William R. Larrabee, 84, passed away December 22, 2001 at his home in Yuma, AZ. He was born July 24, 1917 in Muskegon, Mich. Mr. Larrabee a member of Church of God, retired from Western Growers.
Survivors include his wife Clista Larrabee of Yuma, AZ., sons, William J. Larrabee (Lynn) of Salem, OR., and Larry L Larrabee (Janice) of Dalas, OR., daughters, Ann M. Brady (Al) of Tucson, AZ., and Sue Carrillo (Ray) of Yuma, son, Dean Larrabee (Kellie) of Bedford, NH. stepson, Glen Harris (Jean Ray) of Yuma, AZ, step-daughter, Vicky Phillips (Carron) of Orville, CA., step-son Denny Harris (Janie) of Lincoln, VA. step-brother, Merle
Summerland of Johannesburg, MI., sister, Florence Orchutt of Gould City, MI., 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.
Mr. Larrabee was preceded in death by his wife Edith M. Larrabee, sister, Louise Cooley and step-brother Melvin Summerland.
Visitation will be held at Johnson Mortuary, Wednesday December 26, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Johnson Mortuary, Thursday, December 27, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor M.C. Bellamy officiating. Final resting place will be Desert Lawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers include Larry Larrabee, Larry Larrabee Jr., Kenny Larrabee, William Larrabee, Mike Etchepare, and Ray Carrillo.
Honorary Bearers include Albert Brady, Glen Harris and Ron Fugate.
George Clinton Hills
George Clinton Hills (Chub), 80 passed away on December 23, 2001 at YRMC. He was born in Glendale, Arizona on November 17, 1921.
He was a veteran of World War II, 415th Squadron, 98th Bomb Group Aircraft B-24.He was a Sergeant, Control Tower Operator in North Africa and Italy. He taught shop at San Pasqual High School from 1964-1984. He taught silver smithing at the Yuma Adult Center and belonged to the Yuma Rock Club.His hobbies were woodworking, silver smithing, stained glass, lapidary, and wood carving. He held a masters Degreein education.
George is survived by his wife, Mary Virginia Hills (married 55 yrs) son Randy Lane Hills (Becky) and grandson Geoffrey Sean Hills (Midland, Texas) sister Helen Ruth Smith (Banning, California)
He was preceded in death by his son Larry Wayne Hills and Parents George D. Hills and Ethel Hills. Brothers John Frederick and Clarence Cecil Hills, sister, Betty Louise Huntington.
Visiting hours will be at Johnson Mortuary 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Thursday, December 27, 2001.
Funeral services will be held at Johnson Mortuary, Friday, December 28, 2001 at 1:00pm.
Final resting place will be Desert Lawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers-Walter Huntington, Orvel Dewhirst, Jason Dewhirst, Rick Smith, Bob Sievert and Greg Stoner.
Honorary bearers are Tommy Long, Eldon Arrant and Bill Hills.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are asked to be sent to Crossroads Mission, P.O. BOX 1161, Yuma, AZ 85366.
Mercedes Lopez Blanco
Mercedes Lopez Blanco, 82, passed away November 22, 2001 at home in Somerton, AZ. She was born September 23, 1919 in Morenci, AZ. Mrs. Blanco, an Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner, was a housewife.
Survivors include her husband, Manuel C. Blanco of Life Care Center of Yuma, brother, Raul Lopez of Yuma, sons, Fred Simon Medina of Somerton and Joe Medina of Yuma, stepson, Victor Blanco of Yuma, daughters, Dora Torres of Somerton, Lupe Torres of Yuma, son, Frank Blanco of Phoenix, daughter, Ignacia B. Hernandez of Somerton, son, Lucio Blanco of Yuma, and Raul Blanco of Norwalk, CA. 34grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Blanco was preceded in death by her parents Diego and Ignacia Lopez, 1st husband, Pablo Medina, son, Diego Medina; Siblings: Maria Duran, Romulo Lopez, Mike Lopez, Benito Lopez, Fortuna Medina, Genoveva Cano and Leonor Munoz; Grand daughter Lillian Medina.
Scripture services will be held at Johnson Mortuary, December 28, 2001 at 3:00 p.m.
Gerald Manley McGlothlen
Gerald Manley McGlothlen of Idahodied December 25, 2001 at Yuma Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Sunset Vista Funeral Home, 11357 E. 40th St.
Donna Lee Finley
Donna Lee Finley died suddenly Thursday, December 20, 2001 at Yuma Regional Medical Center. She was 55 years old.
Born in Worcester, MA, she moved to Yuma, AZ six years ago. Donna received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College in 1967. She later continued her education at Seton Hall University, were she earned a Master’s degree in Public Health Administration.
Ms. Finley was employed by Yuma Regional Medical Center, Home Health Care Division at the time of her death. She had been a practicing Physical Therapist for 34 years. Donna was an avid naturalist, whose favorite hobby was whale watching.
Survivors include her loving daughters, Karin Toole, of Weston, CT and Maureen Finley, of Morris Plains, NJ; her sister, Patricia Dickman, of Orchard Park, NY; her long time companion, C Donald Fisher of Yuma, AZ and two grandchildren, Jack and Katherine.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass and Reception at Immaculate Conception Church in Yuma, AZ on December 27, 2001 at 9:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the World Wildlife Fund.
Billie Avis Fischer
Billie Avis Fischer, 85, passed away on December 23, 2001 at YRMC. She was born in Gage, Oklahomaon November 2, 1916.
Billie received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico and Post Graduate work at Highlands University.
Billie taught for 5 yrs in New Mexico and 23 yrs at Palmcroft Elementary School here in Yuma. She was affiliated with St. Francis Catholic Church, Beta Sigma Phi, Alpha Delta Kappa and Sigma Sigma Sigma Social Sorority.
Billie is survived by her husband, Matt P. Fischer, sons M. Paul
Fischer, Dick Fischer and Steve Fischer; daughters, Kathy
Watson and Connie Donkersley, 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Fischer and parents, Arthur Brock Maxey and Hazel A. Hall Maxey.
Funeral services will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church on Thursday, December 27, 2001 at 10:00 A.M.Final resting place will be Desert Lawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers are M. Paul Fischer, Dick Fischer, Steve Fischer, Ron Watson, Jeff Donkersley and Jason Donkersley.
Honorary bearers are Matthew P. Fischer III, David Fischer, Bill Watson, Jeremy Donkersley, Jarred Donkersley and Scott Fischer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are asked to be sent to National Parkinson's Foundation, Inc. 1501 NW 9th Ave, Bob Hope Road, Miami Fl, 33136-1494.
Barbara Lee Christensen
Barbara Lee Christensen, 69, passed away in Yuma, Arizona on December 27, 2001. She was born on January 19, 1932 in Redding, California. Barbara and her family lived in Portola, California for 32 years. The past nine years she was a winter visitor from Vale, Oregon.
Barbara was a homemaker, a hospital aide and dental assistant. She was a loving and caring hospice worker. Barbara was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Theta Lambda Chapter sorority in Portola, California and the California State Regional PTA President for two years.
Surviving Barbara are husband Paul, of 51 years and four children; sons, Duane (Carol) of Hermiston, Oregon and Ron (Marilyn) of Quincy, California and daughters, Linda (Mervyn) Amodei of Vale, Oregon and Beverly (Bill) Bliss of Yuma and brother, Harry DeLong of Redding, California. She is survived by six grandchildren; three great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, one niece, five nephews and numerous cousins.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 2, 2002, at 10:00am at Kammann Mortuary, 795 W. 28th St., Yuma, Arizona.
Arline Levenson
Former Yuma resident Arline Levenson, 74, of Las Vegas, passed away December 31, 2001, after a long battle with cancer.
She and her husband, David, owned Swensen’s Ice Cream Factory from 1977 to 1992. They retired to Las Vegas after retiring from the ice cream business.
Arline is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, David, of 5537 Port Barrington Way, Las Vegas, Nev. 89130. She is also survived by twin daughters Carol (Don) Engler of Yuma, Roni (Bob) Miles of Las Vegas, daughter Anita(Robert) Biener of New Jersey, local grandchildren Aaron and Lauren Engler, 8 other grandchildren and a great-granddaughter born just three weeks prior.
Private cremation and memorial services will be held January 3, 2002 in Las Vegas, NV.
Michael Nunez
Michael Nunez, 44, died on December 23, 2001 in Tucson, AZ. He was born August 26, 1957 in Yuma, AZ.
Michael is survived by his children: Michelle, Michael and Robert Nunez, of California; mother: Amada Nunez, of Yuma, AZ; sisters: Mary Roman, of California, Gera Lopez, of Mesa, AZ, Lori Murrietta and April Gonzalez, both of Yuma, AZ; brothers: Alfred Nunez, of Yuma, AZ and Christopher Nunez, of El Paso, TX; 1 grandchild; and 11 nieces and nephews. Michael is preceded in death by his father, Louis F. Nunez.
Memorial Service will be at Kamman Mortuary at 3:00pm on Friday, January 11, 2002.
Ronald C. Henry
Ronald C. Henry, 44, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away December 27, 2001. He is survived by a daughter, Errin Henry, sisters Rella and Mary and a step-brother, Steve Henry. A garden service will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2002 at 2pm at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 142 North Date St, Mesa, AZ.
Any family or friends, please contact Pastor John Schaumburgh at (480) 969-7221 or Tom/Cheryl Koetzle at (480)461-1551.
