Deaths

• Sister Helen Katherine Fitton
• Mollie Baca
• Paul Thomas
• Brandon James

Sister Helen Katherine Fitton

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. — Services for Sister Helen Katherine Fitton, 79, were on April 5 in Maryknoll, N.,Y.

Sister Helen died March 30 in Mount Kisco. She was born July 5, 1925 in Rantoul, Ill.

Sister Helen attended Rantoul Township High School and the College of St. Teresa, in Winona, M.N. She entered the Maryknoll convent in 1944 and took her final vows in Manila, Philippines in 1950. She also earned a B.E. at Rogers College and an M.A. in Education from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. She worked as a teacher, and then a principal at Maryknowll schools in Manilla. In 1981 Sister Helen was pastoral minister at St. William Parish and part-time teacher at the UNM-Gallup Campus. By 1988, she was training teachers for credentials GED testing, and child development training at UNM-Gallup. She returned to Maryknoll in 1994.

Survivors include her sister Anne Fitton of Champaign, Il.

Sister Helen is preceded in death by her parents Catherine Mae Sullivan and Patrick Edward Fitton; brothers Father Edward Fitton, S.P., Paul Fitton; sisters, Louise Fitton Miller and Therese Ritton Gallivan.

Mollie Baca

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Services for Mollie Baca, 85, will be at 10 a.m., Friday, April 15 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Gallup. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Baca died April 2 in North Hollywood. She was born May 16, 1919 in Albuquerque.

Baca spent many years working at Gallup restaurants including the El Sombrero, The Ranch Kitchen and the Ramada Inn. Burt Lancaster remarked, when he was here shooting a movie, that he loved her guacamole.

Survivors include her sons Richard Baca, Arthur Baca, Tom Baca and Jim Baca; daughters, Maryellen Baca and Cathy Rios; brothers, Ralph Ochoa and Frank Ochoa; sister Tommie Montoya of Allup, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Baca was preceded in death by her husband Manuel Baca, parents Marcolfa and Enrique Campos; stepfather, Jose Ochoa and three grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Joseph Indian School, Chamberlain, S.D. 57326.

Paul Thomas

NAZLINI — Services for Paul Thomas, 64, were at 10:30 a.m. today, April 13 in Nazlini, Pastor Calvin Begay officiated. Burial took place in the Nazlini Community Cemetery.

Thomas died April 5 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was born March 11, 1941 in Spider Rock, Aria., into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the Tangle People Clan.

Thomas attended Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah. He was a rancher and his hobbies included hiking, being outdoors and tending to cattle, sheep and horses.

Survivors include his son, Gilbert Thomas; daughters Katheleen Thomas, Brenda Thomas, Linda Thomas and Jennifer Thomas; mother, Katherine Thomas; brothers, Amos Thomas, Johnson Thomas and David H. Thomas, and 12 grandchildren.

Thomas was preceded in death by his brothers, Billy W. Thomas, Samuel W. Thomas, Eli Thomas, Edward Thomas and his father Sam Thomas.

Pallbearers were David Thomas, Eric Charley, Amos Thomas and Calvin Begay.

The family will receive relatives and friends after services at 2 p.m. at Ida Tah's residence near White House Overlook in Chinle.

Brandon James

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Services for Brandon J. James, 25, were at 8:30 today, April 13 at St. Michaels Catholic Mission in St. Michaels. Fr. Berard Doerge officiated. Burial followed in the community cemetery in St. Michaels.

James was born Nov. 12, 1979 in Gallup into the Edge Water People Clan. He attended high school in St. George, Utah and in Holbrook. He loved livestock, song and dance and singing.

Survivors include his parents Herman James and Arlene W. James and one brother, Leland Martin of Albuquerque.