Deaths

• Bia, Samuel
• Cellicion, Lela
• Emerson, Albert
• Nez, Leslie
• Smith, Jasper
• Watchman, Joe
• Watchman, Justin
• Yazzie, John

Samuel Bia

DEL MUERTO — Funeral services for Samuel Bia, 55, will be 10 a.m., Feb. 6, at the New Testament Holiness Church, Del Muerto. The Rev. Francis Kee Teller will officiate. Burial will be in family land, Black Rock, Ariz.

Bia died Feb. 2, 2009, in Chinle. He was born Feb. 13, 1953, in Canyon Del Muerto-Standing Cow, into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the One Who Walks Around People Clan.

Bia graduated from Chinle High School in 1971.

He was a journeyman electrician and member of IBEW Local 640. he was a rancher who raised his cattle in Black Rock. He was a loving father, grandfather, uncle and friend.

Survivors include his wife, Esther Bia; son, Sherman Bia; step-son, Richard; daughters, Sandra Ridgeway, Shannon Bia; mother, Mabel Bia; brothers, Peter Bia, David Bia, Harrison Bia, Andrew Bia, of Tuba City; sisters, Ellen Halwood, Stella Halwood, Alice Bia, Helen Bia; seven grandchildren.

Bia was preceded in death by his father, Ned Bia; brother, Edison Bia.

Pallbearers will be Harrison Bia, Andrew Bia, Harold Bia, Victor Clark, Tyrone Clark, Terry Clark.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 6 miles east of Chinle Park Service, Del Muerto, following services. The family will meet nightly at New Testment Holiness Church, Del Muerto.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Lela Cellicion

ZUNI PUEBLO — Traditional wake for Lela Mae Cellicion, 67, was Feb. 3, at the family home, Zuni Pueblo. Burial was Feb. 4, at the old cemetery, Zuni.

Cellicion died Feb. 1, 2009, in Gallup. She was born May 14, 1941, in Zuni, into the Parrot People Clan for the San Hill Crane People Clan.

Cellicion attended Zuni Day School and Ramah High School. She was an award winning silversmith with many of her work in private collections. She also traveled and performed throughout the U.S. with various dance groups of Zuni until co-founding the renown Cellicion Traditional Zuni Dancers. She demonstrated the art of traditional bread baking during the Gallup Intertribal Cermonial for many years. She enjoyed going to powwows and spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her son, Fernando Cellicion of Zuni; daughters, Angie Johnson, Carmella Cellicion, both of Zuni; brother, Bert Bowannie Jr. of Winslow; sister, Edna Bowannie-Pedro of Acoma; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Cellicion was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; sons, Ervice Phillup, Lindsey Ray; parents, Bert Bowannie Sr. and Lula Leshmony Bowannie; brothers, Alfred Bosi, Joe Labadu, Phillip Osee.

Pallbearers were family members.

Albert Emerson

KIRTLAND — Funeral services for Albert H. Emerson, 75, were 10 a.m., today, Feb. 5, at the First Baptist Church, Kirtland. The Rev. Brett Puckitt and the Rev. Andy Fine officiated.

Interment was in Kirtland/Fruitland cemetery with full military honors by VFW Morgan-Singer Post #9517 of Shiprock and VFW #Post 2182 of Farmington.

Emerson died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, in Kirtland. He was born May 3, 1933, in Red Valley, Ariz.

Emerson attended Shiprock Boarding School, The Sherman Institute, Chemawa in Oregon, and Inglewood Unified School in California. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines, where he served in the Korean War before being honorably discharged. Emerson worked for different companies as an Instrumentation/Telecommunication Technician, until retiring. He enjoyed being a cattleman, traveling with his wife or sons to their art shows throughout the southwest. He was an active member of the Shiprock Veteran of Foreign Wars. Emerson loved to watch many of the local high school basketball and football games and NFL teams. His favorite team was the LA Lakers.

Survivors include his wife, Betty B. Emerson; daughter, Lucinda Harris of Kirtland; sons, Anthony Chee of Kirtland, Travis Emerson of Shiprock; brother, Calvin Zhonnie of Red Valley, Ariz.; seven grandchildren.

Emerson was preceded in death by his father, John Allen; mother, Ke yit ni baa; one grandson.

Pallbearers were Zachary Emerson, Danny Felix, Terry Harris, Loren Harrison, Donovan Johnson, Emmanuel Johnson, Blaine Bekis.

Desert View Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Leslie Nez

NASCHITTI — Funeral services for Leslie Nez, 47, will be at a later date. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, Naschitti.

Nez died Feb. 3, 2009, in Naschitti. Born July 20, 1961, in Naschitti, into the Tangle People Clan for the Many Comanche Warrior People Clan.

Nez attended Tohatchi High School and was a rancher.

Survivors include parents, Herman and Grace R. Nez; brothers, Wesley Nez, Albert Nez, Lorenzo Nez; sisters, Linda Nez, Marian Nez, Malinda Nez, Lena Nez, Cecelia Nez, Cindy Nez, Berlinda Nez, Helene Nez.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Jasper Smith

ALBUQUERQUE — Funeral services for Jasper Tony Smith, 46, will be 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at Bethlehem Christian Reformed Church, Tohlakai. The Rev. Bobby Boyd will officiate. Burial will be in Rock Springs.
Smith died Jan. 29, 2009, in Galveston, Texas.

He was born May 3, 1962, in Gallup, into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Edge Water People Clan.

Smith attended school at Tohatchi Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Tohatchi High School. He was employed with National Roofing Intermountain Color filemon Plastering. He learned to be a jack of all trades. He enjoyed being an artist and an accomplished tradesman.

Smith was a avid member of the American Indian Movement. In high school he played basketball and ran track. His hobbies included wood work, listening to music, and all of his various art work.

Survivors include his son, Corcoran Smith of Farmington; daughter, Justina Smith of Farmington; mother, Shirley Manning of Tohlakai; sisters, Sandra Arizana of Nampa, Idaho, Sharon Smith of Craig, Colo., Shirlene Martinez of Gallup, Geraldine Tracy of Craig, Colo., Ardine Johnson, Adrienne Manning, both of Gallup; grandmother, Ruby Begay of Tohlakai.

Smith was preceded in death by George Smith Jr., Arthur Manning, Lorinda Manning.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Yazzie, Anthony Yazzie, Kenton Halona, Norman Cruz, Wilbur Manning, Reuben Begay.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Bethlehem Christian Reformed Church, Tohlokai, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Joe Watchman

CHINLE — Funeral services for Joe L. Watchman, 47, will be 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church, Chinle. Interment will be in family plot, Chinle.

Watchman died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, in Phoenix. He was born May 16, 1961, in Fort Defiance.

Survivors include his father, Joe Watchman Sr. of Chinle; companion, Ferlando Bahe of Chinle; daughters, Sheryle Raye Watchman of Chinle, Sherri Raye Watchman of Chinle; brother, Art Watchman of Chinle; sister, Nancy Watchman of Chinle; two grandchildren.

Watchman was preceded in death by his mother, Nellie Watchman; brothers, Raymond Joe Watchman, Harold Neboyia; sister, Dora Mae Watchman.

Desert View Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Justin Watchman

QUERINO CANYON — Funeral services for Justin Ray Watchman, 17, will be 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at Good News Mission, Houck.

Milt Shirleyson will officiate. Burial will be in Houck Community Cemetery.

Watchman died Feb. 2, 2009, in Querino Canyon. He was born March 21, 1991, in Gallup, into the Blacksheep People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Watchman attended school at Sanders, Valley High School and completed the 12th grade early in Dec. 2008. He liked drawing, cooking and watching educational shows on t.v. and being with his friends and cousins.

Survivors include his parents, James Watchman Jr., Mabel Watchman of Querino Canyon; brothers, Ardel Watchman of Houck, Joshua Watchman of Querino, Jameson Watchman of Querino, Devin Desson of Houck, Kevin, Matthew, Shawnavan Watchman, all of Querino; sisters, Ashlee Watchman of Querino, Jewel Watchman of Querino; grandmother, Anita Watchman of Querino.

Watchman was preceded in death by James Watchman Sr.; grandparents, Gordon Harold and Dorothy.

Pallbearers will be Jameson Watchman, Josua Watchman, Jared Watchman, Junior K. Joe, Colton McCabe, Leland Iashe.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Houck Chapter, following services.

John Yazzie

FARMINGTON — Funeral services for John Yazzie, 59, will be 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at Word of Life III, Gallup. Interment will be in Gallup City Cemetery.

Yazzie died Jan. 30, 2009, in Farmington. He was born April 10, 1949, in Tse Yatoh.

Desert View Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.