SCHULER, Gary D.

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona Thursday, May 13, 2010 Gary D. Schuler, 50, a lifelong resident of Grand Falls and Alpine Rancho, died May 9, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on April 2, 1960. Born to the Nakai Dine’e clan of the Dine (Navajo) Nation, he was born for Nalani, Cheyenne River Lakota. Todich’iinii are his maternal grandfathers, and Biligaana, Italian, his paternal grandfathers. Having grown up around Grand Falls with grandparents, uncles and aunts, Mr. Schuler was accustomed with the traditional Dine way of life, including care of livestock, love and care of land, and pride in his fluent use of the Dine language. Mr. Schuler attended Leupp Boarding School and Marshall Elementary School. He attended Flagstaff Junior High and graduated from Flagstaff High in 1979. Track and field dominated most of his high school career, with numerous awards and records set for running and high jump. He attended a year of art school and spent the remainder of his life in self-employed occupations including cattleman, mechanic and builder. With the encouragement and support from uncles and brothers, Mr. Schuler spent some time in the rodeo arena as a bareback bronc rider. He enjoyed reading Hot Rod Magazine and dreamed of participating in the nationwide Hot Rod Power Tour in a refurbished ’71 Cougar, which was in the works. Mr. Schuler’s love for athletics and sports continued throughout his life. He participated in the locally held Native American Olympics and was selected to participate in the 2006 North American Indigenous Games with Team Arizona when his health declined. An avid fan of college and professional football and basketball, his favorite teams were the Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys. As an artist, his originality can be seen in his many creations including the design and building of traditional hogans. In 2006, he built a beautiful hogan that will serve as his legacy and reminder of his creativity and talent. Mr. Schuler is survived by by his wife of 17 years, Theresa Boone-Schuler; stepsons Andrew “Dru” Gray and Dustin Boone; parents George and Nona Schuler; brothers Tony, Gerald and Chris; six grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many clan relatives. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. (MST) at the Grand Falls Bible Church with burial to follow on family land. Condolences can be sent to his family at www.norvelowensmortuary.com. Norvel Owens Mortuary is handling the arrangements.