Former Arizona lawmaker Sylvia Laughter dies after 10-month battle with COVID-19
Former State Rep. Sylvia Laughter, who served in the Arizona Legislature from 1999 to 2005, died Saturday in Mesa after a 10-month battle with COVID-19, according to her family. She was 63. The family did not disclose any other information.
Laughter, a Navajo whose maternal clan was the Towering House Clan and paternal clan was the Red Running into the Water People Clan, was the first Diné woman to serve in the Arizona Legislature. She was also the first and only legislator to serve as an independent since Arizona statehood, according to the Arizona Capitol Times. First elected as a Democrat, she switched affiliation in 2003 after winning her third term.
As a young girl, Laughter lived with a foster family in Mesa as part of the "placement" program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
At the time, it was a common practice for Native children to be baptized into the faith and live in LDS foster homes, to receive "educational, spiritual, social, and cultural opportunities that would contribute to their leadership development," according to a 1976 document.
The program ended in 2000.
"The choirs of heaven just gained a beautiful angel with a lovely soprano voice," Laughter's foster sister, Teresa Smith Starr, posted on Facebook.
Laughter earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications with a minor in music from Brigham Young University in 1993. After working at a Utah television station, Laughter returned to Arizona and ran for state representative.
During her three terms at the Legislature, Laughter secured more than $20 million in funding for education, veterans and elders. She also sponsored the bill that created the Navajo Nation license plate, which is a revenue-sharing venture to address transportation needs in the largest reservation in the United States.
Laughter was a founder of the Navajo Code Talker Memorial Foundation and raised funding to erect two Navajo Code Talker Memorials, one at the Navajo Nation Capitol in Window Rock and the other at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix.
After losing her bid for a fourth term, Laughter formed a consulting firm and also served as chair of Native Broadcast Enterprise, the parent company of radio station KTNN, the "Voice of the Navajo Nation."
"As the first Navajo woman in a high position, Ms. Laughter always fought for the interests of her home community and the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation Speaker Seth Damon.
“Even before my time as an elected leader, Ms. Sylvia Laughter was a key figure in the development of not only Kayenta, but surrounding communities,” said Navajo Nation Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown. “As a woman in the field of politics, Ms. Laughter always held her head high and remained humble towards the many families she helped.”
Arizona state Reps. Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, D-Red Mesa, Myron Tsosie, D-Chinle and state Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, D-Coalmine, offered condolences to Laughter's family.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Rep. Sylvia Laughter,” Blackwater-Nygren, Tsosie and Hatathlie said in a statement. They said Laughter worked tirelessly while in office and continued to make an impact in the Navajo Nation after her service. "She was a true trailblazer for other Navajo women to serve in the Legislature. It’s heartbreaking to lose such a humble true Diné Asdzání Naat’áanii.”
Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was "quieted" when he heard the news of Laughter's death.
"I reflect on her strong personality and dedication to the Diné people, and her putting them first above party or pettiness," he said.
Laughter brought Bowers to the Navajo Nation with other legislators to learn about their needs.
"She endured much criticism for working with Republicans for the good of the state and her people, and I considered her a friend." he said. "I know she will continue to assist others on the other side of the crossing."
Rosie Tsosie Bingham of Show Low called Laughter a dear friend and said, "She was a beautiful lady, well-educated and very loving."
A longtime political consultant, also a citizen of the Navajo Nation, Bingham worked and traveled with Laughter on various projects, including an effort to secure funding for Diné College and scholarships for Native students. Bingham also mentioned that Laughter had a talent that some didn't know about.
"She had a beautiful singing voice, and sang with a vocal group at BYU." The group, once called the Lamanite Generation, is now known as the BYU Living Legends.
Laughter's daughter, Nakita Nez Guminiak, said her mom loved to be with her three grandchildren, 9-year-old Grayson Vlack, Orson Guminiak, 3 and Wyatt Guminiak, 1.
"She loved being a grandmother," Guminiak said.
Laughter and Grayson visited thrift shops together, Guminiak said, and Laughter also enjoyed gardening,
Laughter is survived by daughters Tasha Vlach and Guminiak, both of Mesa, and seven sisters. Her son, Ned Mitchell Nez, died in a car crash in 2003.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Bunker Family Funerals in Mesa.
Laughter's daughters have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral and other expenses.
Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on Twitter at @debkrol.
Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Rep. Sylvia Laughter of the Navajo Nation dies at 63
