Gila Valley Arizona FamilySearch Center

Pima Stake is hosting Pioneer Days this year! Spread the word and invite everyone to come celebrate at the Ed Hubbard Field - just like old times!

Amen to that!

How communities remember — or sometimes forget — their dead.

The longer I work on this century homes project, the more I find myself drawn toward the cemeteries of the Gila Valley.

At first glance, cemeteries may seem disconnected from the story of old homes. But increasingly I have come to believe they are deeply connected.

The homes tell me how people lived.
The cemeteries help reveal patterns of lifespan, how people were remembered, and sometimes how they were forgotten.

Years ago, I taught courses in Death, Dying, and Bereavement at both a community college and university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Before that, I spent decades doing genealogy work — searching old records, building family trees, and trying to understand how ordinary people lived their lives.

The deeper I go into this project, the more convinced I become that understanding a family or a community also means understanding how they respond to loss.

Recently I spent time walking through Thatcher Cemetery. I was struck by how many different stories exist there, side by side.

Some graves are marked by towering monuments or carefully maintained family plots with wrought iron fencing and artificial turf in stark contrast to the rock and gravel that characterizes most of the cemetery. Others are small, weathered, and nearly anonymous. In one of the older sections, rough mounds of rock sit quietly beneath the Arizona sun with no markers or identifiers of any kind.

I noticed many pioneer names of the early settlers of this valley. Throughout the graveyard, varying styles of markers reflected differing economic realities, family traditions, and religious beliefs.

Some graves had been lovingly decorated by descendants determined to honor their kindred dead. Others appeared not to have been visited for years.

One thing that especially struck me was the location itself. Just down the hill from the cemetery, families were gathered in the park flying kites, watching children play ball, and enjoying the afternoon. There were only a few steps separating the playground from the graves. Rather than feeling strange, it felt deeply human.

Life and death have always coexisted. Pioneer communities understood that in ways modern society sometimes tries to avoid.

As part of this project, I hope to gradually visit and study as many cemeteries throughout Graham County as I can gain access to — from the larger public cemeteries to the smaller, older, more isolated burial grounds that many people may not even realize still exist.

Some are well known and easy to locate. Others — including smaller cemeteries such as Hubbard, Rogers, Glenbar, and Epley — may take considerably more research to find and document.

My interest is not simply in photographing graves or compiling lists of names of who was buried there. What interests me are the patterns those records reveal.

Which years saw sudden spikes in deaths?
How many children never reached adulthood?
What epidemics swept through the valley?
And, over time, how did improved medical care, sanitation, refrigeration, and economic stability gradually reshape survival itself?

Perhaps just as importantly: Who is missing from the records entirely? Or most important of all, what meaning was given to the ceremonies, rituals, and traditions surrounding death and how has that changed over time?

I am very aware that cemetery records can never tell the whole story. Not everyone who died received a marker. Some graves were moved. Some families left no visible trace behind at all. The surviving records can never fully capture the realities of grief, loss, and memory.

Still, cemeteries remain one of the most powerful historical records communities leave behind. They preserve evidence not only of who died, but of who was remembered, who maintained family connections, and how later generations chose to honor — or sometimes overlook — those who came before them.

Here's another great place to learn about our Gila Valley Families 😍

Today's the day!

How to Find Your Relatives Using DNA

Where: The FamilySearch Center
515 W. 11th St, Safford, AZ
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM

Instructor: Renae Ferrin

This will be very interesting!

"Together, We Build America's Story"
FamilySearch International today announced its collaboration with America250, the national, nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. FamilySearch will support America250’s mission to celebrate unity, heritage, and progress by inviting individuals, families, and communities across the nation to remember, discover, and add their own stories to expand America’s collective narrative and connect us all.

FamilySearch’s theme for America’s 250th Anniversary—“Together, We Build America’s Story”—encourages people everywhere to “add what you know” to the free, collaborative FamilySearch Family Tree. This effort ensures that family memories, local histories, and ancestor stories contribute to the broad, diverse fabric of America’s national story.

America250 encourages the nation to pause and reflect on its past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future being built for the next generation. FamilySearch’s activities reinforce this spirit by helping individuals and families uncover ancestral resilience, migrations, sacrifices, and achievements that illuminate the American experience.

Collecting Stories that Reflect Our American History
America250 emphasizes that “the American story is woven from the unique and varied narratives of our people,” highlighting the importance of both well‑known and unsung contributions to the nation’s development. FamilySearch’s role in helping individuals discover and preserve family histories directly supports this national focus, enabling Americans to document and celebrate the stories that shape their communities and heritage.

Rosie Rios, chair for the America250 initiative, said, “When we know our story, we know America’s story—because it’s the people who came before us who built our country, and then we continue to build it.”

The America250 campaign aims to engage all 350 million Americans as part of the country’s 250th anniversary on 4 July 2026. FamilySearch complements this goal through its collaborative, free Family Tree, which thrives on millions of contributions from individuals seeking to tell, preserve, and connect their family’s story, which plays a part in America’s story.

FamilySearch America250 Activities in 2026
FamilySearch America250 is a new web page launched for the national celebration to help show how every family has contributed to the American story. Throughout 2026, select FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries across the United States will offer America250‑themed experiences, including:

Assisted discovery of ancestors who lived through significant historical eras of American history
Access to free genealogical records (immigration, military, census, local histories)
Activities for youth groups, schools, and community organizations
Hands‑on help adding family stories, photos, and memories to the FamilySearch Family Tree
Free personalized guidance from trained volunteers
More information is available at FamilySearch America250.

Why Family Stories Matter for America250
Family stories add depth, color, and humanity to the national narrative. By participating in FamilySearch’s “add what you know” invitation, individuals can help ensure America’s 250th anniversary reflects the experiences, memories, and family connections of people from every community, culture, and heritage background.

Steve Rockwood, CEO, FamilySearch International, notes, “America’s story is built one family at a time. As we commemorate 250 years, we invite everyone to add what they know—names, memories, and photos—to help preserve the diverse experiences that shaped our communities and our nation. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard in America’s story.”

FamilySearch invites individuals, families, educators, youth organizations, and community groups to participate in the America250 effort by discovering ancestors and adding personal and family stories to the FamilySearch Family Tree. Every story contributed helps ensure that America’s story is more complete and better reflects the rich legacy of its people and heritage.

How to Find Your Relatives Using DNA

Where: The FamilySearch Center
515 W. 11th St, Safford, AZ
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM

Instructor: Renae Ferrin

This will be very interesting!

Family History Research - Basic Principles
Learn how to apply basic problem solving techniques to family history mysteries.

Where: FamilySearch Center
515 W. 11th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
When: Monday, January 12, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Instructor: Kathy Shepherd

Luke 2:8–14

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Helaman 14:4
Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.