Jewell Faye Wuertz

Jewell “Julie” Faye (Curtis) Wuertz of Casa Grande, AZ entered into eternity with God on August 17, 2023. She was born on November 22, 1926, in Fulton, MO to the late Walter Franklin “Jack” Curtis and the late Mary Catherine (Gregory) Curtis. Julie graduated from Fulton High School in 1945 and was a member of the Fulton High School Drum and Bugle Corp. She attended Chillicothe Business College taking business classes and being trained on a variety of business machines. After business college she worked at Moorman Manufacturing Company in Quincy, Illinois. She was adventurous and in 1948 traveled with a cousin and a friend to Tucson, AZ. She held a variety of jobs in Tucson including an elevator operator and a telephone operator. It was there that she met her husband Howard Arthur Wuertz. They were married on September 4, 1949. She had said she would never marry a farmer, but they were married almost 74 years. They moved to Coolidge, AZ in 1951 where they settled and raised a family. Julie was involved in a variety of community activities including being a Brownie Leader, a Deacon and an Elder in the Coolidge Presbyterian Church, a member of the Pinal County Foster Care Review Board and a 60-year member of the P.E.O. Chapter S Coolidge, AZ. She supported other charitable organizations including as a member of the Casa Grande Hospital Auxiliary, Arizona Cotton Wives and she raised funds for the Arizona Children’s Home and actively helped those who were supporting other charitable or religious organizations throughout the Coolidge community. Julie enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and cheating at Solitaire while watching Arizona Cardinals or University of Arizona Football Games. She was also a passionate gardener and enjoyed maintaining her gardens at her home in Casa Grande and her summer home in Pinetop. Julie was also an enthusiastic collector of Coca Cola memorabilia. She was quite the fashionista in the family. She was always stylish and had a fondness for animal prints. Julie was always up for a good party and enjoyed dancing with her one and only Howard. Being a farmer’s wife, Julie kept the home fires burning while her husband Howard farmed and traveled on business. She supported and encouraged her children in all their endeavors. Many of her children’s friends felt that she was their second mom when they came to visit the farm. Julie never missed any activities her children participated in and at times attended three sporting events a week. She was an avid world traveler with Howard whether it was for farm business or pleasure. She is preceded in death by her son David Arthur Wuertz, her parents, and her two brothers James Marvin Curtis and Maurice Lee Curtis. Julie is survived by her husband of almost 74 years Howard Arthur Wuertz, three of her children, Sarah Lynn Wuertz; Gregory Wuertz (Loralee); Carol Wuertz Behrens (Jim); and daughter-in-law Lori Jean Wuertz (David). She is also leaving behind nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, each of whom she adored. She will also be greatly missed by her sister Barbara Hayes of Fulton, MO. Her extended family of the Curtis’s and Wuertz’s will miss her as well. Services will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at Desert Hope Presbyterian, 255 E. Butte Ave., Florence, AZ 85132. Graveside Services will occur following the service at Valley Memorial Park, 6895 E. Highway 287, Coolidge, AZ 85128. A reception will follow at the Coolidge Florence Elks Lodge, 2241 N. Attaway Rd, Florence, AZ 85132. Donations can be made in Julie’s memory to the Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries at https://abcs.org/donate/.