Water suit jolts 500 area families
Non-Indian land could be worthless
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — More than 500 area families received a jolt in the mail
this past week a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice informing
them that they are defendants in the largest water rights suit ever
filed for this area.
The lawsuit, filed Jan. 19 in the federal court in Albuquerque, means
to assess the surface water and groundwater rights of the Zuni and
Navajo tribes, the Ramah Navajo Band and the federal government in
the Zuni River Basin.
The lawsuit goes beyond that, however, and puts into question the
rights of hundreds of non-Indian families in McKinley and Cibola counties
to use water wells located on lands that have been in their families,
in some cases, for the better part of a century.
Guy Shepherd, who owns six acres of land near Vanderwagen and shares
a well with his neighbors, said he was shocked to learn he was a defendant
in a lawsuit that could wipe out the value of his land.
"If the federal government wins this suit, my land will be worth
zilch," he said. "It will have no resale value."
The lawsuit claims that the use by area non-Indian ranchers of water
on their lands interferes with the rights of the Indian tribes and
the federal government to use the amount of water they need for their
purposes.
The reason why Shepherd's land may be worthless if the government
wins is that a determination that the tribes own the rights to a large
share of the existing water in the basin maybe as much as 90 or 95
percent or even all 100 percent would mean that non-Indian ranches
in the basin have no rights to water. And without water, the land
is essentially worthless.
Shepherd, who owns tattoo parlors in Gallup and Aztec, said, "My
first reaction was that it's extremely upsetting to learn that someone
with a pinstick can determine that your land is worthless."
The suit was filed against the state engineer for New Mexico, the
state's commissioner of public lands, some 400 families and entities.
That number, however, may grow as federal attorneys learn the names
of other non-Indian families with land within the basin.
The city of Gallup is in the lawsuit because it owns land and water
wells south of town. So is the Gallup-McKinley County School Board
because of the water wells at various rural schools.
Exempted in the lawsuit are hundreds of Navajo and Zuni families who
have ranches or farms in the basin.
The federal government is also claiming priority rights to the basin's
water for the Cibola National Forest, the El Morro National Monument
and the El Malpais National Monument.
Federal officials aren't commenting about the suit because it's in
federal court and state officials said Wednesday that they are now
preparing a response to submit to the court.
But non-Indian landowners in the basin are beginning to wake up to
the possible consequences of losing the lawsuit.
John T. Jekielek, whose family has owned their land for the past 65
years, said his first feeling was anger at the federal government,
a feeling he gets "everytime the federal government tries to
take something that is rightfully yours."
He and some of the other defendants think that the federal government
may have an ulterior reason for filing the suit.
After all, a victory by the federal government could pave the way
for hundreds of families to lose their water rights. With their land
not worth the annual property taxes, many would probably just abandon
the land, resulting in thousands of acres reverting back to the federal
government.
Some, like Shepherd, have already begun talking to state officials
and attorneys to see how the lawsuit will affect them.
Shepherd said one state official he talked to indicated that no one
should have an immediate fear that he would lose his water
rights because cases like this generally take between 15 and 23 years
to go through the court system.
He's worried, however, that a lot of the people who are named in the
suit won't realize the possible consequences and will just shrug it
off.
Bill Armstrong, an area geology consultant, said many of the families
may be fooled into signing waivers which came with the lawsuit. By
sending back the waivers, many would think that they are saving the
Sheriff's office some time in subpoenaing them.
But, in actuality, signing the waiver means that while you will not
be subpoenaed to court, you will also agree to accept
whatever the federal government decides is coming to you, Armstrong
said.
For that reason, he said, he would not advise anyone to sign anything
without consulting an attorney first.
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Cameron women held in murder
Jim Maniaci
Din Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Authorities have arrested two Cameron area women
on first-degree murder charges in the death of a Jeddito woman Feb.
22 west of Gray Mountain.
Navajo police identified the two arrested women as Anita Cody, 36,
who lives more than two miles west of Gray Mountain, and Violet Marie
Curley, 34, who lives more than six miles west of the community just
off the reservation.
An unidentified passing motorist found Rose Whitehat, no age listed,
of the Jeddito Chapter area on the ground about three miles west of
a convenience store in the Gray Mountain community on U.S. 89. She
had been beaten severely on the face and body.
Navajo detectives worked with the FBI to investigate the case and
submit it to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix as part of the
Safe Trails Task Force.
Man burns to death
A 39-year-old Kayenta man died in a mobile home fire late Saturday
and the Safe Trails Task Force is handling it as a homicide, according
to Capt. Samson Cowboy of the Navajo Criminal Investigations Department
headquarters.
Detectives found a body burned beyond recognition in the ashes as
they investigated what appears to be a domestic violence incident
involving alcohol about one-half mile west of the Kayenta Primary
School.
By talking with neighbors they identified the body as Kim Smallcanyon.
Inquiry continues
Authorities have corrected the spelling of the last name of a pedestrian
run over by a car on the east side of Shiprock on Feb. 22.
The victim was Edison Clah, 41, of Shiprock. Authorities also will
not file any charges against the driver because it was not her fault.
The driver turned onto Bureau of Indian Affairs Route 551 off U.S.
64 and after about 100 yards ran over Clah who was lying on the road.
The driver immediately stopped and summoned police.
Although they are waiting for the toxicology and autopsy reports on
Clah, officers believe he may have been drinking liquor.
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UNM places Enchanted Skies on hold
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Review of the preliminary draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the proposed Enchanted Skies Park has been put on hold
by the University of New Mexico while the school reviews its options
for the project.
Robert Cohn, the Air Force program manager responsible for managing
federal grant money awarded for the LodeStar project, said representatives
from UNM met with him last week in Washington. They discussed possible
options the university has for completing the grant and how it can
proceed with the project.
The $15.8 million grant was awarded to the university for astronomy-oriented
science education and research and the state appropriated $12 million
in matching funds. The park is the final phase of the project.
Cohn said the Air Force was well into the review process when UNM
requested the Air Force temporarily hold off from further review of
the impact statement.
He said the Air Force will wait until it hears from UNM before it
proceeds with the review. The draft was scheduled to be ready for
public review by late March or early April. "How far back that
date will be pushed will depend on when UNM gets back to us,"
Cohn said.
Cohn explained that under grant law the grantee has tremendous flexibility
on how it accomplishes the terms of the grant as compared to a contract.
The grantee can make changes in the project as long as the changes
meet the original objectives set forth in the grant proposal. It is
possible the university could ask for a change that would not include
an Enchanted Skies Park as long
as the substitute project meets the objectives of the original proposal.
Originally the facility was to be in conjunction with the Explora
Project, but that was changed and LodeStar was created.
Cohn said there are three elements to the project. The first two elements
have been completed: the LodeStar project in Albuquerque and an education
component that extended the master's of science education curriculum
at the New Mexico
Institute of Mining to include astronomy.
The third element in the proposal is an astronomy-oriented science
facility. The university proposed to do that with an astronomy observatory
and some research capabilities, which it called the Enchanted Skies
Park.
Cohn said the university is building an astronomy park and observatory.
"There are many ways to do that," he said. "They can
keep the name, but change it as originally laid out."
Options weighed
The grant requires UNM to have $12 million in matching funds. Those
funds were appropriated by the legislature several years ago and stipulate
the astronomy park must be built somewhere in Cibola County. Brian
Foster, UNM provost, said the project will remain in Cibola County.
He stressed the project has not been suspended or abandoned, rather
different options are being considered.
Foster said, "We need some time to continue looking at our options
for the project." There are various ways of reaching the objectives
for the grant. He said part of the discussion will be the location,
public outreach and different ways of building the park.
Foster said, "The EIS public review process has paused while
we review alternatives for achieving the same goals. That includes
reviewing site alternatives."
Foster would not comment on which of the four proposed sites the university
prefers. Three alternatives in the EIS would place the facility on
Horace Mesa and one alternative would place the park in Bibo.
The City of Grants, Cibola County, the Grants/Cibola County Chamber
of Commerce and the Grants/Cibola County Economic Development Office
favor alternative number five. That would place the Sun Plaza and
visitor center at the base of Horace Mesa near the Grants Golf Course
and waste water treatment facility. The county has purchased land
near the proposed site with the
intent of building a convention center there.
The two other alternatives are for sites further south. The fourth
alternative is a site on the mesa above Bibo on the Cebolleta Land
Grant.
The Economic Development Office in conjunction with the Chamber of
Commerce have printed postcards for residents to mail to key officials
stating they support alternative five on Horace Mesa.
Bibo and Seboyeta residents want the site located near their town.
Fred Scott, the county commissioner who represents the east side of
the county, said he has just been appointed to the committee that
is overseeing the project for the community, but he has yet to attend
a meeting.
Scott said, "Regardless of where it (Enchanted Skies) goes, the
county will benefit from the severance taxes ... I represent the total
people, but I am looking out for the east side." He said there
is really no one speaking out in behalf of the east side.
In an earlier interview Edward Michaels, owner of the Bibo Bar, said,
"This side of the county has not seen any economic development
in years. Grants is thriving. We need some help."
He said Grants would still benefit if the park were in Bibo because
people traveling west would stop there for the night, but Bibo would
not benefit if it is built in Grants.
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Ramah has respectable showing
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
LAS CRUCES — The Ramah Lady Mustangs may be able to get some
respect now.
Of the eight teams in the girls basketball state tournament this week
in Las Cruces, the Mustangs were one of two teams that did not get
a vote in the coaches poll.
That may change. Although the Mustangs did not advance to the second
round, they gave the number one team and defending state champion
Cliff Cowgirls a run for their money.
Cliff, coming into the game undefeated at 26-0 on the season and on
one of, if not the longest winning streak in the state at 32 wins
was expected to run all over Ramah.
Ramah was able to stay in the game and even lead several times during
the game, but fell behind late and Cliff finally pulled away for a
50-42 win to advance to the next round.
"The girls were confident," said Mike Hyatt. "The last
time we played them we let them pull away in the second quarter, this
time we played with them until the third."
At half-time the Cowgirls, who most at Las Cruces High School expected
to run away with the game, led only by two, 20-18.
Ramah came out of the locker room and started the second half by scoring
the first four points, taking the lead 22-20.
Cliff tied the game at 22-22 with a basket by Heather Sock, but Ramah
quickly got the lead back on a lay-up by Candice Gibbons.
The Cowgirls retook the lead on a three by Shalako Means off a pass
from Shock. Ramah cut it to one point with a basket by Emily Koelbel.
Keeping the back and forth game going, Cliff went back up on a shot
by Marlys Allsup. The exchange of points was finally ended when Nicole
Unruh-Enos stole the ball from the Mustangs.
With 2:35 left in the game, Cliff began to pull away and never trailed
again.
Shock found Jessica Luera open for a three to give Cliff a 32-26 lead,
their biggest in the game to that point. Cliff added one more basket
to their score before the quarter ended, and Ramah's Juanita Antonio
hit with seven seconds left, ending the third quarter with Cliff leading
34-28.
To start the final quarter, Cliff came out strong, scoring the first
six points with 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line.
Ramah finally broke the run when Gibbons was fouled and hit a pair
of free throws. With 5:52 left in the game Ramah ran into more problems
and would not score for the next 2:09 as Cliff put together another
6-0 run.
In the fourth quarter Gibbons scored 12 of the Lady Mustangs 14 points,
including 4-of-5 from the line and all four of Ramah's field goals.
"They are a good team inside and outside," said Hyatt. "They
are one of the only teams in the state that are like that. Most are
good either inside or outside but (Cliff) has a little of both."
Hyatt said he wishes Ramah could play more teams that are as good
as Cliff during the season.
In the first half Ramah made a statement, scoring the first points
and they led the entire quarter until the final play. The Lady Mustangs
led by as many as four but Cliff battled back and tied the game at
eight with 1:09 left in the quarter.
Ghahate was fouled and gave Ramah a 9-8 lead but as time ran out in
the quarter Cami Upton hit a jumper to give the Cowgirls their first
lead, 10-9.
The second quarter Cliff built up a five-point lead 12-9 and again
at 16-11, only to see Ramah rally back and tie the game at 18 with
53 seconds left in the first half. This time it was Allsup who gave
Cliff the lead in the closing seconds, hitting a jumper with 13 seconds
left to give the Cowgirls the lead at the half.
Allsup and Gibbons shared game-high scoring honors, each scoring 18
for their team. Each player also had a block but it was Gibbons walking
away with the most rebounds, grabbing 15 to lead Ramah. Allsup had
8.
Ramah had some problems holding on to the ball, turning the ball over
25 times while Cliff turned it over 15 times.
Cliff was able to get several points off second shots, grabbing 18
offensive rebounds to only 13 defensive. Ramah had 32 total boards,
22 defensive.
Cliff advances to play Magdalena, who they have faced four times this
year already.
Elida 68, To'hajiilee 31
Elida held To'hajiilee to only 12 points in the first
half, while scoring 39 of their own.
The Warriors did not help their situation by shooting 2-of-10 from
the field in the first half. To'hajiilee shot 9-of-55 in the game,
including 5-of-29 from three point range.
The Warriors had 26 turnovers to Elida's 16. Elida will play today
at 8:30 p.m. against Tatum.
Elida was led by Krystren Howard with 15 followed by Kimberly Howard
with 14. Tammy Dixon also had 12.
To'hajiilee's leading scorer was Krystal Platero with 10.
Magdalena 52, Grady 48
A big second half keyed the comeback for Magdalena,
as they outscored Grady 29-20 in the second half.
Trailing 28-23 at the half, Magdalena came out and tied the game in
the third, scoring 13 to tie the game at 36 going into the final quarter.
In the last quarter Magdalena outscored Grady 16-12 to pull off the
win.
Magdalena was led by Selasia Winston with 16. Denise Grayson added
15 and Evonna Guerro had 13. Both Grayson and Monica Marthell had
11 rebounds.
Grady was lead by Jennifer Bowman with 23 and Brandi Windham with
10. Magdalena will play Cliff today at 7 p.m. at Las Cruces High School.
Tatum 49, Hagerman 43
Twenty-eight points by Hagerman's Sara Garcia was not
enough as Tatum had three players score in double figures to pull
off the 49-43 win.
Petra Martinez scored 19 for Tatum and Vanessa Barriga added 14 and
Esmeralda Ramirez put in 13.
Hagerman jumped out to a 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter,
only to have Tatum battle back in the second. Tatum scored 17 in the
second quarter and trailed only 28-25 at the half.
Tatum took the lead 39-36 in the third and held on for the win.
Martinez grabbed 10 boards for Tatum.
Tatum will play Elida tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Las Cruces High School.
Sarracino looking forward to start
Grants baseball preview
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
GRANTS — Grants head baseball coach Walter Sarracino says he
can't wait for the first pitch to be thrown this season.
"I'm looking forward to getting going," said Sarracino who
returns to his former head post after a two-year absence. "It's
exciting to be back. I can hardly wait to game day."
Grants' season opener at Bloomfield that was scheduled for this Saturday
has been delayed to next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Bloomfield's baseball field was not ready for the season opener, according
to Sarracino. After Bloomfield, the Pirates will host Espanola next
Thursday at 3 p.m.
"Bloomfield will be a test," Sarracino said. "I'm looking
for good things at the varsity and JV levels."
Sarracino will be without six players, senior pitcher-position player
Marty Lujan who is an all-around player, senior outfielder Joey Garcia,
senior position player Karl Chavez, junior position player Joe Ross,
sophomore position player Boudy Melonas and sophomore position player
Marcel Mondragon, who are still playing basketball with the Grants
team that is headed for
regional play this weekend in Los Lunas.
Players out this season are senior catcher Wade Pynes, senior pitcher-position
player Victor Patel, senior pitcher-position player Anthony Garduno,
junior second baseman Joaquin Jiron, junior pitcher-position player
Jared Laurent, junior position player George Vigil, senior position
player Adam Perea, junior position player Kevin Jaramillo, junior
first baseman Jesse Gamboa,
sophomore infielder Andrew Shaffin, sophomore position player Mario
Rios, freshman first and third baseman Jeff Killough
and freshman infielder Arik Aguirre. Sarracino says he will be going
with a six-pitcher crew with Patel, Garduno, Lujan,
Laurent, Melonas and Ross.
"We have a good group of kids," Sarracino said. "I
had some of these kids when they were freshmen. Now they're seniors.
I look for good things."
Grants will be competing in the newly realigned District 3AAA with
Hot Springs, Cobre, Bernalillo and Socorro. The Pirates lost perennial
district and state powers Albuquerque Academy and St. Pius along with
Moriarty to the AAAA districts.
"Academy and St. Pius are rich in baseball tradition," Sarracino
said. "They were always tough each year."
Sarracino said that Cobre will probably be the team to beat in the
district.
"Cobre is always in the state tournament each year," he
said.
Sarracino guided Grants to an impressive 19-3 overall record in 1994
when the Pirates missed qualifying for state in a tiebreaker with
St. Pius.
"We used to finish third or fourth in the district each year
by the time you get by the St. Piuses and Academys."
Sarracino is hoping that the recent success of the Grants boys basketball,
football and wrestling teams will spill over into the baseball program.
"The basketball, football and wrestling teams have had success
this year," he said. "The players from those teams will
bring a winning attitude into the baseball program. Hopefully it carries
on and makes the players willing to get to that point.
"There is excitement in the kids in the program," he added."I
hope that good things come with the winning attitude. I'm looking
forward to the season starting. I think it will be a fine season for
us. We'll do well. I have faith in this bunch. We'll surprise a lot
of people. We'll go out and do well. This group of seniors and juniors
are committed. We'll be competitive. Our strong
preseason schedule will help us get ready for districts."
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Gallup Little League claims it got a
raw deal
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Board members of the Gallup National Little League said
they do not feel they got a fair shake from the Gallup City Council
or the Sports Commission.
City members unanimously voted Tuesday to have the Boys and Girls
Club of Gallup take control over the summer baseball and softball
programs.
Prior to the meeting, Gallup National Little League (GNLL) board members
said they already knew what the council would decide from the things
said during the work session the week before.
And Louie Chavez, the president of GNLL, said he is upset about having
to listen to the work session on tape because he was not invited to
the meeting to speak his piece...
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Grants business wins 2 awards
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Despite being in business only one year, The Mission
at Riverwalk is doing so well that it has won two statewide awards.
The rehabilitated church now an art gallery, cafe, coffee shop and
theater took a first-place award and an honorable mention at the 15th
Annual New Mexico MainStreet Program Community Awards banquet in Santa
Fe last Thursday. The Mission at
Riverwalk won first place for Historic Rehabilitation Project and
an honorable mention for Business of the Year.
The Grants business, owned by Michael and Peggy Lewis, competed against
most other New Mexico communities, including Albuquerque...
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Tribal control of reservation schools on hold
Jim Maniaci
Din Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Education Committee ordered a delay Wednesday
in taking the first step toward tribal control over all schools
including state public schools on the Navajo Reservation.
The Navajo Nation Council committee will take the matter up again
on March 9.
Under the initial proposal from the Navajo Education Division, the
division would join the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of
Indian Education Programs and the Navajo Area School Boards Association
in taking the first step toward full tribal control over all government-financed
schools.
Serving on the committee would be the Education Division director,
the NASBA director, the director of the division's Monitoring-Technical
Services Department, the Education Committee chair and a line officer
of the BIA's OIEP...
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Boos vows to work with all delegates
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation's lead attorney on tribal council
legislation, Steven Boos, says he will work with any delegate on quick
turn-around times concerning important resolutions. Boos was responding
to criticism by Shiprock Delegate Wallace Charley.
Boos, the delegates' chief legislative counsel, said if he is committed
elsewhere and is unavailable to work with a delegate in a time crunch,
another legislative attorney will step up and do so.
Boos and other legislative counsel attorneys work with delegates to
draft resolutions and amendments to those resolutions. They also help
steer resolutions through the tribe's 164 signature review process,
which is supposed to take no longer than five days. Completion of
the 164 review process can take as little as one day...
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Fest to celebrate Celtic heritage
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — This weekend's Celtic Festival isn't your typical
Gallup event. Where else can one sip on an old Irish drink with
the peculiar name of Lamb's Wool? Or partake of a Ploughman's Lunch?
Or listen to the soothing sounds of harp and dulcimer music? Or
attend a fashion show where the featured clothes are Celtic Renaissance
styled garments? Or make a prayerful, meditative walk with the use
of an ancient spiritual symbol?
The annual festival seeks to celebrate Celtic culture the music,
dance, drama, poetry, arts, food and spirituality that has come
from Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
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Deaths
Johnny Tom Wilson
MEXICAN SPRINGS — Services for Johnny Wilson, 63, will be held
at 10 a.m., Friday, March 2 at the Established in the Word Ministry
Church. Sister Margaret Bill will officiate. Burial will follow in
Lone Pine Cemetery, Mexican Springs.
Wilson died Feb. 23 in Mexican Springs. He was born May 7, 1937 in
Thoreau into the Sleep Rock People for the Two Who Came to Water.
Wilson attended school in Intermountain, Utah and Chilocco, Okla.
He was employed in Dallas, Texas in a factory, in Denver with the
railroad, as a carpenter in Gallup and with some businesses in Gallup,
such as Trade Mart, Little Bear's Mfg, and McKinley County Schools.
He was a member of the Living by Faith, gospel singers. His hobbies
include fishing and watching wrestling.
Survivors include his wife, Caroline Wilson of Mexican Springs; son,
Arnold Wilson of Mexican Springs; daughters, Caroline Nutlouis of
Pinon, Ariz., Karen Sam of Mexican Springs and Vivian Tsosie of Naschitti;
brothers, Harry Wilson and Kelsey Martine of Pinehill, and David Henio
and Freddie Henio both of Thoreau; sisters, Nellie Delgarito and Kim
Brewer both of Thoreau, Rose Henio of Utah, Grace Keams and Ada Paddock
both of Ramah; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Wilson was preceded in death by Tom Wilson, Anna Henio, Sam Henio,
Robert Henio and Curtis Wilson.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Nutlouis Jr., Johnathan Nutlouis, Rynell
Tayah, Sampson Henio, Robert Henio Jr. and Lallo Yazzie.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mary B. Chapo
CASAMERO LAKE — Services for Mary Chapo, 79, will be held at
10 a.m., Friday, March 3 at the Borrego Pass Navajo Christian Church.
Pastor Kee Tabaha will officiate. Burial will follow at Borrego Pass
Cemetery.
Chapo died Feb. 27 in Crownpoint. She was born Sept. 6, 1921 in Casamero
Lake into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Towering House People
Clan.
Survivors include her sons, Ben Chapo of Navajo, David Chapo of Dalton
Pass, Kee Yazzie Chapo of Kinlicheee, Ariz., Albert Chapo, Benjamin
Chapo, Kee Chapo, Peter Chapo and Tony Chapo all of Casamero Lake;
daughters, Mary Jane Chapo of Casamero Lake and Irene Morgan of Crownpoint;
brothers, Johnny Begay of Phoenix, Martin Begay, Dan Brown and Jimmy
Brown all of Casamero Lake; 55 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.
Chapo was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Chapo; parents,
Joe and Jane Brown; sons, James Chapo and Paul Chapo and brother,
Sam Brown.
Pallbearers will be Albert Chapo, Ben Chapo, Benjamin Chapo, Kee Yazzie
Chapo, Tony Chapo and Myrick Morgan.
A family meeting will be held at 4 p.m., today at the residentce of
Mary B. Chapo in Casamero Lake.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Harry Watchman
TWO GREY HILLS — Services for Harry Watchman, 63, will be held
at 10 a.m., Friday, March 2 at the Full Gospel Church, Toadlena. Pastor
Richard Watchman will officiate. Burial will be held on private land,
Two Grey Hills.
Watchman died Feb. 26 in Navajo. He was born Dec. 29, 1937 in Shiprock
into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Red Bottom
People Clan.
Survivors include his brothers, Richard Watchman, Sam Watchman and
Joe Watchman; and sisters, Minnie Silentman and Ella Mae Watchman.
Watchman was preceded in death by his parents, Nelson and Rose Watchman;
brother, Kee Watchman and sister, Marilyn Silentman.
Pallbearers will be Harold Silentman, Herman Silentman, Norman Silentman,
Ronald Watchman, Jimmie Lee and Wilson Benally Jr.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Two Grey Hills Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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