time working with her community, as well as staying connected to Stewart alumni in various states. She kept Stewart’s history alive by working with the Nevada Indian Commission and director Sherry Rupert to advocate for creating the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum. She served on the Nevada Indian Commission’s Stewart Advisory Committee and the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum’s Alumni Cultural Advisory Committee. In addition, Aletha was involved in tribal government for over 30 years and was elected Tribal Chairperson for the Moapa Band of Paiutes in 2013. Aletha remained strong in her tribal traditions and culture and was devoted to seeing that Native students have opportunities for a promising future through education.  Aletha will be missed by many, but her stories continue in the Cultural Center & Museum’s permanent exhibits and are preserved in the archives for future generations.

She is survived by her daughter Fredina Drye-Romero (Patrick Romero), her son Verdell Jake (Gail) and her grandchildren Alicia and Dylan Jake, Kaitlynne Romero and great-granddaughter Avelina Duran Romero. She was a proud aunt to numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, great-great nieces/nephews, and great-great-great nieces/nephews! She is preceded in death by her daughter Tricia F. Drye; her grandson, Justice Edgar Jake; and her parents Gan Dosak Tom and Ina Segmiller.

A Viewing will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, 2-3:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Moapa, NV Chapel, followed by a Funeral service at 3-4:30 p.m. There will be a Traditional Sing held from sundown to sunrise at the Moapa Tribal Building, Moapa, NV, with interment to follow at the Moapa Tribal Cemetery. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.