Abe Sylvester "Vest" Alley, 81, of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, passed away the morning of Thursday, February 8, 2024 at his home in Shawnee, Oklahoma with his sister and son at his side. In honor of his wishes, a wake will be held Friday, February 9th at 2pm and services Saturday, February 10th at noon at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Building in Red Rock, Oklahoma with burial to follow at Otoe-Missouria Tribal Cemetery. Oliver Littlecook officiating. Pallbearers are Reuben Battiste DeRoin, Gary Whitecloud Jr, Jamison Concha, Sheridan Pickering, Jim Moon, Kristopher Tiscareno, and Ricky McCray. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.


Vest was born on March 11th, 1942 in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Daniel Alley and Anna Kihega. He attended school in Red Rock. After graduation he joined the United States Navy and witnessed many historical events and places around the world.


He also pursued education, attending and completing programs at Okmulgee Technical College, Cal Poly, Institute of American Indian Arts, and continuing education programs in Utah and Colorado. He worked as a substance abuse counselor with programs in Los Angeles and Denver focused on outreach to urbanized American Indian/Alaskan Natives struggling with homelessness and addiction. After returning to Oklahoma, Vest represented and served his tribe in many capacities throughout the years.


Notably, as a delegate to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration from 2003-2006 and as a founding member of the Otoe-Missouria Development Authority Board of Directors from 2006 until his health forced him to retire in December of 2023. His intimate knowledge of tribal history, from the tribe as a whole down to the individual and their familial connections, will be sorely missed.


Vest is preceded in death by his parents and brother William Tohee Jr.


He is survived by his sister Billie Ann Tohee; brother Kenneth Dean Tohee; as well as many children and grandchildren.


The family wishes to thank OMDA, Native American Church, Otoe-Missouria Tribal Council, and Chairman John Shotton.