DOROTHY BLANCHE CYRUS STEWART

November 23, 1924 – June 2, 2022

Dorothy Blanche Cyrus Stewart was born in Torrance, California on November 23, P924 to Nat Henry Cyrus and Anona Hill CyrusM She entered into Eternal Life on June 2, 2022 in Bishop, CaliforniaM She was 97 years of ageM Dorothy spent her early years in California before her family relocated to her father’s homeland on the Gila River Indian Reservation in ArizonaM The family lived with her paternal grandparents, Henry and Blanche CyrusM 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 breadM Two 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 RitaM Dorothy would continue to give her support to anyone who was in need until the end of her daysM She was baptized and confirmed at StM oeter’s Indian lission in Bapchule by RevM Celestine Chin OMFMHM 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 HillM The Cyrus family eventually took up residence in the “brick house” in Big oineM Dorothy attended school in both Big oine and Bishop, graduating from Big oine tnified High School in P942 as co-Valedictorian giving a speech titled “Out of the Harbor into the SeaM” She was the Editor of the school newspaper, “oalisade Notes,” and was actively involved in the production of the P942 Green and Gold yearbookM The 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, NevadaM 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 The CampM There they welcomed son, RichardM They moved into their own “brick house” and daughters oeggy and Kathryn completed the familyM 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 livesM During these years she also became involved in the community at large, helping out at school and becoming active in the oTAM She was instrumental in forming the Big oine 4-H Club acting as Community Leader and participating on the County 4-H CouncilM The kids became involved in raising steers, market lambs and breeding sheep, entomology, and sewingM Dorothy learned how to deliver a lambM In the summer of P9U2 the Stewart family moved to Lancaster to seek advanced educational opportunities as the kids got olderM Dorothy went to work for Sears as a Division lanager where she found a niche in the business world of merchandising, gaining skills that served her well in later yearsM 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 VillageM This was a daunting and unique undertakingM Hard work and forward thinking were strong attributes of both Harvey and Dorothy and they found new success in the valley they both lovedM During this time Dorothy renewed her interest in tribal government as tribes moved towards successful self-governanceM She participated for many years on the local level with the Big oine oaiute Tribe of the Owens ValleyM One of her favorite endeavors was with the Elder’s Group and the acquisition of a building to be dedicated for use by the EldersM She and the Elder’s Group were proud of the renovation and dedication of their building and the establishment of the Veteran’s lemorial vall that paid tribute to those of the Big oine oaiute Tribe who served in the armed forcesM She also loved the Fall Fandango, serving on the Fandango Committee and supporting Fandango activitiesM She sponsored the Bed Races several times and served as Grand larshall one year riding in her niece Cheryl’s sporty carM She was committed to the preservation of the history of the Big oine oaiute tribe and served many years on the Cultural CommitteeM Dorothy discovered a deep interest in and talent for ceramics and potteryM This led to what became a hallmark of Dorothy’s lifeM vhile 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 Ruthie in Bishop and moved rapidly to exquisite designs painted meticulously on greenware to those same beautiful designs on hand thrown or coiled traditional potteryM She opened a studio and little shop in Stewart’s Village and started her Aurora pottery businessM It was in this stage of her life that she combined the skills she had developed over the yearsM She loved teaching others, holding little classes in her studio and reaching out to youngsters in Career Days and the Big oine Education CenterM She also taught ceramics classes at Cerro Coso CollegeM 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 BoardM Dorothy is survived by her children Richard (Terry) Stewart, oeggy Stewart, and Kathryn Stewart; grandchildren Jesse (Genoa) Stewart, vade Felt, Jannah Bird, L’eaux Stewart, Alexandra Stewart, and Sarah Stewart; great-grandchildren Aiden Stewart, Vincent Stewart, Valentina Stewart, and Vidal Stewart; sister Rita 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 cherishedM She will be deeply missed by long time good friend Ben Felt and by her dearly loved P9-year-old tabby cat, Kitty LeeM She leaves behind her very dear friend, Verna lalloryM 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 lifeM Verna held Dorothy’s hand and prayed for her until Dorothy slipped quietly away early one June morningM Dorothy also leaves behind many friends, acquaintances, past coworkers, neighbors, and others with whom she shared her long lifeM She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harvey; sisters Velma Cyrus villiams, Norma Cyrus Spratt, Lucille Cyrus oarsons, and Donna Harvier Duckey; brother vayne (Norma) Harvier; her parents and grandparents; and GigiM Those 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 thereM” EverywhereM ve shall miss her and love her foreverM Visitation will be held at Brune lortuary, Bishop, CA, Thursday, June 23, 2022 from 4 pMmM to 7 pMmM and a rosary at U pMmM Graveside service will be held Friday, June 24, 2022 at P0 aMmM at the Big oine Cemetery, Big oine, CAM Donations in Dorothy’s name may be made to StM Jude Children’s Research HospitalM

Brune Mortuary

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