Deaths

• Johnny Tabaha
• Gary Garcia
• James Johnson
• Bonnie Clayton
• Leslie Joe
• Lennzie Parker
• Tommie Nez
• Delbert Benally
• David Reitmeyer
• Bessie Charley

Johnny Tabaha

FORT DEFIANCE — Services for Johnny Raymond Tabaha, Jr., 66, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Good Shepherd Mission in Fort Defiance. Burial will follow at the Fort Defiance Cemetery.

Tabaha died Sept. 24 in Fort Defiance. He was born March 10, 1940 in Fort Defiance into the Waters Edge People Clan for the One-Walks-Around People Clan.

Tabaha retired from the branch of roads (BIA) and voluntered for the Fort Defiance Fire Department. His hobbies included basketball, softball, volleyball, football and rodeo. He supported the veterans and the Window Rock Scouts.

Survivors include wife, Lula Tabaha; stepsons, Robert Valasco and Ronald Valasco; daughters, Jennifer Craig and Geraldine Fischer, both of Tucson; brothers, Louis Tabaha of Fort Defiance; sisters, Beverly Willow, Alvina Willow and Marjorie Lee of Fort Defiance, Mary Louise Sounding of Sides Etere, Wyo., and eight grandchildren.

Tabaha was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Tabaha, former wife Betty Tabaha; father, Johnny Tabaha, Sr. and mother, Dollie Tabaha and sister, Diana Tabaha.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Good Shepherd Parish Hall after services.

Gary Garcia

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Memorial services for Gary Allen Garcia, 45, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Private disposition will be in Las Vegas.

Garcia died Sept. 17 in Las Vegas, Nev. He was born May 11, 1961 in Gallup.

Garcia graduated from Gallup High School. He was employed with Nevada State Bank as a senior vice-president of commercial real estate.

Survivors include wife, Marty A. Singer of Las Vegas; stepson, Matthew Rosenfeld of Las Vegas; daughters, Danica Garcia, stepdaughter, Sarah Rosenfeld of Las Vegas; parents, Gumie and Betty Garcia of Gallup; brothers, Lee Garcia of Gallup and David Garcia of Gallup.

Garcia was preceded in death by grandparents, G.J. and Frances Garcia and Joe and Pauline Kezele.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Sacred Heart Cathedral Family Center after the services.

James Johnson

TOHLAKAI — Services for James K. Johnson, 82, will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Rollie Mortuary. Pastor Limbert Perry will officiate. Johnson died Sept. 22 in Albuquerque. He was born Sept. 19, 1924 in Tohlakai into the the Mexican People Clan for the Salt Water People Clan.

Johnson was employed with the railroad and worked as a carpenter for various places. His hobbies include going to dances, shoe games, singing and playing cards.

Survivors include son, DeWayne Johnson of South Dakota; daughters, Blossom Johnson and Thelma Johnson both of South Dakota; sisters, Marie Henio of Smith Lake, Thelma Johnson of Tohlakai and Isabelle Martinez of Prewitt.

Johnson was preceded in death by son, James Johnson, Jr., brothers, John L. Begay, Elsie Fred and Tom K. Johnson, sister, Pearl John.

Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Thomas, Jonavin Begay, Alan John, Alfred John, Darly Johnson and Thompson Johnson.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Bonnie Clayton

RAMAH — Services for Bonnie Lee Clayton, 79, will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Ramah Ward. Graveside services will follow on private family land in the Ramah area.

Clayton died Sept. 23 in Prescott, Ariz. She was born July 30, 1927 in Oklahoma. She was an artist of Native American art.

Survivors include her daughter, Denise Grant McRae of Ramah; sons, Robert Campbell of Ramah, Terry Sutton of Prescott, Dennis Clayton of Tucson, Donald Clayton Jr., of Texas, 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald Clayton and her parents, Benjamin W. and Blanche Sharver.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Leslie Joe

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Services for Leslie James Joe, 49, will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 28 at St. Michaels Catholic Church, St. Michaels. Burial will follow in the St. Michaels Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

Joe died Sept. 23 in Phoeniz. He was born Oct. 23, 1956 in Fort Defiance into the Towering House People Clan for the Big Water People Clan.

Joe graduated from Window Rock High School in 1975, attended Mesa Community College, Tsaile Community College, UNM-Gallup, TVI in Albuquerque and worked for NASBA, the Navajo Tribe, Navajo Arts and Crafts, Springer Sand and Gravel in Albuquerque, was a diesel mechanic, assistant manager at Thrifty Drug Store, a mechanic at Rico Motor Co. and worked at P&M Coal Mine and the Navajo Census office. His hobbies included basketball, watching Family Feud, Jay Leno and spending time with family.

Survivors include his wife Ralphalita Joe; daughters, Maria Arviso and Clarissa Joe, both of Phoenix; brother, Colbert Joe Sr.; sisters, Jerilene Joe of Santa Fe, Darlene Tullie, Shirley Joe, Charlene Johnson, all of Phoenix, Arlene Joe of Tempe, Cindy Joe of St. Michaels; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Navajo Joe and Mary Tabaha, Albert and Gloria Nelson and his mother Lucille Mae Joe.

Pallbearers will be Shawn Arviso, Ralph Johnson, Kevin Anderson, Colbert Chischilly, Daniel Tullie and Richard Francisco.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Michaels gymnasium next to the Catholic Church following burial.

Lennzie Parker

MANUELITO — Services for Lennzie N. Parker, 44, will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Manuelito. Bishop Even Lewis will officiate. Burial will follow at the family land in Manuelito.

Parker died Thursday Sept. 21 in Albuquerque. He was born July 8, 1962 in Denver, Colo into the Towering House People Clan for the Black Streak of Forest People Clan.

Survivors include father, Lennie Parker of Manuelito and mother, Grace Parker of Gallup; daughters, Adriana Parker and Heather Parker, both of Pinedale; brother, Lonnie Parker of Oak Springs, Ariz.; sisters, Landie Parker, Leona Parker, both of the Manuelito and Lorene Turpen of Albuquerque.

Parker was preceded in death by sister, Leonie Parker.

Pallbearers will be Tyrone Becenti, Jackson Brown, Michael Chavez, Julian Haley, Roger James and Louie Miller.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Tommie Nez

NAVAJO, N.M. — Services for Tommie Edward Nez, 66, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Fort Defiance. Burial will follow at the family plot, 5 miles south of Navajo.

Viewing will be at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sept. 28 before the services. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at St. Berard Catholic Church.

Nez died Sept. 22 in Navajo. He was born Sept. 23, 1940 in Fort Defiance into the Charcoal Streaked Divison of the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the One-Walks-Around People Clan.

Nez attended Fort Defiance Boarding School, Albuquerque Indian School, Riverside Indian School in Riverside, Calif. and Window Rock High School. He was employed with O.N.E.O. Navajo Nation carpenter training job and worked as a laborer. His hobbies include horseback riding, basketball and baseball.

Survivors include sisters, Fenia Charles of Navajo and Bettie Littlesinger of Navajo.

Nez was preceded in death by parents, Harvey and Katherine Nez; brothers, William Nez, Richard Nez, Charlie Nez and Anthony Nez; sisters, Thelma Blackhair and Rufina Cleveland.

Pallbearers will be Felton Littlesinger, Frederick Keams, Marlin Mark, Harlan Mark, Irving Nez and Andrew Mark.

The family will receive relatives and friends following the funeral services at Navajo Recreation Center in Navajo.

Delbert Benally

FORT DEFIANCE — Services for Delbert L. Benally, 56, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Deacon Mike Sullivan will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Benally died Sunday, Sept. 24 in Farmington. He was born May 7, 1950 in Fort Defiance into the Red Bottom People Clan for the Big Water People Clan.

Benally attended Window Rock High School and Colorado State University. He was in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was employed by the Navajo Nation for 25 years. His hobbies include Rodeo-Dine Land Senior Rodeo Association, All Indian Rodeo Association, National Barrel Horse Association, AW4D, and his hobbies reading history and western books, football and horseback riding.

Survivors include wife, Margaret Morgan-Benally of Fort Defiance; father, Steven Benally, Sr. of Fort Defiance; sons, Tyree Benally of Fort Defiance, Adrian Morgan of Standing Rock, Delbert Benally, Jr., Alden Benally, both of Crownpoint, Aaron Benally of Alamosa, Colo. and Delain Benally of Chinle; daughter, Stephanie Eversole of Durango, Colo.; sister, Nanlee Benally of Madison, Wis. and Nita Cummings of Newton, ND. and five grandchildren.

Benally was preceded in death by his mother, Nettie Benally.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

David Reitmeyer

GRANTS — Services for David L. Reitmeyer, 73, will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 29 at the First United Methodist Church in Grants. Pastor Ruben Thomas will officiate. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe, Santa Fe.

Reitmeyer died Sept. 24 in Grants. He was born June 10, 1933 in Milton, Penn.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a member of the EAA, Pat Robertson's 700 Club and the First United Methodist Church in Grants.

Survivors include his wife Louise Reitmeyer of Grants; daughters Celine Gilbert and Tracy Reitmeyer, both of Sheboygan, Wis.; brothers, John Reitmeyer of Rio Rancho, Robert Reitmeyer of St. Peters, Mo.; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Pearl Reitmeyer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Food Pantry, 222 East Stevens Street, Grants, N.M. 87020

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Bessie Charley

CASAMERO LAKE — Services for Bessie B. Charley, 81, will be announced at a later date.

Charley died Sept. 26 in Crownpoint. She was born Aug. 8, 1925 in Smith Lake into the Towering House People Clan for the Black Streak Wood People Clan.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.