Adelaide Presley, Former Morongo Tribal Chair Passes Away
Aldelaide Presley, former Morongo Tribal Chair passed away Monday at the age of 73.
Presley is credited for improving healthcare for Native American families.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Adelaide Presley as a leader and a tireless champion for increasing tribal access to quality healthcare and wellness programs, not only in the Inland Empire but all across Indian Country,” Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin said.
Presley was married for 52 years to Raymond Presley, who passed
away in February 2012.
She is survived by her children, Raymond Presley Jr.; Kimberly (Presley) and Bill Schoenborn;Terry and Kylee Presley; and Lisa (Presley) and Steve Buenting, as well as her 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Adelaide Presley was first elected to the Tribal Council in 1962 at only 22 years old. 1991 was her last year on the Council when she was serving as Chair.
Presley served as Executive Director and on the Board of Directors for Riverside – San Bernardino County Health, Inc., a health agency serving Indian Tribes in and around the Inland Empire. The Administration building for the agency on the Morongo Indian Reservation is named after her.
Visitation services are scheduled for Tuesday November 12 from 4 pm to 8:00 pm at Wiefels & Son Memorial Chapel, 50 East Nicolet Street in Banning.
Memorial services are scheduled for 10 am on Wednesday November 13 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, located at 11231 Mission Road on the Morongo Indian Reservation.
Private interment will follow the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made in Presley’s name to the breast cancer research programs at the City of Hope in Duarte, CA.
