John "Jack" Frost Sturgis

John, “Jack” Frost Sturgis, died February 13, 2024, after a brief illness.  Jack was born in Kansas City, Missouri, February 26, 1938.  He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Jane, their daughters, Joselyn Fenley (Michael), their two daughters, Rowan and Jillian; Michelle Bushey, her two children, Ashley Pena and Ian Malone.  His extended family, Christina Pester (Ken) and Christopher Robledo; and great  grandchildren, Jacob, Sarah, Joshua, Hudson Pester; and Oliver Pena.

            Jack graduated from Las Cruces High in 1957 and promptly took an auto mechanics course which developed into a love of drag and sprint car racing. He would load his family and many of his second sons into the pickup every Saturday night and head to Speedway Park to enjoy those races.  Later he attended LeTourneau Tech majoring in building trades. He worked with his father, who was a building contractor, for several years developing a valuable knowledge of construction. This provided the background for him as a resource for the building and grounds committees at Highland Presbyterian Church and subsequently Grace Presbyterian Church.  

            In 1969, when Phelps Dodge Copper Products opened a rod mill in El Paso, he was the 16^th employee hired; he relocated his family to El Paso and worked for over 30 years in quality control before having to medically retire.

            Youth were his passion and he devoted all his spare hours to multiple youth-related projects.  He and his wife sponsored the youth group at First Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces until they relocated to El Paso.  In 1965, Troop 70, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church needed a Scoutmaster and Jack willingly assumed the position leading to over 50 years of service to boys in Scouting.  He also served as Scoutmaster of Troop 222 at Highland Presbyterian Church, El Paso, for over 30 years earning multiple awards and recognitions:  Vigil rank in Order of the Arrow; Wood badge; and Silver Beaver.  Over 20 of his scouts attained the Eagle Rank.  Every summer the troop took a two-week summer camping events at various venues such as Philmont Scout Ranch, or 50 mile backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon or the Gila Wilderness; or 50 mile canoe trips into Canada.  As an active leader at the District level, he attended the National Jamboree in Ft. A.P. Hill several times serving in various positions of responsibility including Scoutmaster. He willingly drove his pickup loaded with all the needed equipment across the United States leading the District Executive who rode with him to state he learned the location of every Cracker Barrel Country Store between Texas and Pennsylvania.

            Optimist International found a willing volunteer for youth events when Jack joined Transmountain Optimist Club in 1970.  He soon assumed the responsibility of coordinating the District-wide oratorical and essay writing contests and served in several leadership positions throughout the city and district.  He was selected as Northeast Citizen of the Year for his service to youth through the club.  The Northeaster Parade was a special project for him. Initially, his responsibility was placing the required barricades out with his Scout Troop at 5 am the day of the parade and then picking them up after the parade was over; advancing in responsibility to directing the parade for the past 20 years.  He was still helping with the plans for the 2024 parade just prior to this final hospitalization.  He developed multiple valuable relationships with leaders in the community through these contacts.

            A devout Christian he served his church in multiple roles.  He was a ruling elder for 60 years, leading the congregations with knowledge and wit.  He was selected several times to serve on the team looking for new pastoral leadership.

            His girls both were musicians in the Parkland High School Band and to support them he served as Band Booster Club President.

            A memorial service to celebrate Jack’s full life will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church, 8001 Magnetic, Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM.   In lieu of flowers, donations to Laws ‘n Paws, Grace Presbyterian Memorial Fund or Camino Real Optimist Club will be accepted.

Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast, www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net