Deaths

— Walter H. Begay, Sr.
— Thomas Yazzie
— Nathalie LaVerne Eccles
— Matthew J. Yellowhair
— Rudy Suazo

Walter H. Begay, Sr.

WHEATFIELDS — Funeral mass for Walter H. Begay, Sr., 92, will be at 10 a.m, Thursday, March 24 at St. Michaels Mission. Father Gilbert Schneider, O.F.M will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Michaels cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. prior to services. A rosary will be recited this evening, March 23 at Cope Memorial Chapel at 5 p.m.

Begay, Sr. died March 21 in Winslow. He was born March 2, 1913 in Wheatfields into the Red Bottom People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Begay, Sr. retired from the BIA after 40 years of service. He served in the Marine Corps and trained as a Navajo Code Talker receiving the National Congressional Silver Medal of Honor.

Survivors include his sons, Wesley L. Begay of Tsaile, Paul C. Begay, William Begay both of Fort Defiance, Walter Begay, Jr. of Kayenta; daughters, Francis Mary Legah of St. Michaels, Genevieve Yazza of Wheatfields, Helena Begay of Farmington, Helen Leslie of Tucson; brothers, Kenneth White of White Cone, Kee White of Wheatfields; sisters, Mary Francis, Rita Bahe, Pearl White all of Wheatfields; 28 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Begay, Sr. was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Mary Begay; son, Jimmie J. Begay; father, White Mule; mother, Rose White; brothers, Edmund White and Allen "Chuck" White.

Pallbearers will be Michael Legah, Norman Leslie, Adrian Begay, Ivan Cayedito, Loren Begay and Kyle Begay.

Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas Yazzie

TSE BONITO — Funeral services for Thomas Yazzie, 67, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 24 at Good Shepherd Mission.

A visitation will be held Thursday prior to services.

Yazzie died March 19 in Gallup. He was born July 11, 1937 in Hunters Point into the Waters Edge People Clan for the One Who Walks Around You People Clan.

He was a member of the United Workers Union of America #1332, where she was employed with PNM for 32 years. Yazzie was a roadman for the Native American Church. He enjoyed hunting and sports.

Survivors include his wife, Louise W. Yazzie of Coalmine; daughters, Mildred Blackgoat, Kathleen Lee both of Coalmine, Sharon Lee of Grand Canyon, Maurie Yazzie of Blackhat; sons, Alvin Lee of Coalmine, Norman Lee of Window Rock, Ernest Yazzie, Gilbert Yazzie, Herman Yazzie, Timothy Yazzie, Tommy Yazzie all of Blackhat; brothers, Joe Chischillie of Navajo, Paul Chischillie of St. Michaels, Dan Yazzie, Joseph Chee Yazzie both of Tse Bonito; sister, Mary Tsosie of Nazlini and eight grandchildren.

Yazzie was preceded in death by his father, John Sam; mother, Glehasbah Bershone; son, Christopher Lee and brother, Tully Yazzie, Sr.

Pallbearers will be George Gordy, Alvin Lee, Norman Lee, Larry Plummer, Virgil Plummer and Bobby Sandoval.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nathalie LaVerne Eccles

RAMAH — Funeral mass for Nathalie "Verny" Eccles, 73, will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29, at the San Lorenzo Mission, east of Ramah. Father Steve will officiate. Burial will take place on private land.

Eccles died March 17 in Albuquerque. She was born August 24, 1931.

Eccles attended the University of New Mexico. She then moved to Kernville, Calif., where she met and married Alec Eccles. She moved to the Candy Kitchen area in 1989. Eccles worked as a commercial artist for many years and enjoyed drawing and painting. In recent years she created and sold greeting cards. Eccles was active socially with the San Lorenzo Mission. She was an avid and loyal fan of UNM Lobo sports.

Survivors include her stepmother, Opal Henderson of Crawfordsville, Ind.; son, Kurt Andersen of Candy Kitchen; brother, Ray Henderson of Valley Village, Calif.; and one grandson.

Eccles was preceded in death by her mother, Nathalie Christiansen Henderson; father, Jack Henderson; brother, Ernie Henderson; and sons Mark Andersen, Ted Andersen and Dane Andersen.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to San Lorenzo Mission; S.R. 2, Box 47; Ramah, NM 87321.

Matthew J. Yellowhair

ST. MICHAELS — Services for Matthew Joshua Yellowhair, infant, were at 10 a.m. this morning, March 23 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Bishop Mark Graham will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Michaels community cemetery.

Yellowhair was born and died March 19 in Phoenix. He was born into the Many Goats People Clan for the Red Running into Water People Clan.

Survivors include his father, Skeet Boyd Yellowhair; mother, Sharon Yellowhair both of St. Michaels; brother, Sheridan Yellowhair of St. Michaels; sisters, Paula Yellowhair, Ashley Yellowhair, Marianne Yellowhair all of St. Michaels; grandparents, Dr. Paul and Linda Platero of Canoncito; Skeet and Shirley Yellowhair of Window Rock.

Pallbearers will be Boyd Yellowhair and Skeet Yellowhair.

Rudy Suazo

GRANTS — Funeral services are pending for Rudy Suazo, 46.

Suazo died March 21 in Albuquerque. He was born July 15, 1958 in Grants.

Compassion Mortuary of Grants, is in charge of arrangements.