Deaths

• Vida Mae Nelson
• Gilbert Blackgoat
• Sam Bain Jr.

Vida Mae Nelson

FORT DEFIANCE — Funeral services for Vida Mae Nelson, 65, will be at 11 a.m., with viewing at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, at St. Dominic's Church, Fort Defiance. Father Gilbert Schneider, OFM, will officiate. Burial will be at the Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Visitation will be today (Monday) from 5-7 p.m. at the Silver Creek Mortuary, Tse Bonito.

Nelson died Thursday, Jan. 19 in Fort Defiance. She was born Feb. 3, 1940, in Fort Defiance into the One Walks Around One Clan for the Red Running Into Water Clan.

Vida was a homemaker. She attended Chemawa Indian School or the Santa Fe Indian School, Window Rock High School; and Dallas Business School. She worked at Texas Instruments in Dallas for two years. She returned to Fort Defiance in 1970. She devoted the rest of her life to her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and a friend.

Survivors include husband, Tom Nelson, Jr. of Fort Defiance; son, Boris C. Nelson of Phoenix; daughter Sonia Nelson of Albuquerque; brothers Louis Wauneka, Peach Springs, Ariz., Carl Wauneka, Klagetoh , and Freddie Wauneka, Farmington; sisters, Linda Garnenez and Jane Benally, Shiprock; Esabelle Fuller, Nellie Roanhorse, Martha Joe, Della John, Fort Defiance; Eleanor Bustamente, Artesia, N.M.; and Louise Chambellan, Rio Rancho, N.M.; and four grandchildren.

Nelson was preceded in death by parents, Hosteen L. and Anita Wauneka; and brothers Dan Wauneka, David Wauneka, and Billy Wauneka.

Pallbearers will be Tom Nelson, Jr.; Boris Nelson, Edward Willie, Corbert Goldtooth, Benny Joe Sr., and Jason Wauneka.

The family will meet at the families residence in Fort Defiance.

Silver Creek Mortuary, Tse Bonito, is in charge of arrangements.

Gilbert Blackgoat

RABBIT BRUSH — Funeral Services for Gilbert Blackgoat, 56, will be 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Assembly of God in Fort Defiance. Burial will be held at the family plot.

Blackgoat died on Jan. 19, 2006, in Gallup. He was born on May 8, 1949, in Fort Defiance into the Mud People Clan for the Zuni People Clan.

Blackgoat attended school in Window Rock. He worked as a carpenter and a maintenance man for the Navajo Tribe and the Navajo Forest Product Industry in Fort Defiance and Navajo. He was a life-long rancher and farmer. He enjoyed fishing, sports activities, attended games and supported his children in athletics. He loved being with his family and never hesitated to help other people.

Survivors include his wife Louise Marie Blackgoat; son, Kevin Blackgoat; daughters, Ophelia Blackgoat and Sandra A. Blackgoat; sisters, Loretta Martin, Elsie Morris, Nellie M. Damon and Roberta Boyd; and two grandchildren.

Blackgoat was preceded in death by his father, Jim Blackgoat; mother, Louise Yaseabah Blackgoat; brothers, Melvin and James Blackgoat; sisters, Eleanor Taliman and Rosemary Laughlin.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Fort Defiance Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Sam Bain Jr.

WINSLOW — Funeral Services for Sam Bain, Jr., 81, were held today (Monday) Jan. 23, 2006, at the Indian Wells Presbyterian Church.

Bain retired from Santa Fe Railroad. He was a carpenter, rancher, and a man of many trades. He lived in Indian Wells all his life.

Bain was Towering House People Clan born for the Honey Combed Rock People Clan.

Survivors include his wife, Susie Bain; sons, Stanley, Dicky, Robert Bain and Leonard Morris; daughters, Lena Singer, Nellie Long, Marie Bain and Tina Samm; 23 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Bain was preceded in death by his parents, Sam Bain Sr. and Bah Bain; son, Freddie Bain; and daughter, Marjorie Bain.