Julia F. Pixley

SALT LAKE CITY — Julia F. Pixley died July 23, 2011 after complications from cancer, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born April 11, 1923 and grew up in Queens, N.Y., becoming an Army Nurse Cadet during World War II. She met her husband, Edward G. Pixley, while caring for wounded soldiers in a military hospital. They were married June 22, 1947. The couple spent the next two years in upstate New York, where Julie worked as a fulltime nurse. They then permanently relocated to American Fork, where Edward worked for Geneva Steel and Julie was employed as a part-time nurse. In 1952 she became a fulltime supervisor and assistant director of nursing at American Fork Hospital.

As a life-long Catholic, Julie is described as her friends as being a "community-minded and God-centered woman." Upon her arrival in Utah, she became a member of Saint Francis Catholic Church and her children attended Saint Francis School in Provo, Utah. She transitioned to Saint Peter Catholic Church upon its establishment. In 1994, she received the "Woman of the Year" award from the Catholic Church in Utah.

She is survived by four children: Kathleen Messerschmidt, Daniel Pixley, Diane Martinez (Glenn), Susan Murdoch (Ralph), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Pixley, and her granddaughter Melinda Sykes.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, July 27 at 7 pm at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 634 North 600 East, American Fork. A rosary will be held prior to the Mass and a reception will follow.