John L. Huerta

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John L. Huerta, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He lived a long and successful life, loved by family and friends, but his one true love was his wife, Nancy S. Huerta, who passed away eight weeks before him. We know he is happy and at peace dancing with her again in heaven. John passed away Sunday, January 19th, five weeks prior to his 88th birthday. He was surrounded by his loving family. John was born in Tucson, Arizona, the son of Refugio M. Huerta and Juana Lopez and the fourth child in a family of seven children. John graduated from Tucson High in 1950 and completed his B.A. at the University of Arizona in 1955. It was while attending Tucson High School that John met Nancy Shipman at a high school dance and the two were married soon after Nancy’s high school graduation. John and Nancy recently celebrated 68 years of marriage and enjoyed travels through Europe (Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal), Israel, Mexico (Mexico City, Oaxaca, Guanajuato), and the United States (particularly Las Vegas). John and Nancy raised six children while living in Arlington, Virginia where John worked for the U.S. Department of Housing, Education, and Welfare. In 1975, John and Nancy relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where John worked as the Director of the Department of Economic Security, and in 1978, they returned to Tucson where John worked with several local real estate investment firms. In 1989, John joined the University of Arizona Development Office where he founded the Office for Minority Programs which raises funds to benefit Hispanic, African American, Native American, and Asian American scholarship endowments, as well as other special emphasis programs. John is predeceased by his parents, his brother Joseph Huerta, and his two sisters Mary Palacio and Hope Davis. He is also predeceased by her daughter Monica Huerta Allen. John is survived by his five children: John L. Huerta Jr., Tina Huerta, Adrian Murphy, Andrew Huerta all of Tucson, Arizona, and Leehla Huerta of Round Rock, Texas. He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren: Julia Huerta Whitehead, John L. Huerta III, Angelica Felice, Olivia Rebeck, Carley Hill, Meghan Murphy, Mary Huerta, Teagan Huerta, Irelyn Huerta, Michael Huerta, Jacob Huerta, and one great-grandchild: Conner Hill. John was a devoted parishioner of St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, 4725 E. Pima Street, Tucson, Arizona 85712 where funeral services will be held for him on Saturday, January 25th at 11:00 am. A private burial (family only) will take place after at Holy Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the Huerta family requests that you please consider donations in the name of John L. Huerta to the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona (https://epilepsyaz.org/). On-line donations can be made at https://donate.epilepsy.com/givenowaz – Personal checks can be mailed to: Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona, 3620 N. 4th Ave. Rm. 228, Phoenix, Arizona 85013 – Donations can also be taken over the phone at: (602) 282-3515. Arrangements are being handled by Bring’s Broadway Chapel. Tributes/Condolences can be expressed online @ https://bringfuneralhome.com/