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Welcome to Pioneers' Cemetery Association

New Book - Beneath the Headstones

Get YOUR COPY of the LATEST book by Pioneers' Cemetery Association story tellers! Books ARE NOW available for only $23.99 and may be purchased on any Thursday at Smurthwaite House 10 a.m - 2 p.m or you can contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com to make local arrangements for shipment or pick-up. Proceeds of purchases made through PCA go toward our mission of historic preservation.

Per our publisher, Arcadia Publishing ad The History Press:
"Pioneer & Military Memorial Park exists to honor the legacies of early residents buried in seven historic cemeteries established in 1884 and closed in 1914. Henry Garfias, a popular and prominent lawman, once served the town as constable and marshal. Rose Gregory, one of Phoenix's most colorful forerunners, is remembered as a benevolent madam. Charles Posten was once regarded as the 'Father of Arizona.' And the tragic death of Letitia Rice led to a hasty trial and acquittal before being ruled accidental. The Pioneers' Cemetery Association delves into the past and brings to light the movers, shakers and regular folks who built this incredible desert city."

Member Appreciation Ice Cream Social 2018

rePioneers' Cemetery hosts TWO Member Appreciation events annually - our Holiday Party and Ice Cream Social!

Members gathered Saturday, August 4 at Smurthwaite House for ice cream a'plenty with LOADS of tasty toppings available. Prizes were beautiful and standing by for those playing Bingo with Marshall Shore, Arizona's Hip Historian!

This was the FIRST opportunity for many to purchase PCA's LATEST book, Beneath the Headstones! Many of the contributing authors were available for autographs!

You, too, can join the excitement of preserving Arizona history - and some amazing free ice cream next year! - by becoming a member of PCA - TODAY! We're beginning to accept NEW memberships for 2019 while you enjoy the remainder of 2018 as a member for FREE! Those wishing to RENEW memberships will be entered into a PRIZE DRAWING - IF you renew BY December 31, 2018!

Hope to see everyone at our Member Appreciation Holiday Party next!

Membership Application
File Size:	194 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Way to Go, Eagle Scout Candidate & THANKS, Piestewa Peak DAR!

Our many thanks to our latest Eagle Scout candidate for creating this BEAUTIFUL Memorial Walkway in front of Porter Cemetery! Don't you just LOVE the bench alongside of it generously donated by Piestewa Peak Chapter, NSDAR! This makes a lovely, quiet spot under the trees to reflect and pay respects.

Stay tuned for details of how YOU can become a part of this lovely walkway! We're in the process of making pavers available for you to have a loved one or a group's name etched as a memorial tribute. You'll want to be a part of the opportunity to be a part of Phoenix history!

Loss of a Family Member - E. Diane Sumrall

Pioneers' Cemetery Association has lost a shining star.

E. Diane Sumrall, 75, passed away on July 13, 2018. Diane was born on October 13, 1942 to George and Imogene (nee Colley) Watt, in Watsonville, California. She spent her early teenage years in Bend, Oregon before moving to Phoenix in 1956. Diane graduated from West High in 1960 and Phoenix College School of Nursing in 1962.

It was at Phoenix College that she met Don and they were married on November 9, 1961. The marriage is in its 57th year. She worked as an RN for 35 years at Maricopa County Health Center until her retirement in 1997. After retirement she volunteered at Pioneer Cemetery Association doing research and grave restoration.

She and Don traveled to many states in their motor home doing genealogical research. She also traveled to Scotland to see her grandfather's house in Aberdeen. She was astonished at the good condition of the ancestral grave markers. She also made a trip to Ecuador visiting the tropics and to the Galapagos Islands.

The Phoenix summers were too hot so the family bought a beautiful cabin in Heber. It overlooked the forest and at breakfast one could see the White Mountains. She always had her camera and always enjoyed taking pictures of wildlife and flowers. A beautiful life that ended too soon.

Published in The Arizona Republic on July 22, 2018

Thank You for Attending Our Memorial Day Remembrance!

From PCA President Vivia Strang -

There were 100+ individuals who poured their hearts into making our 35th Memorial Day Observation one of the best ever! The South Side Division of Parks and Recreation (our partner) trimmed trees, raked up leaves and trash, watered grass and flowers, and made the grounds look fantastic! PCA volunteers also worked on the grounds, donated trees and planted flowers, cleaned and decorated the Smurthwaite House and set up a beautiful display of Victorian and Depression Glass inside. In the days before, on Memorial Day, and the clean up on Tuesday, volunteers set up and took down tables, pop-up tents, over 400 chairs, one very heavy metal bell, flags, banners, hundreds of flowers, accepted cases of water, mixed up lemonade, and set out cookies for our 350+ guests. Not to mention being at the Cemetery at 5:00 a.m. on Monday for Channel 12 News to shoot live-shots for the early news! The historic organization participants, our generous contributors, the speakers, the Media person, our Master of Ceremonies, the Tour Guides, the Cannon and Musket guys, plus a live trumpeter and a Bag Pipe player, and anyone who helped make this event even possible - just know that one person could not have done all this; it is each and every person contributing………it is SYNERGY, when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. THANK YOU ALL for believing in PCA and supporting our Mission!

Kudos to PCA Member Dr. James Klein!

The Arizona Historical Society established the Al Merito Award in 1973 to recognize individuals and organizations from Arizona who have made outstanding contributions and serve as role models for preserving Arizona’s rich history. Named for the nineteenth-century award bestowed by a newly independent government of Mexico for meritorious service to the Republic, al merito literally translates for merit. The awards were presented by AHS Executive Director W. James Burns during the April 2018 Arizona History Convention.

Dr. James Klein is a gentleman who has worked for decades to research, restore, and preserve the history of Arizona in particular and the Southwest in general. He generously shares his knowledge with other scholars and history buffs. His accomplishments are many, including: founding and chairing the Pima County Medical Society History Committee; researching and authoring multiple publications; serving as a founding member and then as President of the Otis H. Chidester Scout Museum of Southern Arizona; volunteering as the historian for the Catalina Council, Boy Scouts of America; serving as a docent at the annual Tucson Fort Lowell Days event and as a member of the City of Tucson Fort Lowell Historic Zone Advisory Board; and serving as President of the Tucson Corral of the Westerners as well as editing their research publication, “The Smoke Signal.”

SOURCE: Arizona Historical Society

Pioneer of the Month - New Page!

Be sure to check out our new blog page, Our Stories, to learn a little about the pioneers buried in our cemeteries! Our first story is about Bryan Philip Darrell Duppa, pictured here. Our thanks to volunteers and researchers, Debe Branning and Donna Carr, for the story! Watch for this ongoing feature of Pioneer of the Month as we share a new story about our Phoenix pioneers!

You can always learn more by contacting us at pioneercem@yahoo.com for source material or more details. Much information is also readily available on Find A Grave. We also feature stories in our newsletter! See the form below to subscribe for news, check our Board News page for posted issues of the newsletter, or become a member for the latest news! (application form is below)

City of Phoenix Impact Volunteer Award

Pioneers' Cemetery Association has been selected to receive the Volunteer Phoenix Impact Volunteer Award! Each year, City officials and staff members nominate volunteers who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to high-impact service.
CONGRATULATIONS to ALL members for being nominated and selected! THANK YOU, City of Phoenix, for the honor!

Grave Marker Preservation Team - Hard at Work!

With MANY thanks to our boots-on-the-ground Grave Marker Preservation team, over April 21-22, 11 grave markers and one cemetery plot fencing were repaired over the weekend! That brings this team's total to 21 completed SO FAR in 2018! This is ONLY possible with your ongoing financial support of our mission and activities. If you're interested in a FUTURE TRAINING session, please contact Cindy Lee at geckofamilee@cox.net with your interest so we can keep you posted on the next opportunity!

Ways to Support Preserving Phoenix History

There are MANY ways you can support Phoenix history and Pioneers' Cemetery Association!

Did you know.....PCA is a 501(c)(3)? Your tax donations are greatly appreciated! Receipts are certainly provided for your records. Donations can be mailed to:

Pioneers' Cemetery Association
P.O. Box 33192
Phoenix, AZ 85067

You can contribute while shopping on Amazon! We're a partner of the Amazon Smile program. Click on the link below to select Pioneers' Cemetery Association as your donor organization. When you #StartWithaSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. Bookmark the link https://smile.amazon.com/ch/86-0462117 and support us every time you shop.
We're always on the look-out for grant funds we may qualify for. If you know of any, please contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com!
We have a TON of GREAT IDEAS of ways to grow and expand awareness of our cemeteries and Phoenix history! We need YOU to volunteer YOUR time and talent! Contact us to review how YOU would like to become part of our team of volunteers!
One of our primary sources of income is simply membership dues - become a member today and stay informed!

Membership Application
File Size:	194 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Listing of Burials

Back by popular demand! If you're looking for the names of all contained (that we're aware of!) within our cemeteries, you can find the entire alphabetic listing under the Services tab for your reference. We have many researchers who find it easier to begin with our lists before heading to Find A Grave or contacting us for details. You'll see notations embedded in lists of who we have additional information about. Feel free to contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com to access story information. (remember - membership has its benefits!)

Open House Thursdays

Tour the cemeteries and visit historic Smurthwaite House EVERY Thursday, 10 AM-2 PM. Donations gratefully accepted. Smurthwaite House is located at 1317 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ.

Smurthwaite House Video

Many thanks to City of Phoenix's Nathalie Gage as well as Pioneers' Cemetery Association's own Judy Smith and Vivia Strang for their time and talents!