Mary Lee Longhair

Mary Lee Conetah Longhair, age 77, of Ft. Duchesne, passed away November 15, 2024, at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah

 She was born May 17, 1947, in Ft. Duchesne, to Fred and Rosella Myore Conetah. Being one of the oldest of twelve, she helped raise her siblings She graduated from Union High School, and then married Alvin James Longhair on August 20, 1965, in Roosevelt. He died June 11, 2016.

 Mary Lee was a director of the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program for the Ute Indian Tribe and was a clerk at the BIA. In her later years, she was a part of the Archeological Research and Cultural Advisory Committee for archeological Native American Sites. She served on the National Congress of American Indians, and was part of the U&O Outreach Program. She was a strong believer in the Native American Church and in her Ute Tribal cultures, customs, and beliefs. She was a Pow Wow Dancer competing and winning in Women’s Traditional and in Old Style Fancy Dance. She also won many Handgame championships. In her younger days, she was a very talented Basketball and Softball player, helping her team win many tournaments and being named MVP and All Star. She really enjoyed her many travels and all of the places her careers took her. Her hobbies included horse-back riding, farming, making the best fry bread, the fluffiest tortillas, and gambling at Wendover. She was very outspoken. 

 Mary is survived by her children, Lelilah Longhair (Robert Pawinnee), Ft. Duchesne; Charlotte Longhair, Indian Bench; Tetona Longhair, Salt Lake City; Bradford Longhair, Indian Bench; Rainey Longhair (Kobi Reed), Ft. Duchesne; Montie Poowegup, Indian Bench; nephew and niece she raised, Quanah Poowegup, Lapoint; Shaun Girard, Vernal; Troy Gardner; 23 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; siblings, Wilford Conetah, Myton; Francine Pete, Myton; Doug (Arvella) Conetah, Elko; Doyle & Ferdella Coneta, both of Myton; Amarallis (Julian) Pinkham; Myton; Angela Shavanaux, Dorthea Garcia, Madeline Duncan; and many nieces and nephews.

 She was preceded in death by her daughter Rossie Longhair; grandchildren, Mahdison Lang; siblings, Marieanne Gardner, Rosanna Conetah, Bradley Conetah, and John Conetah.

 Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ft. Duchesne Community Building. There will be a wake after 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday at her home. 

 Burial will be in the Ft. Duchesne Cemetery.