Carlton Terry

UPPER SANTAN — Carlton Henry Terry, 73, a tribal and spiritual leader, died on April 17, 2013, at home.
Mr. Terry will lie in state from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at the Gila River Governance Center in Sacaton, with a rosary service and wake beginning at 6 p.m. at the Betty Enos home in Upper Santan. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. Saturday at St. Anne Catholic Mission by Monsignor Ed Meulemans. Burial will be in St. Anne Catholic Cemetery.
Mr. Terry was born on Nov. 27, 1939, in Sacaton and was a son of Henry Terry and Ella M. Terry Enos. He was part of the Gila River Pima/Yaqui Matachine group and later in life became involved with the Smoke Blessing after returning from a conference about Kateri Tekakwitha. He was so impressed that he prayed he would live to see her become the first North American Native American woman to become a saint. He stayed up to watch her canonization on TV. In the early 1970s he worked as a plumber's helper, putting in bathrooms and assisting elders with their needs in the Housing Improvement Program. He continued for many years and finally became administrator for the program.
He was elected to the Gila River Indian Community's Tribal Council in 1993 and served a term during which he worked for approval of casino poker. Beginning in 1998 health problems prevented him from working or dancing. He enjoyed sitting outside and feeding wild birds. He also liked oldies music, joking, planting and praying. He was active with the dialysis program and had a passion for discussing politics.
Survivors include a sister, Betty Enos of Upper Santan; a stepson, Richard Lewis of Upper Santan; a stepdaughter, Edwardine Dowling of Sacaton Flats; two brothers, Donald Enos of Upper Santan and Mitchell Marrietta of Casa Blanca; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena N.; two brothers, Raymond Soos and Roderick Terry; and three sisters, Neomi Antone, Shirley A. and Janice R. Terry.
J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.