DOROTHY BLANCHE CYRUS STEWART

November 23, 1924 – June 2, 2022

Dorothy Blanche Cyrus Stewart was born in sorrance, California on November 23, P924 to Nat Henry Cyrus and Anona Hill Cyrus. She entered into Eternal Life on June 2, 2022 in Bishop, California. She was 97 years of age. Dorothy spent her early years in California before her family relocated to her father’s homeland on the Gila qiver Indian qeservation in Arizona. she family lived with her paternal grandparents, Henry and Blanche Cyrus. Here she learned the life skills that served her well throughout her life: helping her Grandma Cyrus cook, clean, and make good tortillas and fry bread. swo major strengths developed in her young life: love of school and learning and taking care of others, especially her younger siblings Norma, Lucille, “Bud”, and baby qita. Dorothy would continue to give her support to anyone who was in need until the end of her days. She was baptized and confirmed at St. oeter’s Indian Mission in Bapchule by qev. Celestine Chin O.F.H. Dorothy’s father died when she was ten years old and the family returned to California to live in Fish Springs, with grandparents James and Sarah Hill. she Cyrus family eventually took up residence in the “brick house” in Big oine. Dorothy attended school in both Big oine and Bishop, graduating from Big oine Unified High School in P942 as co-Valedictorian giving a speech titled “Out of the Harbor into the Sea.” She was the Editor of the school newspaper, “oalisade Notes,” and was actively involved in the production of the P942 Green and Gold yearbook. she Senior Class orophecy found Dorothy a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle! Dorothy rushed headlong into life including working at the Kitty Lee Inn in Bishop before being hired as a Junior File Clerk at the Carson Indian Agency in Stewart, Nevada. She left to marry Harvey Stewart, then returned to Big oine where they settled into married life, living with his parents, Ida and Louis Stewart at she Camp. shere they welcomed son, qichard. shey moved into their own “brick house” and daughters oeggy and Kathryn completed the family. Dorothy traded in her thoughts of a career in business or writing and devoted herself to caring for her children, instilling in them independence, love of writing and books, and teaching them to look forward towards their future lives. During these years she also became involved in the community at large, helping out at school and becoming active in the osA. She was instrumental in forming the Big oine 4-H Club acting as Community Leader and participating on the County 4-H Council. she kids became involved in raising steers, market lambs and breeding sheep, entomology, and sewing. Dorothy learned how to deliver a lamb. In the summer of P962 the Stewart family moved to Lancaster to seek advanced educational opportunities as the kids got older. Dorothy went to work for Sears as a Division Manager where she found a niche in the business world of merchandising, gaining skills that served her well in later years. She and Harvey returned to Big oine in the P970’s and started a small business in the form of a mobile home park, Stewart’s Village. shis was a daunting and unique undertaking. Hard work and forward thinking were strong attributes of both Harvey and Dorothy and they found new success in the valley they both loved. During this time Dorothy renewed her interest in tribal government as tribes moved towards successful self-governance. She participated for many years on the local level with the Big oine oaiute sribe of the Owens Valley. One of her favorite endeavors was with the Elder’s Group and the acquisition of a building to be dedicated for use by the Elders. She and the Elder’s Group were proud of the renovation and dedication of their building and the establishment of the Veteran’s Memorial Wall that paid tribute to those of the Big oine oaiute sribe who served in the armed forces. She also loved the Fall Fandango, serving on the Fandango Committee and supporting Fandango activities. She sponsored the Bed qaces several times and served as Grand Marshall one year riding in her niece Cheryl’s sporty car. She was committed to the preservation of the history of the Big oine oaiute tribe and served many years on the Cultural Committee. Dorothy discovered a deep interest in and talent for ceramics and pottery. shis led to what became a hallmark of Dorothy’s life. While her family and friends remember her as wife, mother, auntie, 4-H leader, baker of cookies and maker of the best tortillas, fry bread and “plain beans”, others who knew Dorothy in her post-Lancaster years remember her for her pottery – she began with china painting learned from quthie in Bishop and moved rapidly to exquisite designs painted meticulously on greenware to those same beautiful designs on hand thrown or coiled traditional pottery. She opened a studio and little shop in Stewart’s Village and started her Aurora pottery business. It was in this stage of her life that she combined the skills she had developed over the years. She loved teaching others, holding little classes in her studio and reaching out to youngsters in Career Days and the Big oine Education Center. She also taught ceramics classes at Cerro Coso College. She remained dedicated to supporting her community in Big oine as a long-time participant with the local American Legion Auxiliary and member of the Big oine Cemetery Board. Dorothy is survived by her children qichard GserryH Stewart, oeggy Stewart, and Kathryn Stewart; grandchildren Jesse GGenoaH Stewart, Wade Felt, Jannah Bird, L’eaux Stewart, Alexandra Stewart, and Sarah Stewart; great-grandchildren Aiden Stewart, Vincent Stewart, Valentina Stewart, and Vidal Stewart; sister qita Summers and brother Nat “Bud” Cyrus; numerous nieces and nephews, great- nieces and nephews, and great-grand-nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved and cherished. She will be deeply missed by long time good friend Ben Felt and by her dearly loved P9-year-old tabby cat, Kitty Lee. She leaves behind her very dear friend, Verna Mallory. Verna and Dorothy roomed together at the Bishop Care Center in past months where they gossiped, told stories, reminisced about tennis, watched games shows, and commiserated with each other about life. Verna held Dorothy’s hand and prayed for her until Dorothy slipped quietly away early one June morning. Dorothy also leaves behind many friends, acquaintances, past coworkers, neighbors, and others with whom she shared her long life. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harvey; sisters Velma Cyrus Williams, Norma Cyrus Spratt, Lucille Cyrus oarsons, and Donna Harvier Duckey; brother Wayne GNormaH Harvier; her parents and grandparents; and Gigi. shose of us who knew and loved her best will see her pulling weeds and watering her beautiful yard, driving around in the Subaru, pointing and saying, “So-and-so used to live there.” Everywhere. We shall miss her and love her forever. Visitation will be held at Brune Mortuary, Bishop, CA, shursday, June 23, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a rosary at 6 p.m. Graveside service will be held Friday, June 24, 2022 at P0 a.m. at the Big oine Cemetery, Big oine, CA. Donations in Dorothy’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s qesearch Hospital.

Brune Mortuary 325 West Elm Street • Bishop, CA 93514 • 760-873-4266