Deaths

• Tommy Yepes
• Elijah Valenciano
• Judy Watts
• Diane Gallegos
• Pauline Jones
• Hilda Reeder
• Lenna Morgan

Tommy Yepes

GALLUP — Mass service for Tommy Yepes, 57 will be at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Saturday., Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. Father Jerry will officiate. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park. A rosary will be this evening, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Yepes died on Feb. 13 in Gallup. He was born on July 22, 1948 in Gallup. He attended Cathedral School here in Gallup and was employed with McKinley County for over 25 years as a heavy equipment operator. His hobbies included hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Yepes of Gallup; daughters, Gloria of Albuquerque, Melissa of Zuni, and Dominique of Gallup; sisters, Evelyn Mallam of Navajo Dam, Frances Mares of Albuquerque, Maria Swatzell of Gallup; brothers, Johnny Yepes, Ernie Yepes, and Raymond Yepes all of Gallup.

Yepes was preceded in death by his parents, Jesus and Lillie Yepes; sister, Priscilla Garica.

Pallbearers will be Aurelio Baca, Scott Daugherty, Larry Martinez, Mike Montano, Russell Swatzell and Robert Vargas.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Knights of Columbus following the services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Elijah Valenciano

GALLUP — Funeral services for Elijah Leon Valenciano, 8 will be at the Fellowship Church on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. Grace Fitzjerald/Armando will officiate. Burial will be at the Sunset Memorial Park in Gallup.

Valenciano died on Feb. 11 in Gallup. He was born on January 5, 1998 in Gallup. He was a student at the Rocky View Elementary School.

Survivors include his parents, Juan Valenciano and Rachel Sayre of Gallup; sisters, Mahcala Pollard and Jasmine Valenciano, both of Gallup; brothers, Cesar Valenciano and Isiah Valenciano, both of Gallup; grandmother, Lola Lanius of Gallup; grandfathers, Richard Sayre of Bartlesville, OK and Francisco Valenciano of Gallup.

Valenciano was preceded in death by his grandmother Maria Ramos.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Sayre and Chris Valenciano.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Judy Watts

KINLICHEE — Funeral services for Judy Ann Watts, 45 will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Family Church Assembly of God. Evangelist Stanford Samuel will officiate. Burial will be on the family plot in Blue Canyon.

Watts died on Feb. 10 in Tucson. She was born on August 8, 1960 in Fort Defiance into the Honey Combed Rock People Clan for the Mexican People Clan. She attended Ganado High School and was employed at Super 8 Motel in Durango, Colo., Amberly Suites Hotel and The Club House Inn Suite in Albuquerque doing hospitality service. She was also self-employed as a sash belt weaver. Her hobbies were playing softball, going to revivals and church gatherings. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Albert Belenti of Kinlichee; sons, Derrick Gordy and Darrell Yazzie, both of Albuquerque, Brandon Yazzie of Kinlichee, Ariz.; daughters, Jennifer Etsitty, Jacqualine Watts, Johanna Watts, all of Fort Defiance; parents, James Yazzie Sr. and Gail Yazzie of Fort Defiance; brothers, James Yazzie Jr. of Fort Defiance and Wilfred Lilly of Summit, Ariz.; sisters, Maybelle Kinlicheene and Janice James, both of Cornfield, Ariz., Jane Yazzie of Fort Defiance; and five grandchildren.

Watts was preceded in death by her brothers Johnson and Jonah Yazzie, both of Fort Defiance.

Pallbearers will be Wallace James, Marlin James, Orlando Kinlicheene, William Kinlicheene, Jimmy Samuel, and Albert Biliti.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Fort Defiance Chapter House.

Diane Gallegos

GRANTS — Funeral mass for Diane C. Gallegos, 44 will be on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Grants. Father Matthew Keller will officiate. Burial will follow at Grants Memorial Park. A rosary will be this evening, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the church.

Gallegos died on Feb. 15 in Albuquerque. She was born on August 4, 1961 in Grants. She worked many years as a waitress for the Monte Carlo Cafe.

Survivors include Tom Martinez of Grants; daughters, Mistie Gallegos of Albuquerque, Crystal Gallegos and CaSandra Lucero, both of Grants; mother, Juanita Sandoval Gallegos of Grants; sister, Isabel Tafoya of Grants; brothers, Ray Gallegos and Edward Gallegos, both of Albuquerque, Tedd Gallegos and Danny Gallegos, both of Grants, and Tommy Gallegos of Edgewood, New Mexico; three grandchildren. Gallegos was preceded in death by her father Meliton Gallegos; sister, Rose Mary Gallegos; brothers, Michael, Rudy, and David Gallegos.

Pallbearers will be Ray Gallegos, Tommy Gallegos, Tedd Gallegos, Edward Gallegos, Danny Gallegos and Johnny Tafoya.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Pauline Jones

CHINLE — Funeral services for Pauline Evans Jones, 104, will be at 10 a.m. on Feb. 18 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Chinle. Burial will be on the family plot in Chinle.

Jones died Feb. 10 in Chinle. She was born May 5, 1901 in Hotevilla, Ariz., into the Water's Edge Clan for the Hopi People Clan.

Survivors include her daughter, Judy Braidhair; brother, Billie Sarracino and Kee Yazzie; sisters, Sadie Yazzie and Linda Pioche; five grandchildren.

Jones was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Evans Jones; parents, Jorge Honeyestewa of Hotevilla, Ariz. and Glinbah Yazza of Keams Canyon, Ariz.; brothers, Begay Tosohnii Yazzie and Sam Kee of Keams Canyon, Ariz.; sisters, Mae Attson

Pallbearers will be Tracy Yazzie, Roger Yazzie, John Wayne Mitchell, Orlando Paisano, and Richard Attson Sr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at House #2, Sunnyside Housing in Chinle.

Hilda Reeder

ROCK SPRINGS — Services for Hilda Cadman Reeder, 72, will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Bible Navajo Mission in Wildcat, N.M. Pastor Marshall will officiate. Burial will follow at the family plot in Wildcat.

Reeder died Feb. 13 in Wildcat. He was born Dec. 12, 1933 in the Tower House People Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.

Reeder was a homemaker and rug weaver and she also did beadwork. She worked at jobs as a kitchen helper and cook's helper. She enjoyed riding horses and herding sheep.

Survivors include her sons Freddie L. Reeder, Calvin Reeder, Emery Yazzie, all of Gallup, Johnny Reeder, Thomas Yazzie Jr., and Theoron Yazzie, all of Phoenix; daughters, Evelyn J. Pinto of Tohatchi, Jennie Reeder, Amelda Reeder, both of Phoenix, Hazel Stoneburner of Apopka, Fla., Eugena Nez of Gallup; brother Albert Cadman of Rock Springs; sisters, Rosemary Joe of China Springs and Bessie Murphy of Wildcat; 36 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Reeder was preceded in death by her son Delbert Reeder, parents, Sam Cadman and Mary W. Cadman; brother Bennie, Robert, Chee and Fred Cadman and sister, Lucy Cadman.

Pallbearers will be Calvin Reeder, Thomas Yazzie, Emery Yazzie and Theoron Yazzie.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Lenna Morgan

NAHODEESHGIZH — Services for Lenna T. Morgan, 86, will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Navajo Baptist Church in Crownpoint. Missionary Richard Crow and Pastor Johnny Savaadra will officiate. Burial will follow on private land in Nahodeeshgizh.

Morgan died Feb. 14 in Nahodeeshgizh. She was born June 4, 1919 in Standing Rock into the Towering House People Clan for the Water Flows Together People Clan.

She attended Crownpoint Boarding School, Santa Fe Indian School and was a rug weaver, homemaker and basket weaver. She helped elderly people with letter correspondent. She was active in community leadership.

Survivors include her son Eddie F. Morgan of Nahodeeshgizh; daughters Bernice Jim, Alberta Jim and Charlene Morgan, all of Nahodeeshgizh and Chriscita Morgan of Standing Rock, 37 grandchildren, 36 grandchildren and one grreat-great grandchild.

Morgan was preceded in death by her husband, Preston Morgan; sons, Herman R. Morgan, Kennth Morgan and four grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Dewayne Jim, Curtis Jim, Nathan Willie, Nelvin Willie, Lynold Halona, Larry Holona, Nathaniel Morgan, and Myron Morgan

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Nahodeeshgizh Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.