Jane Thomspon
Funeral services for Jane Thompson, 68, of York Valley were conducted on Oct. 2 at the Faith Fellowship Church of Clifton by Rick Nations. Concluding services followed in the afternoon at the Safford Cemetery.
Jane was born July 29, 1935, in Cimarron, N.M., to Howard and Mary Ashbaugh.
Jane attended school in Cimarron and moved to Raton, N.M., later graduating from Santa Fe High School. She married Jack Thompson Dec. 3, 1955, in Santa Fe.
They relocated to Arizona in 1974 and Jane worked at Phelps Dodge as a secretary. She retired from Phelps Dodge in 1998. She was a faithful Christian and a member of the Faith Fellowship Church in Clifton.
Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband of 48 years, Jack of York Valley; her daughter, Jennifer (Don) Horn of Morenci; her sons, Clay (Julie) Thompson of Tucson and Michael (Theresa) Thompson of Mesa; her mother, Mary Ashbaugh of Safford; her brother, Jessie Ashbaugh of La.; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements were en-trusted to Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Benjamin M. Acuna
Benjamin M. Acuna, 88, previously of York Valley, passed away March 5, 2003, in Tucson. Benjamin was born July 4, 1914, in Alamogordo, N.M., to Arturo and Genoveva Acuna.
Benjamin was known most by "Grandpa." He valued and appreciated good food, work ethic, conversation, singing and music. To know Grandpa was to love him. He touched everyone with his unique attributes. He was calm and compassionate and accepted what life offered him.
Benjamin married Utalia Pacheco in June of 1949 and became widowed March 6, 1990. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was also a proud U.S. Army veteran and often spoke of his experiences while working in Conservation Corps camps.
Benjamin is survived by his daughters, Maria A. Monyer of Chandler, Carmen Martinez of York Valley and Tina Schaefer of Los Angeles; sons, Benie Acuna of York Valley, Frank Garcia of York Valley, Carlos Garcia of Tucson and Lorenzo Garcia of Flagstaff; 27 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Benjamin was March 9 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Clifton. Rosary followed the visitation. Mass was March 10.
Arrangements for services were under the direction of Melissa Morris of Morris David's Safford Funeral Home.
John Flowers
John Flowers, 59, of Morenci passed away Nov. 25, 2002, in Tucson. John was born Sept. 2, 1943, in Safford to Jeff and Myrtle Rowald Flowers.
John obtained his Eagle in Scouting in 1963 and was cub master in 1973. He was active in B P.O E. 1174 and was Exalted Ruler in 1972-1973. He was a past president of the Morenci Lions Club, past Master of the Masonic Lodge in Clifton, and a past patron of Eastern Star. John also served as a chaperone for the Morenci Pride Band for many years.
John graduated from Morenci in 1962 and he graduated from Eastern Arizona College with an AA degree. He married his high school sweetheart, Gail Raley, on June 1, 1963.
John was always the first to help and volunteer for community projects. His favorite pastime was just talking to everyone he knew. He never met a stranger. He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren, playing Santa Claus for the community, hunting and woodworking. In 1965, John began working as labor foreman in the smelter for 20 years. Then he worked in the concentrator until he decided to take an apprenticeship to become a boilermaker. John worked as a boilermaker until his health forced him to retire in 2001.
Surviving John is his wife, Gail Flowers of Morenci; sons Clay Flowers (Cindy) of Tucson and Justin Flowers (Lainie) of Pinetop; grandchildren D.R. and Crystal Rutherford of Mesa; Jacqueline, Jerica and Jazzmin Flowers of Pinetop; and J.J. Flowers of Tucson. Also surviving is his father, Jeff Flowers, of Safford; brothers Tom Flowers of Thatcher and Vernon Flowers of Pima; and his mother-in-law, Peggy Raley of York Valley. John was like a second father to Lauren Lynn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Natalea Lusk of Fort Benning, Ga.; and Katie Gonzales of Oahu, Hawaii. His mother, Myrtle Flowers, preceded John in death.
Visitation for John was Sunday, Dec. 1, at Morris David's Safford Funeral Home Chapel. Services were Monday, Dec. 2, at the Church of Christ in Morenci with intermenty following at Wards Canyon Cemetery.
Donations can be made in John's memory to the Morenci Lions Club Scholarship Fund, Morenci Lions Club, P.O. Box LL, Morenci, AZ 85540 (bottom of check should read "scholarship fund").
Arrangements for services were under the direction of Melissa Morris of Morris David's Safford Funeral Home.
Rex Allen Williams
Graveside services for Rex Allen Williams, formerly of the Gila Valley, were April 21 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Odessa, Texas.
Rex was born April 26, 1946, to Warren Waylon Williams and Doris Maxine Crown in the community of Flora, Ill. He moved to the Gila Valley with his family in 1959, where they first settled in Pima and later moved to Safford.
Shortly after the death of his parents, Rex traveled the country from California to Maryland and eventually made his home in Odessa. He worked in and around oil fields for 20 years.
As a youngster, Rex learned the art of fishing from his father. Rex was always ready to drop whatever he was doing to go fishing - no matter what. It could be hot or cold, but it never seemed to matter to Rex.
Rex was a kind and generous person who was always willing to pitch in and help anyone and everyone. He was the type who would give a stranger the shirt off his back
Rex is survived by his brother, Warren Williams Sr. of Safford; niece, Nancy (Zane) Bell of Safford; nephew, Warren (Toni) Williams Jr. of Safford and numerous other nieces and nephews across the United States..
He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren Waylon and Doris Maxine (Crown); sister, Linda Ferguson; and older brother, Glenn Ray Williams.
The family expresses its utmost and sincere thanks to all of the wonderful people at the Avalone Nursing Facility who gave care to Rex in a kind and giving manner. They always extended the courtesy and dignity that Rex deserved in his time of need.
Rex will be missed by all who ever met him, especially his family and closer friends.
Christopher Eugene Molina
Christopher "Chris" Eugene Molina, 73, passed away Thursday, Dec. 2, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Chris was born Feb. 28, 1931, in Magdelena, N.M., to Cresencio and Rosalia V. Molina.
The Molina family moved to Williams in 1939, and Chris attended school with his four sisters. Chris enjoyed his life in a small town with his family there. He became an altar boy for the St. Joseph Catholic Church until the Molinas moved to Blythe, Calif. Chris continued school and worked for the bowling alley and the packing sheds until he decided to join the U.S. Army in 1949.
Chris began his service in Fort Ord at boot camp. His first station was Fort Winfield, San Francisco. He also served at four stations in Alaska until he was called to serve in Korea in 1952.
He served there until his discharge in 1955. Upon his discharge, he returned to Blythe.
Chris moved from California to Arizona various times. He lived in Safford, where he worked as a roofer off and on. Chris married twice and has five children. He was a proud father and loved his family very much, as they all loved him.
Chris was preceded in death by his father, Cresensio; his mother, Rosalia; and two sisters, Pauline Pena and Carmen Holahan.
Chris is survived by his wife, Verna; daughters, Cheri Alvericci, Christine Molina and Leah Molina; sons, Dennis Molina and Anthony Molina; grandchildren, Alaison, Anthony Alvericci, Micheal, Camden, Schyeler, Shaumee, Cassandra, Trent, Brooke and Chloe; and his sisters, Alice Reynolds and Helen Jaranjo.
A memorial service in his honor was Monday, Dec. 27, at the American Legion Post 32.
Robert Johnson
Funeral services for Robert Johnson, 14, of Ft. Thomas were conducted Thursday, Dec. 23, at the Ft. Thomas LDS Chapel. Interment followed in the Pima Cemetery.
Robert was born Jan. 4, 1990, in Safford, the son of Martin and Sherrie Johnson. Robert attended school in Pima, then transferred to Ft. Thomas schools three years ago. He played basketball at Ft. Thomas and enjoyed playing video games. He loved skateboarding and traveled to San Francisco on summer vacation to skateboard. Robert was a Cub Scout Pinewood Derby winner in 1999.
Survivors include his parents, Martin and Sherrie Johnson of Ft. Thomas; sister, Brandy Carpenter; brothers, Phillip Farr, Michael Johnson and Wesley Johnson; grandparents, Jerry Crum, Jesse Vaughn and Bob Pritchard; four nephews, 10 uncles and aunts and many cousins. Robert was preceded in death by a grandfather, Wesley Crum, and an uncle, Wade Crum.
Arrangements were entrusted to Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Jean Goodman
Funeral services for Jean Goodman, 77, of Safford were conducted Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Safford 20th Street LDS chapel by Brother Mike Peterson. Concluding services followed in the Gila Valley Memorial Gardens.
Jean was born in Clay Springs on Feb. 5, 1927. After graduating from high school, she began working as a telephone operator.
She moved to Safford in the early '50s and met her future husband, Barry D. Goodman. On Oct. 26, 1957, they were married in Lordsburg, N.M.
After marrying, she devoted herself to being a homemaker and mother. Together, she and Barry raised three children. Jean loved to do handiwork and created many things for her family and friends. She was a loving mother and grandmother.
Jean's services were presided over by Brother Mike Peterson. Her life history was read by her sister, Marvine Nuttall. A talk was given by her grandson, Derric Crandell.
Jean is survived by two daughters, Tammy Crandall of Safford and LaDott Nist of Washington; son, Tim of Safford; 11 grandchildren; sister, Marvine Nuttall; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Barry, in January 2001, son, Pat, and a granddaughter, Rebecca Goodman.
The family received friends Friday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the Safford 20th Street LDS Chapel Relief Society Room.
Arrangements were entrusted to Bunker's Caldwell Chapel.
Kathryn "Kathy" Orozco
Kathy Orozco was born March 23, 1955, to Joe and Consuelo Orozco in Morenci. She passed away Dec. 14, 2004, in Tucson.
Kathy lived for her family and will be remembered by many of those who knew her.
Kathy loved to go on family picnics, camping trips or even for a drive up the trail. She had six grandchildren, Franqie Mason, Anthony Perez, Danielle Mason, Dominic Perez, Trey Trujillo and Christopher Smith. She loved them very much. Her grandchildren would go to her house often, and "Nana" would have something special for them to eat or snack on. They would play checkers, cards or just hang out with her.
She had three sisters and one brother, Linda (Lupe) Munoz of Safford, Lydia (Joe) Cabrera of Glendale, Gloria (Danny) Vidales of Globe and Joe Jr. (Valerie) of Chandler. Kathy had two daughters, Lisa (Jacob) Smith of Duncan and Christine Duran of Morenci. She also had many nephews and nieces.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, Southwest Ambulance, Dr. Alberi, LifeNet, Coro Mensajero for their beautiful music, Father Ariel Lustan and Aunt and Uncle Munoz.
