SHARP, Joe

Parker Pioneer, Parker, Arizona - Published Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - Joe Sharp was 97-years-old when he passed away of natural causes in Phoenix, Jan. 5, 2010. Joe was born in Parker, Ariz., Sept. 30, 1912 and lived in Parker for most of his life. Joe was a farmer, rancher, Tribal Councilman and public servant for many years. He began his political career as an elected official in 1954. He served on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Council from 1954 to 1962. He served as the Tribal Secretary from 1956 to 1960. Joe also served on the Enrollment Committee for 21 years from May 1972 to July 1993. Joe served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945. He received many citations during his tour of duty including the Purple Heart. He was instrumental in the establishment and organization of the American Legion Post #70 in 1947 and served as a member holding many offices in that organization. He loved to talk about the CRIR to everyone. He would talk about the river, how it used to be, before the dam was built; the salmon which used to swim upriver then disappeared when the dam was built, the surrounding mountains, the Mohave way of life and the change to how it is today. Even the change among the people he would talk about. He would talk about past tribal council meetings and how they were conducted and how business was taken care of and trips to Washington DC. He would talk about the Japanese camps in Poston. He would talk about the foods we used to eat before baloney came along. About the mesquite bean and how candy and juice was made from it. If you had a question you were never able to get your answer right away sometimes it would take two to four hours. All prepared to sit and listen about whatever he had to say before getting an answer. Joe was preceded in death by his father, Clay Sharp; mother Nancy Kennedy Sharp; brother, Gilmore Sharp; sisters, Barbara Sharp and Leticia Natchie; his beloved wife Frieda Martin Sharp and daughter, Dorothea Moses. Joe is survived by sister Edith Dick; three children: Kim (Guy) Gorman, Jolene Sharp and Woodrow Sharp (Susie Garcia). He has seven grandchildren: Cheray Jonell Sharp, Latrice Mayfield, Eloise Roselynn Mayfield, Tiffany Anne Renee Moses, Bennett Neil Gonzalez Sr., Lester Ramon Gonzalez and Mitchell Brent Sharp. He also had three great-grandchildren: Dallion Mayfield, Savannah Drennan and Bennett Neil Gonzalez Jr. Joe was a great father who encouraged his children to do their best in whatever they chose to do and to be an example to their own families. He would tell them to make a good name for themselves and not be like others but be a good example to everyone. He would tell them their life is an open book for everyone to see. He loved his great-grandchildren very much and would study with them when they visited him and would speak Mohave to his great-grandson. Joe will be missed very much.