REV. JERRY CONNER, age 62, who passed on to his eternal reward June 8, 1999. 'For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.' 1 Cor. 15:53.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rosie Conner; children, Royce Conner, Paul Conner and his wife, Deborah, Donna Stuve and her husband, Todd; grandchildren, Paul, Jr., Phillip, Danielle and Caleb Conner, DeOnna and Chad Stuve; sister, Sandra Pool and her husband, Bobby; brother, Donald Conner and his wife, Patty; brother-in-law, Andrew Reed; aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, his church family and a host of ministerial friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Geneva Carolyn Reed.
Rev. Conner and his family moved from Vernon, Texas, to Eloy, Arizona in 1960 to support his parents who had taken the pastorate of the United Pentecostal Church in that city. On February 10, 1969, he was elected pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church located at 4405 East Pima, Tucson, Arizona.
From the humble beginning of sixteen people the congregation grew by leaps and bounds. On February 25, 1972, after two years of day and night labor, a new church facility was dedicated at 4606 East Pima. Much of this labor was done by Rev. Conner himself. As revival fires burned, this church building also became too small to hold all those who called him pastor. Because of his great faith and vision there now stands a large beautiful church complex at 5011 East Ft. Lowell. This present facility was dedicated to the Lord on May 31, 1985.
In February 1999 Rev. and Mrs. Jerry Conner were honored for 30 years of dedicated service to his church and community. Their son, Paul and daughter-in-law, Deborah were also honored for three years of service as co-pastor of Faith Tabernacle.
Pastor Jerry Conner touched the lives of thousands of people one at a time. He was 'Hon' to his beloved wife, 'Dad' to his children, 'Big Bro' to his sisters and little brother, 'Beloved Pastor and Shepherd' to his flock; 'Grandpa' to his grandchildren and 'Friend' to all. He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at Faith Tabernacle Church, 5011 East Ft. Lowell, Friday, June 11, 1999 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of EAST LAWN PALMS MORTUARY. The graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 12, 1999 at East Lawn Palms cemetery.
VIRGINIA RUTH ELLQUIST, 74, of Tucson, died June 8, 1999 in her home, with her loved ones by her side. She is survived by husband of 55 years, CW 'Chuck' Ellquist; daughters Suzanne, Claudia (John Yoakum), Stephanie (Charles Bianchi), Barbara (Michael Schifano); sisters, Marianne, Cary, Dorothy, Margaret; grandchildren, Melody Knox, Brandon 'Zev' and Canaan Bianchi, Alex and Benjamin Schifano; dear friends, esp. Virginia Burch, Nancy Lefko, and Birdeen Garland. Memorial service on Saturday, 10 am, First Christian Church, 740 E. Speedway, (Speedway & Euclid). Donations may be made to the Brewster Center. For our family she was our refuge, our light, our guide and our true friend, who taught us goodness and humor and grace. From our hands to the hand of God.
FISCHER, Alvin E. Sr., 86, died Saturday, May 29, 1999 in Vail, AZ. Mr. Fischer was born September 29, 1912 in Redlands, CA. Survived by three sons, Alvin E. Fischer, Jr., Wayne C. Fischer, Gregg G. Fischer; two daughters, Sonya Ball and Sherry L. Pannell; sister, Marie Demers; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be June 9, 1999 Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at Desert Vista cemetery, 2151 S. Avenida Los Reyes, Tucson, AZ. Arrangements by WOLFREY PEACE CHAPEL, 881-0338.
FRENCH, Sylvia B., 88, died June 9, 1999. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway.
GILBERT GISSART, JR., who passed away suddenly on May 6, 1999 in El Monte, California, born March 6, 1929 in Tucson, Arizona. He will be remembered by his sister, Delma Villegas (Richard), and brother, Conrad Gissart (Eleanor) along with family and friends. A service will be held on June 12, 1999 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Johns Catholic Church, 602 W. Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713. Gilbert is also survived by daughter, Deborah; son, Greg; six beloved grandchildren, and fiance, Linda DeAnde.
Linnel W. Hickman, Sr. passed away on Monday, June 7, 1999. He is survived by his wife, Cecilia of sixteen years, and two devoted sons; Linnel (JaNelle) W. Hickman, Jr. of Washington, D.C., and Delbert (LaDawn) E. Hickman of Trotwood, Ohio. Born in Oxford, MS on February 28, 1935, Mr. Hickman was preceded in death by his mother, father, two sisters and a brother. He moved to Tucson in 1985 and retired from Civil Service (AMARC) in 1997. Linnel had spent many years in Dayton, OH, where he retired from Wright-Patterson AFB in 1974. Mr. Hickman leaves behind many loving cousins, nieces and nephews in LA, MO, MS and TX. Linnel's passing will certainly be felt by a wide path of friends across the United States. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 13th at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Chapel #1 on Monday, June 14th at 2:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the National Memorial cemetery of Arizona on Tuesday, June 15th at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway.
HOWELL, Pauline M. 'Polly' passed away June 7, 1999 in the arms of her loving family. preceded in death by her husband, Bob. Survived by sister, Lucille Knittle of Alabama and children, Jane Johnson, Joe (Donna) Martin-Howell, Anne (Steffan) Cione, Jack (Judy) Howell. Polly deeply loved and cherished her grandchildren, Shelly (Vince) Divarco, Jason (Samantha) Howell, Spencer Cione, Anne Marie Martin, Evan Cione, Stephen Howell and great-grandchildren, Austin and Isaiah Howell, Aidan and Kendel Divarco. Polly was loved and respected by all who knew her. She touched many lives with her work as a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital and her involvement with the Pueblo Gardens Methodist Church, Catalina United Methodist Church, St. Mary's Auxiliary Thrift Shop, and Tucson Food Partners program. Polly always felt very blessed with the love she shared with her family, friends, and co-workers. We will all miss her very much. Viewing available 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 11, at ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, 1050 N. Dodge. Celebration of Life Service will be held at Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway, Saturday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m. (viewing 9:30). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tucson Community Food Bank or the Arizona Cancer Center.
McINTYRE, Lee Roy, 72, died June 9, 1999. Husband of Phyllis; father of Carol Linda McIntyre, Jim (Barbara) McIntyre, and Doug (Terri) McIntyre; grandfather of Kelli, Tagore and Samantha. Lee owned and operated Spear's Floor Covering. He was a WW II Marine Veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater. Memorial Service 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 12, 1999 at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway, with Rev. Joyce Thompson-Brest officiating. Donations in Lee's memory may be made to WW II Veterans Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 96766, Washington, DC 20090-6766.
T.F. MOORE, SR.
June 23, 1916 – June 8, 1999
Thomas F. Moore, Sr., former Rail Labor leader in Tucson died Tuesday, June 8, 1999 at St. Joseph's Hospital after a long illness. He was 15 days shy of his 83rd birthday, and was born June 23, 1916 in Eagle Grove, Iowa, to Thomas F. and Marguerite (Donegan) Moore.
He came with his family to Arizona in 1922 settling in the Winkelman/Hayden area and came to Tucson in 1928 where he attended Safford Junior High School. He returned to Des Moines, Iowa to attend High School and College and then returned to Tucson where he hired on at Southern Pacific Railroad as a Switchman in 1937.
He worked for Southern Pacific for approximately 40 years during which time he served with distinction as a representative of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT), Switchmen's Union of North America (SUNA) and the United Transportation Union (UTU). He was first elected to the local committee of adjustment in the yard in Tucson in the BRT, Foot Board Lodge #1059 in 1941. As a charter member of SUNA Desert Lodge #60, now UTU Local 1800 he held every office in the local as well as the first Local Chairman in Tucson for the SUNA. He was elected to the first General Committee of Adjustment for the SUNA on the Southern Pacific Western Lines, serving three terms as General Secretary and was elected to the SUNA Board of Directors at their International convention in 1953 and held that position until the formation of the UTU wherein he served on the Board of Appeals until his retirement from the UTU in 1979. He served as Secretary to the Board of Directors the last two of his four terms with SUNA and served as the only Secretary to the Board of Appeals for the UTU until his retirement in 1979 from the UTU.
He fought all his life for his Brothers and Sisters in the Labor Movement for the organized and unorganized workers in this country. He was active in local politics in Tucson until his health prevented him from participating, serving as a precinct and state committeemen in the Democratic party and worked in elections for Democratic candidates for City, County, State and National Elections. His involvement climaxed when his son, Tom, replaced Sam Lena in the State Senate for District 10 in 1975, when his dear friend Sam moved on to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marie (Morris); son, Tom (Marie) of Tucson; daughters, Lynn Tank (Alfred) of St. Augustine, FL, Mary Rayner (Alan) of Pensacola, FL; 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces all of whom were loved and thought of just like his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation for friends will be Sunday, June 13, from 2:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. with a service at 7:00 p.m. at BRING'S MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 236 S. Scott. Funeral Mass Monday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Catholic Church, 2915 E. 36th Street, Tucson. Burial will follow immediately after the funeral services at Holy Hope cemetery, 3555 N. Oracle Road.
While not large in body he was a giant in stature! For those of us that loved and admired him, he will be missed!
MORELLA, Joseph R. Sr., 72, of Tucson, died June 9, 1999. Born February 19, 1927 in Buffalo, NY. He was a U.S. Army WWII Veteran. Survived by wife, Madeline G. Morella of Tucson; son, Joseph F. Morella, Jr. of Cheektowaga, NY; daughters, Karen A. Smolinski nee Morella of Dallas, TX, Donna M. Doughtery nee Morella of Tucson; grandchildren, Robyn, Caren, Marc and Brian. Mass of Resurrection, Monday, 10:00 a.m. Holy Hope Mausoleum, followed by interment in Holy Hope cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. with Rosary 6:00 p.m., EVERGREEN MORTUARY. Arrangements by EVERGREEN MORTUARY & cemetery, N. Oracle & W. Miracle Mile.
NULL, Louise Cheney, 77, passed away June 9, 1999. preceded in death by her husband William Irvin Null, 1981. Survived by her children, Thomas L. Null (Tamara), Therese E. Helland (Tom), Christina L. Dickson (Albert) and M. Louise Lilly (Howard); seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was born in Boulder, Colorado, taught school in Clifton, Arizona; upon moving to Tucson she made a career of being a mother, a 'Jane' for the Beacon Foundation (20yrs), and giving herself to all. We are honored to be her family; her strength is our strength and inspiration. 'There's hope for everyone.' A memorial will be held at 10:00 a.m. June 12 at Tuller School Chapel, 5870 E. 14th Street. A reception will follow at the home of Terri and Tom Helland (call 647-3238 for address). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Friends of Saguaro National Park, P.O. Box 18998, Tucson, AZ 85731-9998. A special thanks to everyone at Springhouse, Jan Ciarvella, our friends, coworkers, and clients' for all of their support.
OCHOA, Ernestine R., 74, of Tucson, died June 9, 1999. Mother of Marcos R. (Lydia) Ochoa, Elsie M. (Frank) Perez; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; sister of Esther Lannom, Cora Tellez, Carmen Montano, Alice Castano. Rosary at ABBEY FUNERAL CHAPEL, Friday at 7:30 p.m. Mass at Holy Family Church, Saturday, June 12, 1999 at 11:00 a.m. Burial Holy Hope cemetery. Arrangements by ABBEY FUNERAL CHAPEL, 3435 N. 1st Ave., Tucson, AZ.
ORTEGA, Amalia Noriega, 88, a homemaker, died Wednesday, June 09, 1999 in Tucson, Arizona. Mrs. Ortega lived in Tucson, Arizona for life. She is survived by daughter, Cecilia (Richard, Sr.) Elenes; grandsons, Johnny (Mitchell) Elenes, Richard Elenes, Jr., Ernie Elenes, Daniel Elenes all of Tucson, AZ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rafael; her father, Antonio Noriega and her mother, Martina Grijalva Noriega. She was born May 26, 1911 in Tucson, Arizona. Visitation will be held at MARTINEZ FUNERAL CHAPELS, 2580 S. 6th Ave. from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, June 11 with Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 12, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. at Santa Monica Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Holy Hope cemetery in Tucson. Arrangements by Martinez Funeral Chapels, Arizona's Newest Funeral Establishments, (520) 547-3400.
ROBBINS, Harold, 81 years old, born July 26, 1917 died Wednesday, June 9th, 1999. Loving husband of Harriet Robbins; dear father of Jeffrey (Rebecca), Randy Bramhall (Martyn), Dean (Annette), Eric (Kimberly), Dr. Matthew (Sylvia); adoring grandfather of Nathan, Austen, Samuel, Clint, Ross, Charles, Danielle, Josef and Sofia; dear brother to William Robbins of Palos Park, Illinois and Ruth Meyer of Fresno, California; predeceased by brother, David Robbins, favorite uncle of Carol Lee and Ronald Meyer and uncle to many more nieces and nephews. Retired to Tucson in 1986 from Chicago where he was born. Former business owner of Robbins Iron and Metal Co. at 59th St. and Damen Ave. in Chicago, past Commander of Chicago Medinah Shrine Motor Corps., volunteer at Sheriffs Aux. in Tucson. Service, Monday, June 14th, 10:00 a.m. by Evergreen Mortuary, N. Oracle and W. Miracle Mile, with Rabbi Bernard Mussman of Congregation Anshei Israel officiating. Interment Shaarei Shalom cemetery, 2151 S. Avenida de los Reyes (vicinity of Houghton and 22nd St.). In lieu of flowers, if you so desire, please make donations to Humane Society of Southern Arizona in Tucson.
TEN BROECK, George M., 91, of Tucson, passed away on June 9, 1999. He was the beloved husband of Felise D.; loving father of Douglas and Elaine (Ambrose) and a beloved friend of Victor and Linda Rabago. He is survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was an Arizona Retiree of Illinois Bell for thirty plus years. Services will be private. Arrangements by SOUTH LAWN MORTUARY, an aftercare provider.
MARIA T. COCIO - God called for an angel on the day of June 3, 1999 and he took this beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt and grandmother. She was born on December 20, 1959 to Silviano and Abrana Cocio in Tucson, Arizona. She was the second oldest child of four; sister, Frances (Narciso) Duarte and brother, Rueben and Silviano Cocio. She is survived by previous husband, Stephen Price, whom she spent 20 years of her life with and also had five children who are, Pharrah, Sylvana, Esteban, Francisco and Zoriah Cocio Price. She also survived her last three years with current fiancee, Eddie Dixon, with whom she just gave birth to a baby boy, Eddie Ray Cocio-Dixon, Jr. He was only five days old when god called for his mother. She had two nieces who are Angelica Duarte and Divina Castro and two nephews who are Benjamin, Jr. and Ezekiel Castro. She also had two grandchildren who are Aliyah and Carina Cocio who she all loved very much. She will also be in our hearts and never be forgotten. She will be missed very much. May God take care of her.
NELSON, Ophelia H., 89 year native Tucsonan, passed away on June 9, 1999 in the presence of her family. She was preceded in death by her father, Rafael and mother, Maria Henderson; two sisters, two brothers and her beloved grandson, Jose C. Cervantez. She leaves to mourn her, her only daughter, H. Toni (John) Johnson; grandchildren, Deborah N. (Joseph) Barletta, Greg N. Cervantez, Michael R. (Mary Ann) Gonzales, Dolores M. (Louis) Wacker; great-grandchildren, Candy, Stephanie and Jolene Barletta, Monica and Greg Cervantez, Mikey, Jr., John and Annie Gonzales. Rosary will be recited 7:00 p.m., Monday, June 14, 1999 at BRING'S MEMORIAL CHAPEL. Mass will be offered 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 15 at Holy Family Church. Burial in Holy Hope cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 14, 1999 at Bring's Memorial Chapel, 236 S. Scott.
