Julia Ann “Julie” (Sturgis) Gaston, 84, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 7, 2026, surrounded by her family and the love and faith that defined her life.

Julie was born September 17, 1941, in Worthington, Minnesota, the nearest hospital to the tiny town of Ocheyedan, Iowa, where her family made their home. The second of four children born to Russell and Dorothy Sturgis, she grew up with her older sister, Pat, younger sister, Nancy, and younger brother, Ron.

Julie graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1959 and went on to earn a degree in English from the University of South Dakota. She began her career teaching high school English, a profession she loved. Her love of language never left her. She could diagram a sentence like nobody’s business and remained thoroughly disappointed that schools eventually stopped teaching the art.

Julie spent much of her adult life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she worked in the legal field while raising her daughters, Jill and Amy. During some of the hardest years of her life, she would sit at her desk writing out Scripture and committing verses to memory, relying on God’s Word to carry her through. It reflected the faith she would live for the rest of her life: when Julie didn’t have an answer, she prayed.

In 1985, Julie moved with her family to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, beginning a new chapter that would make Northeast Florida home for the remainder of her life. She loved living near the ocean and, in her younger years, spent countless hours walking the beach searching for shark teeth.

Julie found her professional sweet spot in hospitality and group sales, including many years at the Sea Turtle Inn in Atlantic Beach. It was work perfectly suited to a woman who could talk to just about anyone — and usually did. Guests became friends, coworkers became family and Julie rarely encountered a stranger who stayed one for long.

Some of the work that brought Julie the greatest joy happened through the church.

For more than 40 years, she poured herself into children, teaching two-year-old Sunday school at Hillside Wesleyan Church in Cedar Rapids and later at Beach United Methodist Church in Jacksonville Beach. During her years at Beach United Methodist, one of her greatest joys was gathering the children at the front of the sanctuary to share the children’s sermon before they were released to Sunday school.

To generations of children she taught, she became simply “Juju” — a name her grandchildren later adopted and that eventually became how nearly everyone who loved her knew her. In later years, she continued serving children at The Church of Eleven22.

And she remembered those children. All of them, it seemed.

Years later, sitting in her familiar row at Eleven22’s San Pablo Campus, Juju would point out adults and families passing by and proudly announce that she had taught their children in Sunday school. She also faithfully volunteered at Hope’s Closet and delighted in seeing people throughout Jacksonville come to know Jesus.

Julie’s faith was never complicated or performative. She loved Jesus, loved people and believed deeply in the power of prayer. Her favorite song was “Jesus Loves Me,” and in many ways that simple truth reflected the faith she lived. She invited people to church. She prayed for them. She loved them where they were. Through that simple, faithful witness, she pointed many people toward Christ.

Easter held a particularly special place in Julie’s heart because the resurrection of Jesus was the foundation of her hope.

For the last 30 years, Julie shared her life and home with her younger sister, Nancy Winter, who was also her best friend. The two were nearly inseparable — so much so that people often mistook them for twins, and it was often said that the sisters “shared a heartbeat.” Julie delighted in referring to Nancy as her “older sister,” even though Nancy was actually younger. Nancy’s death earlier this year broke Julie’s heart in a way few losses ever had.

Her daughters and grandchildren knew the depth of Julie’s love perhaps better than anyone. Her daughters were her “little lambs,” as she affectionately called them later in life, and she was one of the first people Jill and Amy wanted to call with both good news and bad. She was their fiercest cheerleader and prayer warrior. Her love wasn’t something they had to earn. She lived out the promise of Romans 8:1 — no condemnation — loving them through successes, mistakes, joys and disappointments. Even in her final days, she made sure Jill and Amy knew how proud she was of them.

Jill, Amy and her grandchildren knew they had someone who loved them fiercely, prayed for them faithfully and was always in their corner.

Juju had a fiery spirit, a wonderful sense of humor and an enthusiasm for people that made her the life of many a gathering. A Midwesterner through and through, she never met a stranger. Wherever she went, she struck up conversations, learned people’s stories and made connections easily.

She firmly believed that ice cream, cookies and chips deserved their own place in the food pyramid.

She was a lifelong Iowa Hawkeyes fan and, thanks to her daughters, an avid Florida Gator. She was also a loyal Jacksonville Jaguars fan and enthusiastically followed Caitlin Clark from Iowa to the Indiana Fever. Whether cheering for a team or cheering for one of her people, Juju was all in.

Juju also had a language all her own. She greeted those she loved with “Hi, Dolly,” sent them on their way with “Love ya, baby,” and offered one remarkably versatile piece of advice for nearly every problem, disagreement or unnecessary bout of guilt:

“Get over your bad self.”

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Dorothy Sturgis, and her sister, Nancy Winter.

She leaves behind her daughters, Jill Winkelman (Denny) and Amy Young; her beloved grandchildren, Jillian Jackson-Lee (Janet), Tanner Jackson, Alex Moore (Alec Partow) and Taylor Moore; her sister, Pat Huisenga (Ron); and her brother, Ron Sturgis.

She also leaves behind Nancy’s children, Lynn Person, Lance Winter (Gina) and Ross Winter (Adrienne), who thought of Julie as a second mother, along with their children, Courteney Person, Amber Tschappat (Sam), Connor Winter, Cameron “Cami” Winter and Kendall Winter. Julie is also remembered with love by many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members and friends.

Julie’s family is deeply grateful to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, and especially to her home hospice nurse, Daniel, who became incredibly special to Julie and to her family. He cared for her with extraordinary tenderness, affection and dignity. Julie often sent him on his way with her familiar “Love ya, baby,” while Daniel affectionately referred to her as “the queen.” His care meant more to the family than words can adequately express. They are also deeply grateful for the nurses and medical staff at the McGraw Center, whose kindness and compassionate care brought Julie comfort and peace in her final days.

On the evening of August 7, Julie’s family gathered around her as she rested peacefully. They prayed, talked to her and sang worship songs over her. At 6:45 p.m., as they reached the final words of Passion’s “The Lord Will Provide” — “Everything I need, my Father has it” — Julie peacefully exhaled her final breath and entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For a woman who spent a lifetime pointing others toward Jesus, it was a beautiful journey home.

Her family will miss her laughter, her prayers, her fierce encouragement and the unconditional love that made everyone fortunate enough to be one of Juju’s people know they had someone firmly in their corner.

And if Julie had the last word, it would probably be the way she ended countless conversations throughout her life:

“Love ya, baby.”

A Celebration of Life honoring Julie will be held Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 2 p.m. at The Church of Eleven22, San Pablo Campus, in Jacksonville, Florida. The service will be recorded, and a link will be shared afterward for those unable to attend.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Julie’s memory are invited to make a gift to The Church of Eleven22, Beach Church or Community Hospice & Palliative Care in support of the McGraw Center.

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