Deaths

• Cecelia Lowe
  
• Ernestine Francisco
• Mary Egyed
• Milton Yazzie
• Gertrude Willoughby
• John Horacek
• Chee Keams
• Jay Smith
• Elaine Begaye
• Wallace Bitsie

Cecelia Lowe

GALLUP — Services for Cecelia Lowe, 62, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Chinle, Ariz. Father Blane Grein, OFM will officiate. Burial will be at the family land in Chinle.

Lowe died Dec. 16 in Albuquerque. She was born May 27, 1944 in Ganado into the Tangle People Clan for the Coyote Pass People Clan.

Lowe enjoyed reading, playing basketball, traveling, telling jokes, knitting, helping friends and family and most of all, playing Bingo.

Survivors include sons, Michael LaPointe of Phoenix and Thomas LaPointe of Lexington, Ky.; daughters, Michelle LaPointe of Sacramento, Calif. and Cathleen ;owe of Silver City, N.M.; sisters, Judy Attson of Phoenix and Evangeline Hartstock of Chinle and one grandchild.

Lowe was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Attson and Bessie Carol; brothers, Elmer Attson, Francis Attson, Michael Attson and Egbert Attson, Sr.; sister, Rosemary Attson.

Pallbearers will be Gregory Shorty, Jr., Alfred Attson, Steven Attson, Michael LaPointe, Marvin Attson and Edward Chah.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ernestine Francisco

KLAGETOH, Ariz — Services for Ernestine Shanae Francisco, 9, will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 21 at St. Johns Cathoic Church in Houck, Ariz. Father Cormac will officiate. Burial will follow in Lupton at the father's family plot.

Francisco died Dec. 14 in Phoenix. She was born May 22, 1997 in Fort Defiance into the Water's Edge People Clan for the Black Streak of the Forest People Clan.

Francisco attended Lupton Head Start, Sanders Elementary and Amy Houston Academy in Phoenix. She enjoyed social activities, traveling, riding horses and going to school.

Survivors include her parents Andreana Denetso and Calbert Francisco; brothers Kenyon Francisco and DeAndre Thomas; sister Calcee Francisco; grandparents Emma and Johnson Denetso and Laura and Ernest Francisco.

She was preceded in death by her grandparent Ernest Francisco; great-grandparents Nellie J. Yazzie and Lillie Redhouse.

Pallbearers will be Sgt. Andrea Denetso, Harold Clark, Joshua Roan, Sherman Yazzie, Fernanco Yazzie and Boyd Francisco.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Egyed

GRANTS — Graveside services for Mary Agnes Egyed, 94, were 1 p.m., Dec. 17 at Pioneer Memorial Park in Bluewater, N.M. Elder Roy L. Goldsborough officiated.

Egyed died Dec. 13 in Grants. She was born Oct. 19, 1912 in Thomas, Okla.

Egyed was an area resident for 20 years. She was a member of the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bluewater and served as President of the American Legion Women's Auxillary.

Survivors include son, Lawrence Leon Newell of Marksville, La.; daughter, Patricia Louise Goldsborough of Ravensdale, Wash.; brother, Kenneth Leon Hinson of Wenatchee, Wash.; many nieces and nephews; six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Egyed was preceded in death by her parents, Sterling Alexander Hinson and Essel Alice Newton-Hinson and son, William B. Russell Newell.

Milton Yazzie

WOOD SPRINGS, Ariz. — Services for Milton Lee Yazzie, 48, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 at All Saints Hall Catholic Church in Ganado. Burial will be in Kinlichee Community Cemetery.

Yazzie was born July 4, 1958 in Ganado into the Black Streak Forest People Clan for the Water Edge People Clan.

Yazzie graduated from high school and went to college for two years in Price, Utah. He was self-employed as an auto mechanic.

Survivors include his son, Hamiliton Lee Yazzie of Hunterspoint; daughter, Melody Rose Yazzie of Hunterspoint; father, Johnnie Lee Yazzie of Woodsprings, Ariz.; brothers, Lester Lee Yazzie of Kinlichee and Jackson Lee Yazzie of Calif.; sisters, Vickie Nez of Woodsprings, Sylvia Yazzie of Price, Utah.; Hazel Wilson and Arlinda Yazzie both of Woodsprings; five grandchildren.

Yazzie was preceded in his death by his wife, Virginia Rose Yazzie of Hunterspoint; mother, Mae J. Yazzie of Woodsprings.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Kinlichee Chapter House after services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Gertrude Willoughby

MILAN — Funeral Mass for Gertrude Willoughby, 91, will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 21 at St. Vivian's Catholic Church in Milan. Father Michael Kugler will officiate. Interment and graveside services will follow at Grants Memorial Park.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Grants Mortuary. A rosary will be at 7 p.m. at Grants Mortuary.

Willoughby died Dec. 17 in Milan. She was born Dec. 27 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Willoughby was a resident of Milan and a member of St. Vivian's Catholic Church. She was a Republican Party supporter and a member of the Legion of Mary.

Survivors include her son William "Bud" Willoughby of Milan; daughter Anne Mathis of Milan; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband William Willoughby and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John McFarland.

Pallbearers will be Michael Brodd, Mel Simpson, Patrick Mathis and Andrew Mathis.

John Horacek

GRANTS — Funeral Mass for John V. Horacek, 87, will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20 at St. Teresa de Avila Catholic Church in Grants. Fathers Alberto Avella, Michael Kugler and Jeff King will officiate. Veteran's and Catholic graveside services will follow the Mass. Grants VFW Post #3221 will be the Military Honor Guard.

A rosary will be recited before Mass at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20 at St. Teresa de Avila Catholic Church.

Horacek died Dec. 16 in Grants. He was born Dec. 16, 1919 in Dawson, N.M.

Horacek moved to Grants in 1956 and became city manager of Grants. He had previously been the assistant city manager for the City of Albququerque. He served in the U.S. Army, was a Grants municpal judge and magistrate judge for about 25 years. He was also mayor of Grants and served in the Grants City Council and was a county commissioner. He retired in 1982 and worked as the St. Teresa de Avila Catholic Church as an accountant.

Survivors include his wife Betty M. Horacek of Grants; sons, Rick Horacek, Grants City Manager Bob Horacek and Gerald Horacek, all of Grants; four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Felix Horacek and Antonia Starkovich Horacek; brother Joe Horacek; sisters Agnes Tellis, Frances Bonato and Ann Lane.

Pallbearers will be Gerald Horacek, Gary Atencio, Bill Snodgrass, Ron Ortiz, Jim Hanosh and Manuel Maestas.

Chee Keams

WINSLOW, Ariz. — Services for Chee Keams, 84, will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 21 at Dilkon Nazarene Church. Dean Bahe will officiate. Burial will follow at the family plot in Dilkon.

Keams died Dec. 17 in Winslow. He was born Jan. 7, 1922 in Dilkon.

Survivors include his sons Sammy Keams, Ferris Keams, both of Cedar Springs, Ariz.; daughters, Bonnie Yearly, Isabell Krans, both of Gallup, Darlene Loretto of Albuquerque, Cynthia Sandoval of Thoreau, Carenda Robinson of Tampa, Fla., Virginia Moore of Crystal, N.M., and Nyana Leonard of Cedar Springs, Ariz.; brother, Willie Keams of Dilkon; sister Merreta Keams of Leupp, Effie Nezzie of Dilkon, and Betty Yazzie of Winslow; and 20 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hosteen and Alice Tso.

Pallbearers will be John Yearley, Phillip Loretto, Bob Robinson, Steven Krans, Marvin Sandoval and Jonathan Leonard.

Jay Smith

CHINLE — Services for Jay Edward "Bo" Smith, 40, will be announced at a later date.

Smith died Dec. 17 in Gallup. He was born June 29, 1966 in Fort Defiance into the Water's Edge People Clan for the Mexican People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Elaine Begaye

RED ROCK, N.M. — Services for Elaine Begaye, 40, will be announced at a later date.

Begaye died Dec. 15 in Gallup. She was born June 14, 1966 in Gallup.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Wallace Bitsie

MEXICAN SPRINGS, N.M. — Services for Wallace J. Bitsie, 70, will be announced at a later date.

Bitsie died Dec. 16 in Gallup. He was born March 10, 1936 in Mexican Springs into the Salt People Clan for the Running into the Water People Clan.

There will be a community meeting Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m., at the Mexican Springs Chapter House.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.