Thamar Richey came to Arizona in 1919, at age sixty-one. Four years later she started a school for Pascua Yaqui children. She did not know the Yaqui language, but many of the children knew Spanish. With an English-to-Spanish and a Spanish-to-Yaqui translator, Thamar was able to teach the children and the children were able to learn English. She provided lunch and milk to her students, taught health and nutrition, and collected clothing for the needy during the Depression. She also made use of the newspapers to raise public awareness of poor conditions, helping her to raise funds to help her tribal community. She retired only a month before she passed away.
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