Pearly Lupe

Pearly Lupe, age 55, passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at San Carlos Apache Healthcare in Peridot, AZ.

Pearly Lupe who we all know as “Pee” was born on March 25. 1967 to Paul & Monica Harney Lupe. She was half San Carlos Apache and half White Mountain Apache. As a little girl, her parents lived in Tarzan Valley on Mesa Drive where she and her siblings made lifelong friends. Pearly went to school at Rice Elementary and Junior High School in San Carlos. She then went on to Phoenix Indian High School in Phoenix, Arizona and also briefly attended Alchesay High School in Whiteriver, Az.  A short time after that, she was a seasonal firefighter with San Carlos Forestry and was a member of the All Woman’s Firefighting Crew. The last few years, she worked as a poll worker for the County Elections in San Carlos. Pearly had an outgoing personality in which made it very easy to make lots of friends from all over the place. As a young girl, she played CoEd softball a lot and was a member of the Cibicue Brewers who were managed and coached by Ervin Quay of Dischi’bikoh.  Pearly wasn’t afraid to try something new and this gave her an opportunity to participate in the Miss San Carlos Apache Rodeo Queen competition where she earned the title of 2nd Attendant. As we were little, we would all want to spend time at Aunt Monica’s house just to be with Pearly.  A day of spending time with her would eventually lead to overnight stays. She was very close to her nieces and always made sure they were taken care of.  When she was not firefighting, she would always be open to babysitting which became her passion in helping to raise a few children who she thought of her own.  Those children included: Francesca and Marla Stevens, Adriana, Adriano and Morias Cruz, Carmello and Courtney Koory - she had a very special bond with Courtney, she was a second mom and Pearly would do anything for her and she was the one who took Courtney to her first day of kindergarten and 1st grade.  Courtney says of Habed which is what she called Pearly “You always made sure I got my way when my mom said no.” Other children she helped babysit include Seth and Diana Longknife, Mauriano and Mauriana Bush. These children were special to her in each their own way.

We will miss Pearly so much; she was always the first to show up to help her nieces and other family members when they participated in sunrise ceremonies. She so loved to participate that we think she’s the only one to ever build camp, help cook in the kitchen, dance during the ceremony AND tear down camp all in one weekend. We are definitely going to miss that, especially her singing of Apache Songs when she had the chance as she composed her own Apache song about the Goséh and Giddy.

Pearly is survived by her companion: Shari Irving, her siblings: Freddie Lupe Sr (Patra), Bernadine Nosie (Dallas), Sharon Quay (Ervin), Randy Lupe, Gary Lupe and Carlos Lupe Hornelaz. She is also survived by 5 nephews and 6 nieces.  She was preceded in death by her parents: Paul and Monica Lupe.

Pearly was always funny and always made everyone laugh but she had her own words she lived by and was probably the best advice she could give, but with that said we will leave you with “Let’s be lovers, not fighters and don’t cry over spilled milk”

Wake: Saturday, April 30 - 4:00 PM -Lupe Residence, Aravaipa Rd, Gilson Wash District, San Carlos.

Service: Sunday, May 1 - 1:00 PM - Burdette Hall, Downtown San Carlos.

Burial: Upper Peridot Cemetery, Across from old store/post office.