Donald Johnston
Funeral ceremonies for Donald Johnston, 89, of Pima, were conducted Friday, April 6, at the Pima LDS Chapel by Bishop Lynn Saline. Concluding ceremonies followed in the Thatcher Cemetery.
Donald Leroy Johnston was born June 12, 1912, in Sanford, Colo., the son of Hiram and Willa Johnston. He was one of 12 children born unto this union. At the age of two, Donald's family relocated to Pima and later to Glenbar, as his father rented a farm there. Following his education at Pima High School, Donald married his high school sweetheart, Ina Grace Higgins, on Nov. 23, 1932. Together Donald and Ina began raising their young family. As he worked on the family farm, Ina remained in the home tending to the children. In 1939, Donald obtained work as a mechanic at a garage in Duncan and later at Ash Peak Mine in 1946.
In 1949, Donald and Ina moved to Medford, Ore., where he worked for a logging business. In 1951, they returned to the Gila Valley, where Donald worked for the Graham County Sheriff's Department and later at John Deere Company. In 1956, Donald gained work with the Arizona State Highway Department. In 1974, following several years of dedicated service, Donald retired from the highway department. In retirement, Donald tended to Ina, as she was suffering from a decline in health. Donald will be remembered as a loving father, brother and friend to many. Donald was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Donald is survived by his son, LaVon; his daughter, Sally; two brothers, Orvel and Doyle; two sisters, Vada and Ila; 14 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.
Arrangements were entrusted to Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Lorene Lovina Hatter
Funeral services for Lorene Lovina Mae Thurman Hatter, 96, of Safford, were conducted Wednesday, April 3, 2002 at 10 a.m. at the Ft. Thomas L.D.S. Chapel. Interment followed in the Emery Cemetery.
Lorene was born Sept. 23, 1905, in LaFlore County, Okla., and was raised in Howe, Okla. She married Henry "France" Hatter in December of 1929. Lorene worked most of her life in the fields chopping cotton and picking fruit. She moved to Arizona in 1944 and eventually settled in Ft. Thomas. Lorene enjoyed tatting, quilting and embroidering.
Survivors include her children, Audrey Owen of Safford, Georgia Maeder of Cedar City, Utah, James "Pete" Hatter of Grand Prairie, Texas, Mary Black of Ft. Thomas, and Charlene Long of Safford; brothers, Fred, Raymond, and Ted Thurman. Thirty grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 22 great-great grandchildren also survive. Lorene was preceded in death by two sons, Mike Hatter and Elza Ray Hatter, and her husband France Hatter.
Complete arrangements for Lorene Lovina Mae Thurman Hatter were entrusted to Bunkers Caldwell Chapel.
Dorothy Estelle Kneedler
Dorothy Estelle Kneedler, 99, formerly of Bridgewater, Va., died on Sunday, April 13, 2003, at Harrisonburg Health & Rehab Center where she had been a patient since May of 1996.
She was born July 28, 1903, in St. Louis, Mo., and was the daughter of the late Marvin and Ida Mae Tinker Abbey.
Mrs. Kneedler was a homemaker and did private duty sitting for the ill most of her life. She lived in the Gila Valley for 33 years and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She moved to Bridgewater from Arizona in 1983 and lived with her daughter, Joyce Miller, in Bridgewater. She also worked for her daughter at the Court Cafe for several years.
She is survived by two daughters, Joyce Herrin Miller of Bridgewater, and Ruth Luce of Central; 11 grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service was conducted at Beaver Creek Cemetery by Pastor Norbert Jedamski.
Memorial donations may be made to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 609 W. Market St., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Selma Ruby House
Selma Ruby House, 87, passed away May 18, 2992, in Safford. Selma was born Jan. 21, 1915, in dover, Tenn. to Thomas and Editha House. Services for Selma were May 24 at the Morris David's Saffod Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed at the Safford Union Cemetery -- Morris David's Safford Funeral Home.
Wayne L. Colvin
Wayne L. Colvin, 78, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2002, in Show Low. He was born in Pima. Funeral services were held Friday, May 24, at the Show Low Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Graveside services were held on Saturday, May 26, at the Colvin family plot in the Pima Cemetery -- Owens Mortuary, Show Low.
L.V. Pinesett
Funeral ceremonies for L.V. Pinesett, 92, of Safford were conducted Friday, May 24, 2002, at Bunker's Caldwell Chapel. Survivors incude daughters Nelvie of Thatcher, Sudie of Safford, Peggy of Phoenix; son, Jimmy of Safford; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews -- Bunker's Caldwell Chapel, Safford.
Junior Weathersby
Graveside funeral ceremonies for Junior Weathersby, 72, of Forest Lakes, were conducted Saturday, May 25, at the Central Cemetery. Funeral ceremonies were conducted Friday, May 24, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2939 W. Rose Garden Ln., Phoenix -- Paradise Chapel of Phoenix and Bunker's Caldwell Chapel, Safford.
William Bruce McKeller
Funeral ceremonies for William Bruce McKeller, of Mesa and formerly of Thatcher, were conducted Wednesday afternoon, May 22, at the Thatcher Cemetery. A previous service was conducted that morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Lakeshore 2nd Ward in Tempe.
Arrangements were entrusted to Bunker's University Chapel of Mesa and Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Dallas Jean Moore
On Monday, April 7, the angels from above came down and took our little Dallas to be with the Lord. She died in a Las Vegas, Nevada, hospital at only 16 months old.
She was born Dec. 9, 2001, in Las Vegas.
She is survived by her mother and brother, Cathy and Riley Moore of Las Vegas and her father, Joshua Moore, of Safford; grandparents, Peter and Linda Moore of Safford, Lawrence Chavez of Los Lunas, N.M., Lorraines Fuentes of Las Vegas, and Richard Fuentes and Francis Fuentes of Albuquerque.
Services were held on April 11 at the American Burial and Cremation Services in Las Vegas. Burial was private.
Thomas Meek
Thomas Meek was born in Morenci on Sept. 24, 1951, to Betty and T.W. Meek. He did all of his school days in Old Morenci, kindergarten through high school, graduating in 1969. He decided to continue his education at Eastern Arizona College, majoring in auto mechanics. In 1970 he met the love of his life, Debbie Zanin. Her family had transferred from Phelps Dodge in Bisbee to Morenci's Metcalf branch. There went Tom's college. They married in 1971. Tom was hired on with Phelps Dodge in 1973 and started their family of three daughters, Sheri, Anita and Kelly. Tom got into the apprenticeship program and became a journeyman diesel mechanic in 1979.
Woodworking was a big hobby of Tom's. He made everything from baby cradles for family and friends and, of course, Sheri, to building their dream home.
In 1982 the struggle in the copper industry became a huge ordeal. Tom, not wanting to work for PD without a union, moved his wife and girls to Tucson. Debbie started working at Discovery Learning Center right away. Tom tried to be the house dad while looking for work. After working several years at different jobs, he went to work for Young Block Co. as head mechanic. This is also where he acquired the nickname "Hollywood." He made many great friends through fellow workers and sales people.
Tom always thrived for his girls. He was a registered Girl Scout leader for nine years. Tom and Deb were co-leaders of the girls' Brownies and Juniors. He was active in Band Boosters through seven years of high school, including working fundraisers and chaperoning band trips -- several to Disneyland. Tom raised his girls to be able to take care of themselves. All three girls can change tires and the oil in their cars. Tom and Kelly restored a '65 Mustang that she drives today. Tom would put his girls up against any guy when it came to putting up a tent, catching fish, chopping wood and living in the wilderness for weeks at a time.
In 2000 Tom decided it was time for a job change. He went to work for Southwest Energy, the contractor for the blasting in Arizona copper mines. He met more really good friends there. He loved the travel -- Morenci, Silver City and Globe-Miami. He even took the family on a road trip to see the big town of Baghdad after he had worked there. Road trips were a favorite thing of his. Eventually no one in the family would follow him anymore because he would lead them on for miles and miles and miles.
Due to the slow economy and cutbacks, Tom was forced to go to the lake, camp and fish, fish, fish! The one thing he loved to do the most. He made his own fishing lures and those became a hit with the family. He was even known to wrestle big bass in the mud to keep them from getting away.
In 2002 he went to work for Pima County Waste Water Management Ina Road. Tom said many times, "Best job I ever had." Of course, there he met many more friends and would come home with different stories and wastewater terminology that made most of the family cringe. While working there, Tom found out he had cancer.
Tom and Deb had their 32nd wedding anniversary on Sept. 17. Tom died at his home in Tucson on Sept. 19, 2003. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; three daughters, Sheri, Anita and Kelly, all of Tucson; his parents, Betty and T.W. Meek of Loma Linda; many aunts, uncles and cousins of Tucson, Duncan, Safford and Louisiana. He was preceded in death by one brother, Billy (Pete) and one sister, Kathy.
Memorial services were held for Tom at Northwest Community Church in Tucson on Sept. 19. Pastor William Wright officiated. Graveside services were at his final resting place, Wards Canyon Clifton Cemetery, Rick Stapp officiating. Pallbearers were Tom Twiddy, Michael Twiddy, Chris Zanin, Danny Zanin, Tim Meek, Chet Lee and Robert Brinkley. He was a member of Beneficio Propio. His family suggests that donations be made in his memory to the American Cancer Association.
Complete arrangements were provided by Morris Safford Funeral Home.
Anna Leora Fuqua
Private family services for Anna Leora Phillips Fuqua, 86, of Safford will be conducted later this spring in Tennessee.
Anna was born April 5, 1916, in Warren County, Tennessee, the daughter of Clyde and Lela Ann Phillips. She grew up and spent her adolescent years there. Following her education, Anna met Brody Parkhurst and they married in July of 1932. Later, Anna met and married Paul Fuqua in July of 1947. In 1953, Paul passed away following a brief illness. Anna relocated to Safford from Michigan in 1982. She passed away Feb. 6, 2003, at Infinia in Safford.
Anna is survived by her daughter, Peggy of Safford; three sisters, Louise Carroll of Grants Pass, Ore., Norma Robinson, Safford, and Deane Beacham of Romeo, Mich.; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. Anna was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Fuqua, and six brothers.
Arrangements are entrusted to Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Donald Woodman
Funeral services for Donald Woodman of Safford will be conducted Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Safford by Pastor Judy Boroto. Concluding services will follow in the Hubbard Cemetery -- Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Corinne H. Evans
Corinne H. Evans died Oct. 2, 2004, at her home in Safford. Funeral services will be on Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. at the 20th Street LDS Chapel.
Viewing will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Burial will follow services at the Safford Cemetery -- Morris Safford Funeral Home.
