Charla Kirsten Dazen

With grieving hearts, we announce the passing of an extraordinary woman, Charla Kirsten Dazen, a woman of profound quiet strength, a healer by trade and by temperament, and a daughter of the White Mountain Apache community who understood that to serve others is the highest calling we can answer.

Charla’s journey to the nursing profession was not a path of least resistance; it was a testament to the grit and determination that defined her character. When resources were thin, she did not waver. She sold her own plasma to buy her textbooks, choosing the hard road because she knew where it led. She practiced her craft on cousins and kin, refining the steady hand and the keen eye that would eventually become a lifeline for so many. Long before she earned her Nursing degree, Charla was already living a life of service.

At San Carlos Apache Health Care, she didn't just perform a job; she embodied a mission. She sought out the work that required the most patience and the most grace, tending to elders and providing the meticulous, unseen care that healing demands. She looked toward the future with a hope to join the OB Department, driven by a sacred belief in the promise of new life and the responsibility to protect it at its very dawn.

Charla found her peace in the early light of morning and the slow descent of the evening sun. She was a student of the world around her, often found with a birdwatching book in hand, finding wonder in the small, vibrant details of creation. She lived with a joy that was infectious, whether she was singing every word to a song or cheering with unbridled passion for the Arizona Wildcats and her beloved Dodgers. She watched the World Series from a hospital bed, cheering for her team, as her spirit remained undimmed. She reminded us all that hope is not a fragile thing.

She was a woman who never knew a stranger. With a laugh that acted as a bridge between people, she met everyone exactly where they were. Through her valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, she continued to show up at work for others, carrying a smile that masked her own pain to provide comfort to those around her. She was a steady, beating heart within our medical system, resilient, faithful, and deeply human.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Whiteriver Indian Health Service for the opportunity she had to serve the people of Whiteriver and Cibecue. She loved Cibecue. We thank Rema for her mentorship to Charla in the health field, and the staff at Banner Gateway for their tireless compassion in doing all they could to help her in her battle.

Charla returned to her eternal home surrounded by family and friends, on January 30, 2026, at the age of thirty-eight. She was born on December 20, 1987, to Manuel Dazen Sr. and Naveen Lee Dazen, entering a world that was beginning to value care over conflict. Her life was a reflection of that grace. She is survived by her parents; her siblings, Rhiannon Lee , Kelly (Avery) Bullshows, Ethan (Tina) Dazen, Shasta (Josh) Hampton, Rodney Dazen , Mandy Dazen, Manuel Dazen Jr., Shyra Dazen Madison Dazen, and Hadlee Dazen: and her nieces and nephews Shaydiin Bullshows, Ari Bullshows, Apollo Bullshows, Tealieh Bullshows, Jazlyn Dazen, Cree Hampton, Kiowa Fox Hampton, Levi Dazen, Karter Kurth. She is preceded in death by her brother Orrin Chatlin Dazen.

From the ancient traditions of medicinal plants and firelight to the modern monitors of today, the essence of healing remains unchanged: it is the presence of one human being caring for another. Charla walked that path with humility.

Charla’s love extended far beyond her profession and into the lives of her nieces and nephews, whom she cherished deeply. She believed in showing up, not just in words, but in presence. She traveled to Montana to visit her “Crow kids”, as she lovingly called them, making time, again and again, to be part of their lives. She could be found in gymnasiums and on sidelines, cheering on her nephews at games in Durango, celebrating effort, grit and heart. No matter how full her schedule or how long she had been away, every visit to the Valley included time with her precious Levi, who knew her simply and lovingly as “Momma Charla”. Jazlyn, who she adored and made sure she had the things she needed when school projects became assigned, or her Karter Kakes as she called him, she would face time him every chance she got. In these relationships, as in all things, she gave freely of herself, and in doing so, left an imprint that will endure.

A public viewing will be held Sunday, February 15, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Owens Livingston Mortuary in Show Low, AZ located at 320 North 9th Street. Services will follow on Monday, February 16, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Downtown Chapel, located at 300 North 11th Street in Show Low, AZ with a viewing at 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM and the funeral at 10:00 AM.

May we honor her legacy by showing up for one another with the same courage she displayed every day. May we honor nurses not only for their technical skill, but for the human connection they bring to healing. May we remember the sacred work of our nurses, and never take those services for granted, and may we carry Charla’s light forward in our own lives.

The family thanks everyone for their prayers, love and support shown to the family. Charla, deeply loved and forever remembered of her strong testimony of the Lord and Savior, which guided her life and sustained her through her illness. May we all remember her for the kind, loving and honest person she was- and that others live life fully as she did.