Arviso, Tommy

GALLUP — Services for Tommy Arviso, 60, will be 1 p.m. April 3, at the Church of Nazarene. Burial will be in Gallup City Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4:30 p.m. today, April 2.

Arviso died March 28, 2008, in Gallup. He was born May 5, 1947, in Rehoboth, into the Black Streak of the Forest People Clan for the Black Streak Wood People Clan.

Arviso graduated from Gallup High School in 1965. He moved to California in 1965 and returned to Gallup in 2007. Arviso was a man of all trades. He worked at Kaiser Steel in Fontana, Calif., for many years. He retired form Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, Calif. He loved fishing, sports, cooking, and telling people how much he loved them. He also loved his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Vicki Arviso; daughters, Odesbah Arviso of Rialto, Calif.; step-daughter, Lisa Harper of Riverside, Calif.; brothers, Edward Anderson Jr., of Gallup, William Anderson of Gallup, J.W. Anderson of Gallup; sisters, Mary Anderson, Caroline D. Anderson, Susie Anderson, Shirley Paradise, all of Gallup; six grandchildren.

Arviso was preceded in death by his father, Ned Arviso; mother, Odesbah Anderson; stepfather, Edward Anderson; brother, Eddie Arviso; sister, Rosabell Chino-Arviso; grandson, Tommy Ned Arviso.

Pallbearers will be Edward Anderson Jr., William Anderson, J.W. Anderson, Franklin Wilson III, Matthew McCrieght, and Carl Mayes.

McGee, Ellis

FARMINGTON – Services for Ellis Dewitt McGee, 91, were 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kirtland, N.M., with Lonnie Moffett officiating. Interment  followed at the Kirtland Cemetery .

McGee died March 21, 2008. He was born January 11, 1917 in Springdale, Utah. His family, who originally settled in Fruitland, NM in 1899 moved back to Kirtland, in 1920 where Ellis attended both elementary and high school. He then worked on the Navajo Reservation as an Indian Trader until he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp during WWII where he was stationed at Guadalcanal in the Pacific. After his discharge he worked at various trading posts as an Indian trader. In the late 60’s he purchased the Gallup Feed and Seed store and operated it until his retirement.

He loved hunting, fishing at Vallecito Lake, Colo., raising vegetables in his garden, cooking and baking, and playing cribbage.

Survivors include his brother Cliff McGee of Mesa, Ariz., his sister Ruth Tanner of Farmington , and sister Celia Wheeler also of Farmington; children, D’ Ann Waters of Farmington, Robert McGee of the family home, and Jolene Marie Roscoe of Farmington, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by stepchildren Ronald White, Gary White, Michael White, Gregory White; 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, Elwood Dewitt and Celia Hunt McGee: brothers Lawrence, Charles, Harvey, Richard, and Bill; sister Stella Tanner; his first wife, Dorothy, and his second wife, Angela.

Pallbearers were Richard Smith, Bill Petranovich, Jr., Joe Tanner Sr., Ellis Tanner, Michael White, and Eugene White.  

Nelson, Leo

JONES RANCH — Funeral services for Leo Nelson, 82, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3, at the Rollie Mortuary, Gallup.

Nelson died March 30, 2008, in Gallup. He was born May 20, 1925, in Two Wells, N.M., into the Folded Arms People Clan for the Mexican People Clan.

Nelson wworked for Union Pacific and Santa Fe Railway for 33 and one-half years. He was a rancher who raised cattle and horses and sheep. He enjoyed dancing at song and dances. Nelson loved spending time with grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Nelson; son, Kenneth Nelson of Spencer Valley; daughters, Anita Ann Davis of Crownpoint; Evelyn Delores Chavez of Bosque Farms, Genevieve Rose Nelson of Jones Ranch, Leona Maria Nelson of Jones Ranch; brother, John Nelson of Cousins; sisters, Irene Richards of Jones Ranch; 20 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
Nelson was preceded in death of his father, Bernard Attakai; mother, Katherine Duboise; sister, Malie Bitsuie, Maggie Bitsuie; brothers, John White, Juan Nelson, Paul Nelson, Alonzo Tyree; great-grandson, Bradley.

Pallbearers will be family members.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Chichiltah Chapter House, following services.
Donations may be made to Rollie Mortuary.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.