Valantinus Parashonts Obituary (1944 - 2018)

Valantinus Parashonts, Vala, was born on Valentine’s day on February 14, 1944; she was a member of the Cedar Band of Paiutes of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah in Cedar City, Utah. Vala is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Vala has two brothers, Travis Parashonts, from Las Vegas NV and Barry Frank from Cedar City, UT. Her mother is Mae J. Parashonts, deceased, from the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. Her Grandfather is Woots Parashonts, from the Cedar Band of Paiutes, her Grandmother’s name is Catherine Bonapart from the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, both deceased. She also has nephews, Shane Parashonts and Sam Frank, and nieces Shalyce Parashonts, Shilo Parashonts and Catherine Frank, with 6 great-nephews and great-nieces. She had many cousins and relatives throughout the Paiute Nation. Cousins, York Benson and Oleda Benson and Jolene Turnvall are those she was extra close to. She is related to the Petes, Shephards, Bensons, Garcias, and many other extended family in Paiute country. Vala attended elementary school in Cedar City, Utah. Her and her cousin Calvin Benson were the first Paiutes to graduates from High School in Cedar City, Utah. She also went to Vegas Hollywood Beauty College for one year. Worked in Las Vegas a number of years and then came back to Cedar City and got her Utah Cosmetology License and worked as a hairstylist, then retired from hairstyling in 2007. Vala was raised by her grandparents where she learned the Paiute language. She has taught the Paiute language off and on throughout the years. In 1999 the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah started the Pre-School Paiute Immersion Language program for 3 years where she taught the little children the Paiute language. Vala also tutored the Native students in the Elementary schools and the SUU Pre-Schools.Vala used the book “The Paiute Language for Beginners”, that her brother Travis Parashonts, and Elvis Wall put together when at SUU in the mid 70's on the Paiute language, when teaching. She has always enjoyed teaching the language to anyone that wanted to learn and hoped to continue her Paiute language. Vala also enjoyed sharing her culture and passing on traditions, and the teachings of our Elders and was a positive advocate for the Paiute People.