A Woman Who Touched Many Hearts, Mae Westervelt, Passed May 7th, 2022
Aurora as known by many as “Mae” was born in Schurz, Nevada on March 31, 1954 to GertrudeHelen Tom Garrison and Andrew Garrison of Coleville, CA. She was one of their 7 children (Christine, “Annie”, “Mae”, Melinda, “Gussie”, “Nonie” and “Tony”. Mae passed away on May7, 2022 from a short battle with cancer in Reno, Nevada. She grew up on her Grandfather Henry Garrison’s ranch in Coleville, CA. As a child, she spent her time between the Garrison Ranch riding horses with her sisters and one brother, Bishop visiting with her aunt Mildred “Millie” Garrison, living with her “Togo” grandfather (mother side) Harry Tom in Yosemite, CA, Santa Cruz with her cousin’s Barbara and Mike. She attended Coleville elementary where she graduated eighth grade. She attended Coleville High School. She attended Steward Indian Boarding School briefly. She attended Inyo Heights and graduated with her high school diploma. Mae was very involved with her community and was very proud of her Paiute culture. Mae
enjoyed participating in the California Indian Days parade every year showcasing her traditional attire. She was involved in establishing and helping the Owens Valley little War Dancers, which would later become the Owens Valley War Dancer, a Traditional Paiute Men’s War dance group. She sang with the Toovoowahamatu women’s traditional singing group. Mae helped with the Red Feather Dance group that would later become the Akamya dance group and the Inter-agency Powwow committee that would later become the Pabanamania pow wow committee. She enjoy donating beadwork to the ICARE annual fundraising dinner. She was a longtime 4-H community leader of Big Horn 4-H and was a part of the 4-H advisory Board. She was an alternate representative for the Antelope Valley Indian Community on the Toiyabe board of directors. She worked and helped out with the UAII Robert Sundance Summer Camp at the Bernaconi center in Big Pine, CA. Mae was on many parent advisory board from Bishop Head Start, Big Pine Indian Education, Big Pine Booster parent member and Fandango committee member.
Mae is preceded in death by her husband of 45 years James “Acorn” Westervelt, parents Gertrude Tom Garrison, Andrew Garrison, grandparents: Annie Murphy Garrison, Henry Garrison, Clara Charlie Tom, Harry Tom, younger brother Antone “Tony” Garrison, and older sister Andrea Garrison Erickson.
Mae is survived by children: Robert Westervelt, Thomas Westervelt and wife Jayme Snoderly Westervelt, Drusilla “Dru” Westervelt, Antonia “Toni” Westervelt and spouse Dexter Tsinnijinnie, William” Will” Westervelt, and Travis Westervelt. Grandchildren: Dominic Westervelt, Meghenna Westervelt and 2 grandchildren on the way. Sisters: Melinda Redrobe, Augusta Huhta, half-sisters: Christine Larson and Winona Moody and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
A Traditional Cry Dance will be held in Coleville, CA on Friday May 20, 2022 at the Garrison Ranch on 323 Cranney Lane at dusk. Graveside service will be held in Coleville, CA on Saturday May 21, 2022 at the Antelope Valley Cemetery at 11:00 am.
Jesse is a media content creator and film maker from the Eastern Sierra.
