Service honors victims of fire

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The family and friends of the three children killed in a Dec. 23 mobile home fire remembered their "Outlaw," "Baby" and devout movie fan on Saturday morning.

Garrett, Jesse and Keyiara James died in a fire at theor Scott Drive residence in the early morning hours of Dec. 23. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Little room remained in the wooden pews where at least 100 friends, family, community leaders or those touched by the James children's lives sat. Young children, about Jesse's and Keyiara's age and who were reluctant to remain still, scurried from their seats through the Rollie Mortuary aisle, during portions of the funeral service.

But from the accounts of the oldest James sibling, Wenona Benally now a parent herself 6-year-old Jesse, whom they call Outlaw, might have done the same thing.

Benally described how the kindergartner was known for gathering rocks or anything inside his pockets and how he would pretend to be a dinosaur roaming through his residence with gloves on his feet and a make-shift tail tied to the rear of his pants.

And while Jesse didn't say much, 5-year-old Keyiara more than made up for his occasional moments of silence, Benally said.

Her mother's baby, Keyiara loved to chat and cart older brother Jesse along. They came as a pair, Benally said. She, too, was enrolled in kindergarten.

Garrett James, 13 and the oldest of the three, often looked after his younger brother and sister, but when he was alone, he liked to watch movies. Garret was in the eighth grade at Gallup Junior High.

A friend of the family asked those in attendance to pray for the James and Denetclaw families and encouraged them to remain strong as they grieve. A private burial on family land in Pinetree followed the memorial service.