Nancy Hillman, 69, of Yuma, died July 15, 2002, at Yuma Regional Medical Center.
A teacher, she was born Feb. 8, 1933, in Teton, Idaho.
No services will be held. Cremation arrangements were handled by Yuma Mortuary & Crematory.
Oscar Walls
Oscar Walls, 91, of Wellton, died July 20, 2002, in Wellton.
Born Dec. 28, 1910, in Heber Springs, Ark., he was a farmer.
A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Foothills Southern Baptist Church. Private burial arrangements were handled by Sunset Vista Funeral Home.
Roberto Velazquez
Roberto Velazquez, 22, of Yuma, died July 21, 2002, at Yuma Regional Medical Center.
A packer for an agricultural company, he was born Nov. 18, 1979, in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son.
All services will be held in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son. Burial will be at Panteon de Municipal, San Luis Rio Colorado, Son.
Local arrangements were handled by Yuma Mortuary & Crematory.
Eleanor Chavez Gill
Eleanor Chavez Gill, beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2002 after a long battle with breast cancer. Mrs. Gill was born in Yuma, AZ on November 12, 1929 to Juan and Rafaela Chavez.
She attended Yuma area schools and graduated from Yuma Union High School in 1947. She was a lifetime resident of North Gila Valley, active in many civic and charitable organizations and a communicant of St. Mary and St. Thomas Catholic Mission Church.
She worked for Bruce Church Inc. and Verde Growers as a bookkeeper until her early retirement in 1991 due to illness. She was a recipient of a 20-year service award from the Yuma Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and considered by many as the Matriarch of former Bruce Church employees, her extended family and the North Gila Valley.
Mrs. Gill is survived by her husband of 51 years, Frank “Lanky” Gill, her sons and daughters-in- law, Steve Gill and Ann Dubey of Manassas, VA, Armando and Mary “Jody” Gill of Wickenburg, AZ and her daughter, Kathleen Gill and special family friend Ida Castrellon of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and four grandchildren, John Carlos Gill of Tuscon, AZ, Marisa Gill of Wickenburg, AZ and Gabrielle and Elise Gill of Manassas, VA. She also leaves 3 brothers Juan and Richard Chavez of Yuma, Charles Chavez of Ehrenburg, AZ, and 4 sisters, Gregoria Caballero of Yuma, Rosa Aguiar of Tuscon, Dora Bekkema of Desert Palm Springs, CA and Belinda Planche of Plaquemine, LA and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents, Juan and Rafaela Chavez and her brothers, Abie Chavez , and Charlie Chavez.
Mrs. Gill will be remembered for her radiant smile, unconditional love, and strong faith in God. Expressions of sympathy may be provided in any form.
Funeral arrangements are being provided by Johnson Mortuary, Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. First Avenue, Yuma, 928-782-4384.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, April 7, from 5-9:00 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00p.m. Mass for Mrs. Gill will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 8, at the St. Thomas Indian Mission Church, Fort Yuma, followed by intermenty at the Desert Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Nellie Tristan
Nellie Tristan, 67, passed away April 3, 2002 in Fresno, CA. She was born August 22, 1934 in Yuma, AZ. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include sons Fidel M. Tristan of Fresno and Joe M. Tristan of Nevada, daughters, Maria T. Tristan-Flynn of Nevada and 3 grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Tinkler Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Monday April 8, 2002 from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with rosary at 7:00p.m. Mass will be held at St. John’s Cathedral, Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at 9:00 a.m.
Remembrances may be made to : American Cancer Society, 2222 W. Shaw, Fresno, CA 93711.
Grace Molina Benelisha
Grace Molina Benelisha, 79, passed away in Montclair, CA on March 30, 2002. She was born November 27, 1922 in Yuma, AZ.
Grace was a graduate of Yuma High School in 1941.
She is survived by her husband: Melvin Benelisha, of Montclair, CA; daughters: Deanna Noriega, of Yuma, AZ and Drucilla Benelisha, of Montclair, CA; sons: Francis Arnold Noriega, of Ogden, UT and Malkin James Noriega, of Corona, CA; step-children: Susan Benelisha, Helen Benelisha, David Benelisha and Daniel Benelisha, all of San Jose, CA; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Grace is preceded in death by her parents: Ernesto and Estella Molina; daughter: Drusilla Gene Noriega; and sister: Ernestina Castro.
A memorial service will be held in May in Montclair, CA following cremation.
Sandra Kathleen Donley
Sandra Kathleen Donley, 62, of Yuma, died March 29, 2002, in St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix.
A boutique owner and operator, she was born Dec. 1, 1939, in Yuma.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Monday at Johnson Mortuary with intermenty following in Desert Lawn Memorial Park.
Gilbert Donald Kern, 73, of Waldport, Ore., died April 4, 2002, in Yuma Regional Medical Center.
A former purchasing agent for a printing company and a winter visitor to Yuma, he was born July 10, 1928, in Portland, Ore.
No services will be held and cremation arrangements were handled by Yuma Mortuary and Crematory.
Elisabeth Ouwejan
Elisabeth Ouwejan, 82, of Somerton, died April 3, 2002, at her residence.
A homemaker, she was born July 4, 1919, in Indonesia.
No services will be held and cremation arrangements were handled by Yuma Mortuary & Crematory.
Diana Lopez
Diana Lopez, 42, of Yuma, died April 3, 2002, in Yuma Regional Medical Center.
A homemaker, she was born March 2, 1960, in Casa Grande.
A wake will be from 5 to 9 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m., today at Kammann Mortuary. Cremation and arrangements were handled by Kammann Mortuary.
Sandra K. Donley
Sandra K. Donley, 62 passed away on March 29, 2002 at St. Joseph’s Phoenix. She was born on December 1st, 1939 in Yuma, AZ.
A farmers wife most of her life, she moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1988 to retire, instead opening a boutique “The Foxy Lady” She ran it until 1996 when she sold it to return to Yuma to be close to her children and grandchildren. She helped run the “Foxy Lady” boutique in Yuma along with her daughter Sheila Boelts, son and daughter in law John and Mendy Donley. Her final years were spent being a loving grandmother and business woman along side her friend and companion Holly Green-Acevedo.
She was a member of the “cotton wives” & “small business womens association” in Jackson, Wyoming.
She is survived by her son John Donley and daugher in law Mendy Donley, daughter Sheila Boelts, son in law Robert Boelts, grandson Bradley Martin-Boelts, granddaughter Jessica Boelts, grandson Preston Boelts, step- daughter, Jennifer Johnson- Segura , step-son Matt Johnson and their children; Cousin Lloyd White and 9 grand children.
She was preceded in death by her Mother Doloras Thompson- Cantrell and Father Mack Cantrell.
Funeral services will be at Johnson Mortuary on Monday, April 8th, 2002 at 2:00pm.
Final resting place will be Desert Lawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be John Donley, Albert Rodriquez, Albert Acevedo, Jose Rodriquez, Robert Boelts and Caleb Olivas.
Memorial donations can be made to The Arthritis Foundation of America.
