Julia M. Nasewytewa

SACATON - Julia Mae Nasewytewa, 80, of Sacaton, a retired Tribal Council secretary and civic leader, died on Feb. 8, 2014, at Caring House.

Mrs. Nasewytewa will lie in state from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at the Gila River Governance Center. The graveside service will be at 9 a.m. Saturday in West Cemetery, with Alfred Reams officiating.

She was born on Jan. 13, 1934, in Phoenix and was a daughter of Henry and Frettie Schurz. She was secretary of the Gila River Indian Community’s Tribal Council from 1970 to 1974 during the administration of former Gov. Alexander Lewis and worked for the tribe for 27 years. One of the founders of the Mul-Chu-Tha tribal fair, she also was director of the tribal commodity food program before retiring in 1997.

She was a very caring person, enjoyed spending time with her family, and was a big San Francisco 49ers fan, a great cook and very smart and strong.

Survivors include five sons, William, Gilbert, Colin and Ronald Nasewytewa, all of Sacaton, and Steve Nasewytewa of Laveen; a daughter, Debra Nasewytewa-Jones of Sacaton; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harrison; a son, Wendell Schurz; two brothers, Verton Jackson Sr. and Matthew Enis; and three sisters, Henrietta Pablo, Esther McCall and Marilyn L. Woods.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.