Pamela Drye Tapoof

Pamela Jean Drye Tapoof, age 56, of Ft. Duchesne, passed away on April 11, 2016 at the University of Utah Hospital.
She was born May 20, 1959, in Ft. Duchesne, and then was raised by Theodore and Loretta Areep Drye-ahhaap, on the Kaibab Paiute Reservation.
Pam worked for the education department from 1984 until 2011 as the JOM tutor and Mentor. During that time, she went back to college and received her Associate of Science degree in 2001 and her Bachelors degree in Family & Human Development in 2003 from Utah State University. In 2011 she had to retire due to her illness, and missed her association with the students and faculty of the many schools she worked at.
She enjoyed Facebook, texting on her cell phone, camping, meeting new friends, learning something new everyday, and spending numerous hours on the Lifetime TV channel watching Golden Girls, RoseAnne, Army Wives, Law & Order, Family Feud, and the news. She liked to video the Pow Wows and take pictures on her phone, listen to music on her iPod, and play pool on her mini iPad. She delighted in sharing her pictures and stories with those who would listen, and liked "scootering" around in the mall. She cherished her family and found great joy in being a grandma. Because of her illness, it was hard to get out very often, so she appreciated all of the visits people made to her home. She always spoke her mind even if it "ruffled your panties". She had a great sense of humor and often joked about her illness, even when it hurt so much.
She missed her family from Arizona and often talked about moving back one day. Her "ahh years" were traveling to the northern Pow Wows, camping with Perrylynn when Perrylynn was growing up. The arrival of each child and grandchild were her happy, tearful moments.
Pam is survived by her children, Perrylynn Tapoof (Tyrone McKewan), Dustin Nephi (Jonna Grant), all of Ft. Duchesne; Bobbie Pasecho (Billy Smallwood), SLC; Roycen Cesspooch, Ft. Duchesne; stepson, Jonathan (Stephanie) Cuch, Indian Bench; grandchildren, Theadora & Lily Nephi, and numerous others, siblings, Brenda Drye, Erma Drye Posvar, Lisa Stanfield, Benedick Pikyavit, Benn Pikyavit, all of Kaibab, AZ; Sonja Cuch, Pearleen Ridley, Jasana Cuch, Kelsey Cuch, uncles, Franklin Drye, and Antone Appawoo, Sr., close friends and her cats.
Awaiting her on the other side are her parents, infant son, Tynell Tapoof-ahhaap, and brother, Darrell Drye-ahhaap.
Sunrise graveside services will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 6:30 a.m. at the Ft. Duchesne Cemetery. A wake will be held after 4:00 p.m. at the Ft. Duchesne Gym with a funeral service from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served after the service.
Condolences may be shared at www.hullingermortuary.com