Joaquin P. “Guero” Grijalva passed away on Veterans Day November 11, 2001 in his home. He was born on April 19, 1920 in Ajo, AZ. He had lived in Yuma most of his life. He had served and fought in World War II, as a corpsman. His tour of duties took him to North Africa, England and Italy. Our family fondly remembers the stories he shared with us regarding his travels. He was honorably discharged with four bronze stars in 1945. Joaquin worked for the Yuma County Highway Department for 39 years and retired on March 18, 1986. He was a World War II veteran, a proud member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by: Parents: Francisca Peralta Grijalva and Pedro Grijalva; Sisters: Ramona Torres, Placida Saldana, Mary Grijalva and Maria Luisa Tiznado. Brother: Joe Grijalva Sr., and daughter: Baby Laura Grijalva. He left behind a loving wife of 55 years, Josephine Ramos Grijalva. He is survived by son: Joseph Luis Grijalva, of Kansas. Daughters: Sylvia Herrera, Cici and (Simon) Martinez, Barbara and (Robert) Duran, Yolanda and (Dave) Beltran, and Jackie and (Fernando) Altamirano, all of Yuma; Sisters: Maggie Torres of Hanford, CA, Jesus Higala and Frances Gonzalez Of Yuma, AZ; Brother: Pedro Grijalva of La Mirada, CA.; Grandchildren: Patty Abare of Desert Hot Springs, CA, Michael Martinez of Apache Junction, AZ, Adam Beltran of Huntington Beach, CA, Gina Sanchez of Albuquerque, MN, Stephanie Herrera, David R. Beltran Jr., Lupita Weatherwax, and Bernadette Beltran, all of Yuma, AZ. He is also survived by seven Great- Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He always brought smiles and laughter to those around him. He will be missed greatly by all.
Visitation will be at Johnsons Mortuary Chapel on Sunday, November 18, 2001 from 5-9 p.m. with rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be at Immaculate Conception Church on Monday, November 19, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow immediately with full Military Honors at Desert Lawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be: Adam Beltran. David Beltran, Jr., Robert Duran, Stephen Herrera, Michael Martinez, and David Beltran, Sr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Fernando Altamirano, Simon Martinez, Tommy Martinez, Albert Nunez, Tony Peralta and Carmello Torres.
Mrs. Ramona Landeros Lerma
Mrs. Ramona Landeros Lerma, 62, passed away on November 17, 2001 in Yuma, AZ.She was born on August 9, 1939 in Hacienda la Sandia, GTO, MX. She was a member of Templo Betel Asambleas de Dios. Ramona took a lot of pride in her yard and garden and received the City of Yuma Good Neighbor Award in May of 2001.
Survivors include her husband, Rodolfo Lerma, of Yuma, AZ; father, Dario Landeros Lopez, of San Luis, R.C. Son, Mexico; sons, David Lerma, of San Luis, AZ, Saul, Isaias, Efraim, Ysmael and Abel Lerma, all of Yuma, AZ; daughter, Dina Lerma, of Yuma, AZ; eight brothers and sisters and eighteen grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Maria Luisa Alvarez Landeros and brothers, Ramon Landeros Alvarez and Gonzalo Landeros Alvarez.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 23, 2001 at the First Assembly of God, 902 6th Ave, Yuma from 5-9:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 9:00 AM at First Assembly of God. Paul Killingsworth will officiate. Desert Lawn Memorial Park will be her final resting place.
Pallbearers will be Jesse Alarcon and her sons.
For more information regarding services, please call 782-9238.
Michele Rae (Dunham) Loftis
Michele Loftis, 41, of Ontario, Californiapassed away on November 13, 2001 at Doctors Hospital of Montclair.
She was born September 24, 1960 in Bangor, Maine and lived in Yuma from 1967 to 1978. She graduated from Kofa in 1978.
Mrs. Loftis is survived by her husband, Steven: two stepchildren, Melissa Loftis of Fontana and Vanessa Loftis of Ontario; her parents Max and Carol Dunham of Yuma, Az; a brother Max Dunham Jr. also of Yuma; and a sister Sheryl Miller of Wilmington, North Carolina; and three granddaughters. She was also survived by several Nieces and Nephews and a lot of Friends.
A Memorial Service was held Nov. 16, in Ontario. Cucamonga Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Bryan C. McCain
Bryan C. McCain, 51, a history teacher at Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, passed away peacefully at home on November 20, 2001. He was Born in Tucson, AZ and was a graduate of the University of Arizona.
He is survived by his wife Stephanie, his mother Mary, brothers: Bob and David, sisters: Molly and Marsha and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces andnephews.
Bryan was predeceased by his father Murl and brothers: Mark and Murl.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions in Bryan’s memory be made to your community food bank, Hospice, or charity of your choice.
Bryan will be sorely missed by his family, friends, colleagues and his students. A memorial service is pending.
Mrs. Jean C. Rickard
Jean C. Rickard, 92, passed away November 16, 2001 at La Mesa Care Center. Born Jean Virginia Conklin in Daytona Beach, Florida on July 5, 1909, she worked in office administration forthe Advertising Department of the New York Times and later for the Office of Van Deventer, Patent Attorney. After retirement in 1950, she volunteered her timeand administrative skills to many organizations including Community Chest, various PTA’s, the N. Y. State Conservative Party and as an EMT in Southbury, CT.When she moved to Yuma in September of 1981, she devoted her time to her gardens, her pets and her love of nature.
Survivors include her daughters, Mary R. Copeland, of Yuma, AZ and Mary Wilder Paul, of Kenebunk, Maine; son, Eric M. Rickard Jr,of Avon, CT;nephew, B. J. Knowles, of Kingston, NY; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin P. and Margaret M. Conklin, her husband, Eric Martyn Rickard, Sr and sisters, Anne Knowles and Peggy Conklin.
Memorial service will be held at Johnson Mortuary on Monday, November 26, 2001 at 3:00 PM. YPG Chaplain Charles E. Smith will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name to Hospice of Yuma, 1824 S. 8th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364.
Frank Brown
Frank Brown, 74, passed away on November 23, 2001 in Yuma, Arizona. He was born on May 30, 1927 in Somerton, AZ. He served in the Army and Merchant Marines. He worked in the Yuma area as a Mortgage Broker as well as a Real Estate Broker for 45 years.
Survivors include his daughter, Vicki Pancrazi, of Yuma; grandsons, Robert E. Pancrazi, Jr and Steve Pancrazi, both of Yuma; great granddaughter, Krista Pancrazi, of Yuma; sisters, Liela Peterson, of Phoenix, Helen Pool and Edna (Bill) Prickett, both of Yuma and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Brown andbrothers, Willis, Clarence and Raymond Brown.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 at Johnson Mortuary. Visitation will be from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Services will begin at 1:00 PM. Desert Lawn Memorial Park will be his final resting place.
Pauline Curtis Beachem
Pauline Curtis Beachem, 80, died November 24, 2001 at Yuma Regional Medical Center. She was born in New Bern, N.C. on January 18, 1921 and was a long-time resident of Newport and Cape Carteret, N.C. until her recent move to Yuma, AZ. She was a retired beauty operator.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Paul Beachem, Jr., formerly of Carteret County, N.C.; daughter, Paula Snook, of Somerton, AZ; son, LTC Paul Beachem III, of Ft. Irwin, CA and four grandsons, Mitchell Patton- Snook, Robert Snook, Paul Beachem, IV and Michael Beachem.
Graveside services will be at Sunset Vista Cemetery, November 27, 2001 with Carroll Harkness, YRMC Chaplain officiating. Son-in-law Dennis Snook will give the eulogy.
Memorial donations can be made to the Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Fund through the local Masonic Lodge.
Winfield S. "Skip" Cowan
Winfield S. "Skip" Cowan, age 60, passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2001, near Columbia Falls from an extended illness.
He was born on November 13, 1941 in Whitefish to Winfield S. and Phyllis M. Cowan.He was raised and educated in Whitefish.S He served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1962.He was married to Pricilla Duffy in 1963 in Whitefish. They had 3 children.
Skip worked at the CFAC for 17 1/2 years in preventative maintenance.He was a certified agricultural diesel mechanic and a certified Cadillac and General Motors mechanic.
He was married to Margaret "Maggie" Stowe Coffey in December 1981 in Kalispell.He loved to rebuild model cars and cars.He loved the mountains and his cabin on Beaver Lake.He loved to play cribbage with his friends.
He was always willing to help others when they needed it.
Skip is survived by his wife, Maggie of Whitefish; his father, Winfield S. Cowan of Whitefish; his children, Winfield S. "Scotty Cowan of Columbia Falls, Shawn Cowan of Columbia Falls, Dawnette Briscoe of Mississippi, Annie Cowan of Phoenix, Arizona, Timothy, Tommy & Donny Coffey of Phoenix, Arizona and Christy Reed of Kalispell;17 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Chuck Cowan of Anchorage, Alaska and Billy Cowan of Kansas City, Missouri; and a sister Carlyn Cowan of Fairbanks, Alaska.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2001 at 1:00 P.M. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
John Gardner Jamieson, of Lynden, WA went to be with the Lord on November 10th, 2001. John was born in Winnepeg, Manitoba on February 14th, 1925. In 1957 John took an opportunity to immigrate his family to Everett, WA, working for the West Coast Telephone Company. John spent time with Boeing before starting an independent business career as owner of the Riverside Tavern in Everett. After the “Tav” days John got into the chicken business as owner and operator of Arts Poultry of Everett and later acquiring Wallace Poultry of Bellingham. With his trade and jovial personality, he was commonly referred to as “Chicken John”. You would hear this called out quite frequently in the locker room at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. John was an avid golfer and world class curler. He was a member of the Granite Curling Club in North Seattle. In 1961 his team representedthe United States in the World Championships in Scotland. John also loved his gin and crib games with the boys in Bellingham and Yuma, Arizona at Westwind R.V. Resort where he spent his winters in retirement.
John is survived by his beloved wife of 28 years, Carol Jean Jamieson; sister,Jean Lyotier; daughter, Wend and husband Patrick McNerthney; son, John R.“Bob” Jamieson and wife Tina; son, James Jamieson andstep children, Mark, Daniel, Brent, BrienEarl, Lori Wolford and their families. John had 15 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his wife Doreen Sadie Jamieson (1968).
We all love you and miss you very much. John will be missed by all that knew him.
At John’s request, there will be no funeral services held. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Compass Health/Children and Family Crisis Fac, P.O. Box 2870, Everett, WA 98203.
Mrs. Ethel Lyon Opstad
Mrs. EthelLyon Opstad, 74, passed away on November 23, 2001 in Yuma, AZ. She was bornAugust 3, 1927 in Minn., MN. She graduated from North High in Minn., MN. She worked as a Sales Representative. She was a member of the Espiscopal Church. She was also a volunteer at Yuma Regional Medical Center for five years.
Survivors include her sons, Brad Opstad, of Yuma, Wayne Opstad, of Yuma, Dan Opstad, of Benson, and Chuck Opstad of Yuma; daughters, Kathie Lawson, of Salinas, CA, Linda Froana, of Salinas, CA, Susan Schutte, of Yuma and Karen Opstad, of Phoenix, AZ, 22 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Helen Wright, brother, Rev. Robert D. Wright and sister, Isabel K. Mc Adams.
Visitation will be held at Kammanns on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 PM.
Humberto Nieto
Humberto Nieto, 39, of Yuma passed away November 25, 2001 at La Mesa Health Care Center.
He is survived by his mother, Maria Sanchez; father, Francisco Nieto; brothers, Martin and Leno Almendarez, Gerardo and Francisco, JR, Nieto, Ramon, Fidel, and Salvadore Gonzalez; sisters, Sylvia and Enrqueta Nieto and Amparo Marquez.
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 1815 S. 8th Ave. with a Rosary at 7:00 PM. A mass will be said on Thursday, November 29, 2001 at St. Francis of Assisi at 10:00 AM.
Private cremation will follow at Sunset Vista Crematory. Arrangements by Sunset Vista Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory, 11357 E. 40th St.
Roxanna D. Reynolds
Roxanna D. Reynolds, 59, of Yuma, AZ, went to be with the Lord on Nov. 26, 2001.
She was the loving mother of Kathleen Reynolds, Kendra Thorpe, Karen Furgerson and David Reynolds, and grandmother of seven .
She was an active church volunteer and sang in the choir.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm, Sunday, Dec. 2nd at First Christian Church, 221 E. 26th Place, Yuma.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Christian Church building fund.
Thank you Lord for your grace that gives us assurance of eternal life and the strength to go on.
