Flora Beth Simmons

Flora Simmons

Flora Beth Simmons, age 80, died Saturday, November 8, 2008 peacefully at her home in Moapa, Nevada. She was born August 10, 1928 on the Moapa Indian Reservation to Francis James and Topsy Chappo Swain. She was married to Ross Dee Simmons in Las Vegas, Nevada. He preceded her in death in 1979.

Flora grew up in Moapa. She attended Riverside and Stewart Indian Schools as a young woman. After her marriage, she raised her family in Placerville, California before moving back to Moapa in 1971. She was a board member of the Indian Housing Authority, and served on the Education and Enrollment Committee. She loved working with the Headstart Program, first as a cook and later with the Clark County Grandparent Program. She was a foster parent to many children. She took great pride in her Indian Heritage and was able to share her native language and cultural knowledge through the Southern Paiute Elder Program. She will be remembered as a loving mother who was resilient and happy right up to her passing.

Survivors include three sons and three daughters: Leland Swain of Las Vegas, NV; Ted (Connie) Foster of Carson City, NV; Cheryl (Lee) Tom of Warm Springs, OR; Vickie Simmons of Moapa, NV; Randall Simmons of Washington, D.C.; Shawna Higgins of Moapa, NV; ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren and one brother, Philbert (Cathy) Swain of St. George, UT. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, son, Clifton Surrett; son, Thomas Simmons and twelve siblings.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 10, 2008 at 3 p.m. at the Moapa LDS Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the chapel. A traditional Indian Sing will follow at the Moapa Tribal Building with interment following at dawn in the Moapa Indian Cemetery.