Navajo Nation shakeup
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — Arvin Trujillo, director of the Navajo Nation
Division of Natural Resources, will soon replace Derrick Watchman
as President Kelsey Begaye's chief of staff.
Several elected and non-elected officials in Window Rock, speaking
on condition of anonymity, said late this week that Trujillo has
been offered the post and accepted. The Navajo Office of the President/Vice
President has yet to make any official announcements, but government
sources have said Trujillo has known for about a month that he
was the leading candidate for the position.
Trujillo, a 1975 graduate of Kirtland Central High School, has
earned degrees in mineral resources and microbiology from Penn
State University and Oral Roberts University. He has been President
Begaye's point man on energy planning, water rights and the Navajo
Agricultural Products Industry. Sources said Richard Begay, Trujillo's
deputy, is a leading candidate to replace Trujillo as resources
division director.
Watchman's isn't the only significant departure occurring in the
executive offices over the next two weeks. Karen Bernally, President
Begaye's legal counsel, confirmed Friday that she, as well as
Watchman, have asked that their resignations become effective
Feb. 15. Watchman has long-since announced that he's running for
U.S. representative in Arizona's new
Congressional District 1, a sprawling district that encompasses
the Navajo Nation and stretches south to Casa Grande. He has been
chief of staff for about a year and previously worked for former
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson in the Clinton administration.
Bernally, a native of Shiprock, will be going to work back home.
She has accepted a position to work as a staff attorney in Shiprock
District Court. Her parents reside in Hogback. Bernally formerly
worked as an attorney in the tribe's Office of Legislative Counsel.
Among her most important duties recently has been handling the
president's legal position and negotiations regarding gaming,
with a New Mexico-Navajo Nation gaming compact on the near horizon.
Robert Allen, attorney for the Division of Natural Resources,
is a leading candidate to replace Bernally, sources said.
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Church program helps alcoholics overcome
addiction
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — Last St. Patrick's Day Gary Christensen did something
completely out of character. To Christensen, St. Patrick's Day wasn't
anything about wearing green or remembering some Irish saint. St.
Patrick's Day was all about drinking. And to Christensen, a self-described
"serious drunk," the holiday had always been a good excuse
to seriously drink.
But last year was different. Last year Christensen decided to quit
drinking on St. Patrick's Day. Ten months later Christensen is still
sober. He credits a Higher Power for his sobriety, but according to
Christensen, his Higher Power has a name — Jesus Christ.
Christensen says he has become a new person, a sober person, through
the power of God and through a religious recovery program offered
by Emmanuel Baptist Church, located on Gallup's south side.
Pastor Mike Kleeberger, the church's minister, and Christensen talked
with the Independent and discussed "Right Start — Right
Step," the program that led Christensen to make a decision to
stop drinking. (Other 12 Step recovery groups have a tradition of
protecting the identity of their members when talking with the media.)
Kleeberger is again offering the free, 12-week program to the public,
beginning this week. The class will meet from 7-9 p.m. each Monday
at his church, which is located at 213 State Road 564, just east of
UNM-Gallup. Participants must commit to attending all 12 meetings
and must complete all homework assignments.
Missed opportunities
According to Christensen, he had been drinking for 28 years when he
enrolled in the "Right Start — Right Step" program.
His drinking cost him a lot of missed opportunities, he said, particularly
in the area of employment. A divorced father of two teenage sons,
Christensen feels his drinking, combined with other problems, contributed
to his divorce.
At one point, Christensen said, he was forced to attend Alcoholics
Anonymous meetings by a counselor. Between A.A. meetings, however,
Christensen continued to drink. He also entered an alcohol rehabilitation
center in his home state of Montana, but walked away after just three
days.
In September of 2000, Christensen began attending services at Emmanuel
Baptist Church, but he also continued to drink. After confiding to
Kleeberger about his alcohol addiction, Christensen agreed to try
the "Right Start — Right Step" program last February.
Yet he still continued to drink. But by St. Patrick's Day, something
had changed. After 28 years, he said, he was ready to be freed from
his addiction.
When talking about recovery from addiction, Kleeberger and Christensen
talk a lot about freedom. "You don't know freedom if you're chained
to a bottle or an addiction," said Kleeberger. He referred to
John 8:36, and the power of Christ to set people free, as a key verse
in the program.
"I'm grateful that I'm sober, and I'm not drunk anymore,"
agreed Christensen, who credits the power of Jesus Christ for his
sobriety.
The concept of freedom is imbedded in the name of the organization
that developed the "Right Start — Right Step" program.
According to its website, FREEdom Flyer Ministries was founded in
1987 in Illinois and works primarily with people in the criminal justice
system. Kleeberger said the ministry is affiliated with the Independent
Baptist denomination. Although he said the program has a very high
success rate, neither the program literature or the website contained
any figures.
Kleeberger said he is not familiar with the recovery program of A.A.,
but he knows the "Right Start — Right Step" program's
platform of 12 weekly classes is similar to the 12 Steps of A.A. In
fact, the program's weekly topics correspond closely to the subjects
of the 12 Steps. However, the "Right Start — Right Step"
program is different than other 12 Step groups because it states "it
is Christ centered and uses only Biblical principles for deliverance.
"In contrast, A.A., which was founded by recovering alcoholics
in the 1930s, refers to itself a spiritual program, not a religious
one, and allows its members to hold their own concept of God.</sub><cm+bd>A
different view<cm-bd>Another major difference Kleeberger is
aware of, is how the two programs view alcoholism. A.A. literature
states that alcoholism is a physical, emotional, and spiritual illness.
The"Right Start — Right Step"program sees alcoholism
very differently, said Kleeberger.
"It comes down to a sin issue," he said. Kleeberger believes
that secular recovery programs try to rehabilitate people. Through
the "Right Start — Right Step" program, he believes,
Jesus Christ creates a new person. "The difference is a relationship
with Jesus Christ," he said.
Kleeberger believes that drinking isn't the alcoholic's real problem.
"It's oftentimes a very crude pacifier for a deeper problem inside,"
he said. The core problem, he believes, is when one allows something
other than God control one's life. "All humanity was built with
a God-shaped vacuum," he added.
Christensen believes he used to fill that void with drinking. Now,
he said, he spends a lot of time reading the Bible, which he feels
is helping to heal the damage he's done to himself. Attending church
three times a week and volunteering as a usher has helped too. "It's
helped me to overcome a lot of my loneliness," he explained.
Frequent prayer is another tool. "I go to the highest authority
there is now," Christensen said.
Although the literature of the "Right Start — Right Step"
program is critical of the concept that alcoholics will always be
alcoholics and must be in recovery for the rest of their lives, Christensen
sounded somewhat comfortable with that idea. He avoids trigger situations
— situations that used to trigger his drinking — and he
admitted that feelings of pride or overconfidence could cause him
to fall. "I'm always going to be an alcoholic," he said,
"but I'll be sober through the power of Jesus Christ."
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Police dog saved after near death-experience
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — McKinley County Sheriff's Department Patrol Dog Rudy
died one day in December.
But his master, Deputy John Trevor-Smith, saved his dog's life. Trevor-Smith
gave the details Thursday.
After a piece of shale cut through a tendon and artery in the dog's
left leg during a pursuit of a rape suspect, Trevor-Smith wrapped
the leg and raced him to Red Rock Animal Hospital, where he learned
neither veterinarian was available.
"In the exam room, blood was squirting on the walls, on the ceiling,
everywhere, because he hit a main artery. He had a seizure and gagged.
Then he stopped breathing and died," Trevor-Smith said.
That's when Trevor-Smith decided not to accept his dog's death. The
deputy performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on Rudy, who began
breathing again. Rudy had come back from the dead.
Vet technicians took Rudy to the surgery room. They put him on oxygen
and gave him epinephrine to get his heart going. He went through two
sacks of intravenous fluid.
Meanwhile, Trevor-Smith called doctors at the local hospitals and
found a surgeon from Gallup Indian Medical Center who had trained
on animal emergencies while in medical school.
The surgeon came to Red Rock and began work. "He sewed his artery,
his tendons," Trevor-Smith said.
The doctor put the suffering dog's leg in a cast, which Rudy ate within
a week, despite Trevor- Smith's attempts to get the canine to leave
the cast alone. He even put a muzzle on the dog to keep him away from
the cast.
But one day he put the dog in his kennel to feed him. "He ate
and then he ate the cast," Trevor-Smith said.
The Malinois dog also ripped his second cast, but by then, he was
almost healed, so a third cast wasn't needed.
"Now he's ornery as all hell," said Sheriff's Department
Investigator Dee Dee Gonzales, who is another supporter of Rudy and
his dad.
After a drug-dealing suspect poisoned Trevor-Smith's first patrol
dog, Robo, who was like a family member to the deputy, he swore he
would never get that emotionally attached to a work dog. But to watch
Trevor-Smith with the rambunctious, affectionate Rudy, it's obvious
that he loves his dog.
It all began Dec. 18 when the off-duty Trevor-Smith was headed for
a court hearing but heard Gallup Police talking on the radio about
a foot pursuit with a rape suspect. The deputy returned home and picked
up Rudy.
They headed to the hills on the north side of Gallup. Police said
they lost sight of the suspect after he ran over a hill. "That
area up there, you don't know who you're going to find," said
Trevor-Smith.
The deputy put a muzzle on his dog and had him pursue the man. Rudy
alerted to an area where, moments later, another deputy reported spotting
him.
When the other deputy said he had the suspect detained, Trevor-Smith
called off his dog. Rudy raced back but ended up sliding on his hind
quarters when the shale sliced his artery and two tendons. It was
too muddy for the deputy to carry the dog, so Rudy ran back to his
patrol car, rushing to Red Rock Animal Hospital.
Rudy was back at work searching for drugs and crooks within the next
couple weeks. Since then, he's found drugs during searches, and on
New Year's Eve, Rudy helped in a stabbing case, domestic violence,
and a "shots fired" call.
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Area sports
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
REHOBOTH — The Ramah Mustangs continue to roll through A competition,
ruining Rehoboth's homecoming with an 80-55 victory at Rehoboth High
School Friday night.
"We never underestimate anyone," Ramah coach Grant Clawson
said. "We talked about that, about staying focused and taking
them one at a time."
The Mustangs, whose only loss has been to Valley Sanders, completed
the first half of the District 6A campaign with a perfect run, 4-0.
Rehoboth drops to 6-9, 1-3 in district.
"They're all around, big, quick, play really good defense and
shoot the lights out," Rehoboth coach Steve Weeda said. "They
hit you from all sides, it's hard to know what to do."
Behind Collin Henio's 36 points, 13 in the first quarter, the Mustangs
took control early.
Henio scored back-to-back baskets to open the game then ignited a
15-0 run that opened up a 24-5 Ramah lead. Henio scored 7 of those
points including a steal that he took in for a layup and a three-pointer
to cap the run.
Tucker Simons also sank a pair of treys and made 2-of-3 free throw
attempts after getting fouled on a third attempt.
"I've been real happy with the way we've started our games,"
Clawson said, but did express concern that after building an early
cushion, his team tends to lose intensity.
"We're working on (playing) with intensity for four quarters,"
he said.
"We're definitely one of the best single A teams in the state,"
continued Clawson basing his assessment by keeping his eye on the
state scoreboard. "We've had a tough schedule. We've played nine
2A and 3A teams, seven of them on the road. We've had a lot of road
trips. The boys have stepped up and played well on the road."
The Mustangs have only played at home six times to date this season.
Ramah continued to push the tempo in the second quarter scoring nine
straight points to pull out to a 35-7 advantage just over 2 1/2 minutes
into the period. Clay Naha started the run, rebounding his own miss
and putting it back up for the score.
Henio hit a three-pointer, Naha added a pair of free throws and Tyson
George drove to the basket.
Rehoboth, which struggled from the field all night, finally broke
the streak with a basket from J.M. DeYoung. Baskets by Derek Begay
and DeYoung for the Lynx to close the half, narrowed the gap to 48-21
at halftime.
Ramah played with the Lynx in the second half, getting outscored 15
to 14 and 19 to 18 in the third and fourth quarters.
"We have really been in a shooting slump," noted Weeda.
Begaye again failed to hit his season average, but still led the team
with 14 points, all in the second half. DeYoung and Robert Cupp also
hit double figures with 11 points apiece. Phil Frederikson contributed
10.
Simons finished with 16 points and Naha 11 for the Mustangs.
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Clarification
When the city council approved writing off $57,280 in bad utility
debts, this week, a clarification was made on the status of some of
these accounts.
These are the accounts that the council agreed to write off:
BC Village Inn ($11,056), McKinley Manor ($8,877), Budd's Produce
($13,185), Gallup Care Center ($7,634), Helig-Myers Store #763 ($4,437
plus $736 owed at a different location), Sears ($3,112), Route 66
Drive In ($3,003), West 66 Laundromat ($2,000), Sam's Town Furniture
($1,582), and Mountain States Pizza ($1,652).
City officials said that these all deal with companies that have filed
bankruptcy, some as far as five years ago.
In some cases, the companies listed above are still in operation,
in which case utility payments are being kept current from the date
of the bankruptcy.
There are also some cases, like in the situation of West 66 Laundromat
and Route 66 Drive In, where new companies are now running the business
and are keeping the electric bills current. City officials said that
in the case of the West 66 Laundromat, the original debt owed by the
company that went bankrupt was $4,500 but the current owner agreed
to pay $2,500 although he leally did not have to.
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Maryboys cope with loss of brother in fire
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — Tragedy has befallen a proud Diné family
from Utah as one of their own — Navajo Nation Council Delegate
Mark Maryboy — copes with a heavy heart today as mayor of Olympic
Village in Salt Lake City.
Roy Maryboy, one of Mark Maryboy's two older brothers, died Wednesday
night as a result of a trailer fire in White Rock, a community that
lies between Red Mesa and Mexican Water. Tribal Delegate Robert
Billie Whitehorse (Aneth/Red
Mesa/Mexican Water) said Maryboy went to Bluff, Utah, for dinner,
then came home about 8 p.m. and fell asleep. A propane gas leak
somehow ignited, catching the trailer on fire. Maryboy was alone
at the time...
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Local singer to perform at Olympics pavilion
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A local musical entertainer is going to perform at
the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Lusiana Lara, 41, will sing at the Cultural Pavilion that will contain
about 75 arts and crafts booths from Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans
and Polynesians at the Athens Dome. About 10,000 to 20,000 people
will pass through the area, which contains a stage for performers
from various cultures to dance or sing.
She'll be leaving Feb. 12 and performing for a week starting Feb.
13.
"I'm really looking forward to going," Lara said...
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Santa Fe council to consider minimum wage
SANTA FE (AP) — A coalition of restaurants, hotels and other
businesses has joined forces to fight a proposed increase in Santa
Fe's minimum wage.
The Coalition to Keep Santa Fe Working has raised close to $30,000
for its campaign, said Maurice Zeck, executive vice president of
the New Mexico Restaurant Association.
The Santa Fe City Council plans to look at two ordinances to raise
the city's minimum wage to $9.50 or $10.50 an hour.
The wage would affect employees of city government, city contractors,
entities getting city grants or subsidies and businesses over a
certain size...
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Deaths
Samuel W. Thomas Sr.
CHINLE, Ariz. — Services for Samuel Thomas Sr., 64, were held
at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 4 at Chinle Christian Center. Pastor Artie
Aragon officiated. Burial followed at Chinle Community Cemetery.
Thomas died Jan. 27 in Albuquerque. He was born Aug. 11, 1937 in
Canyon de Chelly, Ariz. into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the
Tangle People Clan.
Thomas Sr. attended Intermountain School. He worked at the Old Sawmill,
Sawmill, Ariz. and in Navajo, NM. He was a bull rider, saddle bronc,
bareback rider and rancher. His hobbies included tending to livestock,
art drawing, building horses, playing guitar and singing.
Survivors include his wife. Louise Agnes Thomas of Chinle, sons,
Harrison Lynch of Spider Rock, Ariz., Wilbert Thomas of Sawmill,
Ariz., Benson Y. Benally, Calvin Allen Thomas, Julius W. Thomas,
Leon Mike Thomas, Samuel W. Thomas and Venson Kee Yazzie all of
Chinle; daugthers, Grace Hamblen and Phyllis Mae Thomas both of
Chinle and Julia Plummer of Tohatchi; mother, Katherine P. Thomas
of Spider Rock; brothers, Amos Thomas, David Thomas, Johnson Thomas
and Paul Thomas all of Spider Rock; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Thomas Sr. was preceded in death by his father, Sam Thomas; son,
Chuck Allen Thomas; and brothers, Billy Thomas, Eddie Thomas and
Elli Thomas.
Pallbearers were Amos Thomas, Calvin A. Thomas, David Thomas, Wilbert
Thomas, Tom Mailboy and Venson Kee Yazzie.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Randy J. West
ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Services for Randy West, 20, were held
at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 4 at St. Michaels Catholic Church. Burial
followed at St. Michaels School Cemetery.
Visitation was held from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3 at Cope Memorial.
A rosary was recited at 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3 at Cope Memorial.
West died Jan. 31 in St. Michaels. He was born in Gallup into the
Kinyaa'aanii Clan for the Tachii'nii Clan.
West graduated from Window Rock High School and attended Mesa Community
College, Mesa, Ariz. He was employed with the Navajo Nation, Records
and Comm. Department.
Survivors include his parents, Ronnie and Hattie West; brothers,
Ryan and Justin; sister, Renee; and grandparents, Joe and Elsie
Spencer and Clara West.
West was predceded in death by his grandfather, Ben R. West.
Pallbearers were Marlon West, Allen West, Random Holmes, Sideal
Reed, Kent Nelson and Isaac Joe.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at St. Michaels Parish Hall.
Cope Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Nelson Alfred Jim Sr.
SUNDANCE — Services for Nelson Jim Sr., 51, were held at 10
a.m., Monday, Feb. 4 at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel.
Pastor Nathaniel Begay and Asst. Pastor Robertson Jackson were officiated.
Burial followed at Gallup City Cemetery.
Jim Sr. died Jan. 30 in Sundance. He was born Jan. 1, 1951 in Rehoboth
into the Towering House People Clan for the Black Streak People
Clan.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Jim of Sundance; sons, Nelson
Alfred Jim Jr. of Shiprock and Ferlin Ben of Gallup; parents, Annie
and John Yazzie of Sundance; brothers, Edison Jim of Phoenix, Raymond
Jim of Kirtland, Daniel Jim and Albert Jim both of Sundance; sisters,
Maira Cowboy of Tucson, Ariz., Emma Jim of Sundance, Lorraine Jim
of Church Rock and Marita Padilla of Kirtland; and three grandchildren.
Jim Sr. was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Jim.
Pallbearers were Darin Jim, Ernest Jim, Manuel Jim, Raymond Jim,
Derrick Smith and Michael Smith.
Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Bahe Chee Beall
MANY FARMS, Ariz. — Services for Bahe Beall, 75, were held
at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 4 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Many
Farms, Ariz. Father Blein officiated.
Beall died Jan. 30 in Flagstaff, Ariz. He was born Dec. 15, 1927
in Many Farms, Ariz. into the Folded Arm People Clan for the Water
Flowing Together Clan.
Beall was employed with Chinle Unified School District #24 as a
custodian. He was a member of the NAC of Navajoland, was a roadman
He belonged to the Medicine Man Association.
Survivors include his wife, Grace Beall of Many Farms; sons, Tommy
Beall of Chinle, Ariz. and Fred Beall of Many Farms; daughters,
Rose Ann Dalgai of Phoenix and Annie Beall of Many Farms; brothers,
Yahe Chee Beall of Many Farms and Tom Robert Chee of Tsaile, Ariz.;
sisters, Bessie Taylor and Stella Byjoe both of Many Farms; and
11 grandchildren.
Beall was preceded in death by his parents, John Haye and Mary Beall.
Pallbearers were family and friends.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Johnnie Paul Benally
IYANBITO — Services for Johnnie Benally, 65, were held at 11
a.m., today, in Many Farms, Ariz. Burial followed on family plot,
Rough Rock.
Benally died Jan. 29 in Gallup. He was born Sept. 6, 1935 in Rough
Rock into the Bitter Water Clan for the Tachiini' Clan.
Benally attended school in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was employed
with Coyote Canyon School, Chuska school, Wingate Elementary School
and Iyanbito Head Start. He was a member of the NAC.
Survivors include his wife, Etta K. Benally of Iyanbito; son, Shelton
Benally of Iyanbito; daughters, Brenda Benally, Jenny Benally and
Eva Benally all of Iyanbito; brothers, Leo Benally and Michael Benally
both of Rough Rock, Ariz.; sisters, Elizabeth John of Ganado, Ariz.,
Kathrine Sells, Agnes Benally and Rita Wagner all of Rough Rock;
and 16 grandchildren.
Benally was preceded in death by his parents, Bluecoat Benally and
Sally Begay; brothers, Raymond Benally and Sam Benally and sister,
Hilda Benally.
Pallbears were Leo Benally, Michael Benally, Vince Yazzie and Delfred
Wauneka.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
David D. Chavez
GRANTS — Services for David Chavez, 77, were held at 10 a.m.,
Monday, Feb. 4 at San Rafael Catholic Church. Father Gil Mangampo
officiated.
Visitation was held from 6- 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3 at San Rafael
Catholic Church.
A rosary was recited at 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3 at San Rafael Catholic
Church.
Chavez was born Oct. 29, 1924 in El Morro.
Chavez was a member of the D.A.V. and served in World War II.
Survivors include his sons, Raynold Chavez of San Rafael, Victor
Chavez of Albuquerque, Brian Chavez of Amarillo, Texas; daughters,
Hazel Sandoval of San Rafael, Lorraine Garcia of Los Lunas and Diane
Chavez of Las Vegas, Nev.; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Chavez was preceded in death by his wife, Tillie Chavez; sons, David
and Lincoln; daughter, Lora Mae; parents, Daniel and Anita Chavez
and brother, Paul Chavez.
Pallbearers were Pita Apodaca, Celia DuBois, Della Gonzales, Viviana
Mirabel, Betty Salazar, Erminia Saavedra and Helen Torrez.
Mirandy Bitsoi
PHOENIX — Services for Mirandy Bitsoi were held at 1 p.m. today,
at the Sheep Springs Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Brother
Emerson Louis officiated. Burial followed at Sheep Springs Community
Cemetery.
Bitsoi died Jan. 28 in Phoenix.
Bitsoi attended school in Navajo and Newcomb High School. While
in high school he was a member of the youth counselor, National
Honors Society and peer educator, football, basketball, cross country
running, track, wrestling and attended Young Marines Boot Camp.
His hobbies included fishing, riding horses, music, acting, weight
lifting and running. He was employed with Hertz Rental Car, Sky
Ute Casino, Western States Security and San Juan County Detention
Center, the Phoenix Police Department and a member of the Marine
Corps Reserves.
Survivors include his son, Sheldon Shean Bitsoi of Phoenix; parents,
Mabel Bitsoi of Kirtland and Andy Bitsoi, of Navajo, NM; sister,
Brenda Nadine Grey of Kirtland; grandmothers, Mae K. James of Sheep
Springs and Sadie Bitsoi of Naschitti.
Bitsoi was preceded in death by his brother, Alex Bitsoi and grandfathers,
Kitso K. James and Max Bitsoi.
Pallbearers were officers of the Phoenix Police Department.
Arthur Gutierrez
GALLUP — Rosary services for Arthur Gutierrez, 79, were held
at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 28 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Gutierrez died Jan. 20 in Albuquerque. He was born Jan. 9, 1923
in Gallup.
Gutierrez was a veteran and served in World War II. He was employed
with City of Gallup, where he retired from.
Survivors include his sons, Steve "Hoss" Gutierrez and
Arthur Gutierrez Jr.; daughter, Virginia Gutierrez DeSantiago; sisters,
Alice Moeckel of Albuquerque, Mary Montano of Denver and Dolores
Cuellar of Gallup; brothers, Vincent Gutierrez of Ventura, Calif
and Manuel Gutierrez of Boston, Calif.; six grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
Gutierrez was preceded in death by his parents, Alvino and Jacinta
Gutierrez and wife, Virgina DeLara Gutierrez.
Lynn Ian Chambers
WHITE HORSE LAKE — Graveside services for Lynn Chambers, 28,
were held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, on family land, Whitehorse
Lake. Pastor David Skiles officiated.
Chambers died Jan. 24 in Farmington. He was born July 18, 1972 in
Crownpoint into the Mexican People Clan for the Edge Water People
Clan.
Survivors include his parents, Buck Chambers Jr. of Ganado, Ariz.
and Arlene Sandoval of Crownpoint and grandparents, Frances Chambers
of Ganado and Tom Tsosie of White Horse Lake.
Chambers was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jean Tsosie
and Buck Chambers Sr.
Pallbearers were Lance Dixon, Donovan Gordo, Waylon Jim, Loren Miles,
Dean Robertson and Alex Trujillo.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Rulon A. Ashcroft Jr.
THOREAU — Services for Rulon Ashcroft Jr., 60, were held at
2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31 at Strong Hold Church. Pastor Hank Stokes
officiated.
Ashcroft died Jan. 26 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 22, 1941 in Farmington.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Ashcroft of Thoreau; sons,
Orby Ashcroft of Gallup and Rulon Ashcroft III of Pamona, Calif.;
daughter, Darlene Ashcroft of Pamona, Calif.; brother, Lynn Ashcroft
of Bernalillo; sisters, Phyllis Goar of Bosque Farms and Sandy McCollum
of Milan; and five grandchildren.
Ashcroft was preceded in death by his parents, Ivy M. and Rulen
Ashcroft Sr.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Woodrow John
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Services for Woodrow John, 69, were held
at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1 at Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church.
Rev. Jimmy Etcitty officiated. Burial followed at Rehoboth Cemetery.
John died Jan. 24 in Culver City, Calif. He was born Aug. 22, 1932
in Tohatchi into the Salt People Clan for the Bitter Water Clan.
Survivors include his wife, Nora John of Las Vegas, Nev.; Gary John
of Culver City, Calif.; daughter, Evelyn Blanchard of Gallup; brother,
Willie John of Ganado, Ariz.; sisters, Irene Billie of Buffalo Springs,
Edith Tony and Jennie Leupp both of Tohatchi; and three grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Michael Billie, Nathaniel Billie, Ray Chavez, Peter
Nez, Christopher Sloan and Harry Yazzie Jr.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth D. Francis
MANUELITO — Services for Elizabeth D. Francis, 77, were held
at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1 at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Burial
followed at Sunset Memorial Park.
Francis died Jan. 28 in Gallup. She was born Nov. 12, 1924 into
the Black Sheep People Clan for the Bitterwater People Clan.
Survivors include her son, Johnnie Francis of Window Rock, Raymond
Francis of Gallup and Johnny Thompson Jr. of Tohatchi; daughter,
Shirley Francis-Burbank of Gallup; sisters, Nora Nelson of Lupton,
Ariz., Emma Dayea, Esther Francis, Marion Francis, Marie Lewis and
Irene Tsosie all of Manuelito; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren
and two great-great grandchildren.
Francis was preceded in death by her husband, Charley Francis; parents,
Charlie and Nasbah Day; daughters, Stella F. Begay, Dorothy Goldtooth
and Diane Thompson and sister, Julia Dayea.
Pallbearers were Roger Bradley, Clinton Burbank, Ronald Burbank,
Terrance Burbank, Colin Francis and R.D. Francis.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Mary C. Rafael
PREWITT — Services for Mary Rafael, 86, were held at 10 a.m.,
Friday, Feb. 1 at Assembly of God, Prewitt. Evangelist Jake Delgarito
officiated. Burial followed at Grants Memorial Park.
Rafael died Jan. 27 in Albuquerque. She was born Aug. 15, 1915 in
Toadalena into the Mexican Clan for the Red Bottom Streak/Paiute.
Rafael was a homemaker, weaver, silversmith, herblist, rancher,
business woman and teacher of traditional values.
Survivors included her daughters, Lucia Rafael of Bluewater Village
and Nancy Rafael Yazzie of Prewitt; 22 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren
and eight great-great grandchildren.
Rafael was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Rafael; daughter,
Betty C. Martinez; brother, John Becenti and sister, Alice C. Ramone.
Pallbearers were Keene Eskeets, Goldensun Eskeets, Winston Yazzie,
Michael Sloan, Jerry Long and Roger Thompson.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Jason Huskeyethnaswood Clark
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Services for Jason Clark, 23, were held
at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Sheep Springs Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. President Benally officiated. Burial
followed on private family cemetery.
Survivors include his parents, Kathleen and Charles Gordon both
of Las Vegas, Nev. and brother, Derick Pacheco of Los Angeles, Calif.
Pallbearers were two LDS Elders, Waylon Dixon, Charles Gordon, Truman
Henry and Derek Pacheco.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Corynthia Begay Deleon
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Services for Corynthia Deleon, 37, were
held on Saturday, Feb. 2 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Casa Grande,
Ariz. Burial followed in Casa Grande.
Deleon died Jan. 20 in Casa Grande. She was born in Crownpoint into
the Water Flowing Together for the Bitterwater.
Deleon graduated from Crownpoint High School and CIT of Crownpoint
in accounting. She was employed with Accounting Insurance of Casa
Grande, First American Credit Union of Window Rock and Casa Grande.
Survivors include her husband, David Deleon Sr. of Casa Grande;
son, David Deleon Jr. of Casa Grande; daughters, Letccia and Stephenia
Deleon of Casa Grande; mother, Bettie T. Begay of Crownpoint; brothers,
Marshall Begay Jr. of Albuquerque, Darryl and Everett Begay both
of Crownpoint; sisters, Clara Begay of Albuquerque, and Bethel Trujillo
of Las Cruces.
Deleon was preceded in death by her father, Marshall Begay Sr.;
sister, Dylane Begay; brothers, Harlyn and Elwin Begay and grandmother,
Mary J. Tso.
Pallbearers were Ernie Archutreta Jr., Ned Deleon, Darryl Begay,
Everett Begay, Shawn Begay and Marshall Begay Jr.
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