Deaths

• Oliver Leonard
• Sam Spencer
• Mary Silversmith
• Edith Thompson
• Nina Skeets

Oliver Leonard

GALLUP — Services for Oliver Leonard, 46, will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 2 at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Mark Vincent will officiate. Burial will follow in the Gallup City Cemetery.

Leonard died June 27 in Albuquerque. He was born March 25, 1959 in Fort Defiance into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the Big Water People Clan.

Leonard graduated from Gallup High School in 1978. He attened TVI in Albuquerque for auto mechanics. He was employed with Navajo Shopping Center prior to opening his own shop, Arrow Automotive. Leonard enjoyed riding his motorcycle, basketball, camping, hiking and running cross country.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Mae Leonard of Gallup; mother, Mabel Mae Leonard of Gallup; daughters, Antionette Leonard, Oneika Leonard, both of Naschitti, Felicia Leonard, Florentyna Leonard, Veranda Leonard, all of Gallup; sons, Christopher Leonard, Everett Leonard, Marcus Leonard, all of Gallup; brothers, Randy Cummings of Albuquerque, Norman Michael Leonard of Gallup; sister, Evelyn Pabilito of Lawrence, Kan.; and two grandchildren.

Leonard was preceded in death by his father, Clark Kenneth Leonard and sister, Genevieve Leonard.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Brown, William Hastings, Christopher Leonard, Marcus Leonard, Norman Leonard and Oscar Yazzie.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Sam Spencer

TWIN BUTTES — Funeral services for Sam Carl Spencer, 63, will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 1 at the Twin Buttes Nazarene Church, Gallup. Rev. Pete Riggs Jr. will officiate. Burial will follow in the Gallup City Cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Friday from 10-11 a.m. at Cope Memorial Chapel.

Spencer died June 27 in Gallup. He was born Dec. 8, 1941 in Twin Buttes.

Spencer attended Fort Wingate school and was a certified welder. He enjoyed basketball, bingo, walking, riding bikes and being outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Spencer Peshlakai; sons, Elmer Spencer, Adrian Spencer, Brian Spencer; daughters, Shirlene Spencer, Charlene Spencer, Lavinia Spencer, Lovella Spencer; brothers, Ben Spencer, James Spencer, Sam C. Spencer, Louie Spencer, Larry Spencer; sister, Juanita Spencer; 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Spencer was preceded in death by his parents, Jumbo Spencer and Loretta Tom.

Pallbearers will be Elmer Bob Spencer, Anthony Spencer, Mark Spencer, Jonah Bowie, Thomas Begay and David Begay.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Silversmith

OAK SPRINGS — Funeral services for Mary Thomas Silversmith, 83, will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 1 at St. Michaels Catholic Church. Father Conrad Cormac will officiate. Burial will follow in a family cemetery in Oak Springs.

Silversmith died June 26 in Gallup. She was born March 8, 1922 in Pine Springs into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Black Streak People Clan.

Silversmith was a well known rug weaver using natural vegetable dye and was a silversmith. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, ranching, and gardening.

Survivors include her daughters, Dorothy S. Ashley of Houck, Pearl A. Tracy of Querino Canyon, Belle S. Lynch, Alyce Silversmith both of Oak Springs; sons, Ben Silversmith, Fred Silversmith both of Oak Springs, Paul Silversmith of Awatukee, Ariz.; sisters, Mary Cowboy of Waterflow, Annie James of Gallup, Dorothy James of Tohatchi, Mary Thomas Six of Pine Springs; brothers, Art Lee Thomas of Pine Springs, Ray Thomas of Houck; 26 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Silversmith was preceded in death by her father, Joe Thomas; mother, Yilnibah Thomas; daughter, Charlotte Silversmith; sisters, Lucy Begay, Mary Silversmith; brothers, John Thomas and Ralph Thomas.

Pallbearers will be Cal H. Curley, Calvin H. Curley, Clayton H. Curley, Wallace D. Saavedra, Lance F. Silversmith and Roy L. Tracy.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Edith Thompson

GANADO — Funeral Mass for Edith Thompson, 96, will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 1 at the St. Michaels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Ganado community cemetery.

Thompson died June 25 in Chinle. She was born May 15, 1909 in Ganado into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the Edge of the Water People Clan.

Thompson worked most of her life as a nurses aid at Sage Memorial Hospital.

Survivors include her children, LaRose Curley, Mary Toadachine, Maggie Lincoln, Ilene Naswood all of Ganado, Leo Naswood of Idaho Falls, Idaho; sisters, Helen T. Begay of Steamboat, Lillie Miller of Burnside; 39 grandchildren, 103 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Thompson was preceded in death by her husband, George Thompson; parents, Edge Water Red Man and Chischilly Bitsie Begay; son, Kee Naswood; daughter Ann Marie Tso; sisters, Lucy Begay, Nellie Begay, Ida Yazzie; brothers, Joe Begay and Shawn Begay.

The family will meet every evening at 7 p.m. until services at the family home in Burnside.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nina Skeets

ROCKY POINT — Services are pending for Nina Jane Skeets, 54.

Skeets died June 26 in Zuni. She was born Feb. 14, 1951 in Rocky Point into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.