PEREZ, Julia

Vining Funeral Home, Safford, AZ May 30, 1925 - March 28, 2010 Julia was born in St. Johns to Patricio and Ellisaria Baca, and was the second oldest of twelve children. She attended grade school in St. Johns until the 6th grade but was forced to put her education on hold to help the family. Julia would babysit for many families to help earn money, and as a result she was never able to return to school to complete her education. In 1944, Julia moved to Winslow, Arizona where she worked at the Harvey House Café. In that same year she met Leonard Perez, they dated for a time and were married in 1945. To this union were joined 8 children, sadly, Julia lost her second child, Priscilla Ramona at just 4 months to Pneumonia. They continued to live in Winslow for a few years and later moved to Springerville. The journey continued as Julia and Leonard moved to California so that Leonard could obtain work. Leonard continued to obtain work in different industries that moved Julia and children back to Winslow and finally back to Springerville. Julia moved herself and seven children to Phoenix in 1957. She was able to return to school and received her G.E.D. Julia loved to help people, so she returned to school once more and worked hard to become an LPN. She worked in many different area hospitals in Phoenix and later moved back to Springerville in 1966. She made her last move in 1969 to Thatcher, where she would live out the rest of her life. She was able to continue her work as an LPN at the Safford Inn Hospital and also at the care center. She truly loved her work as a nurse because of the opportunities it provided to help other people. Julia loved to spend her spare time listening to Spanish music and gardening, she also loved to dance; she would attended many wedding receptions just to have an opportunity to dance. Above all, Julia loved spending time with her family; she never missed a family reunion and would make sure to take all of her children with her. She loved being able to care for her family, putting her skills as a nurse to work often.