From Yavapai County, Arizona:
Helen Burns
Helen Bernice Burns, 89, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 1997, at Prescott Samaritan Village.
She was born June 23, 1908, in Pasadena, Calif., to Nelson A. Gray and Minnie (Collins) Gray. She moved to Prescott in 1950 from Glendale, Calif. She was a member of the Prescott Heights Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Burns of Brazil; sons, Donald of Phoenix and Kenneth of Glendale; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 1980.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Prescott Heights Baptist Church, 700 Rosser St., with Pastor Lee Wiggins officiating. Burial was at Mountain View Cemetery.
Contributions may be made in her memory to the Prescott Heights Baptist Church, 700 Rosser St., Prescott, Ariz. 86301.
Hampton Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
James Blair
James E. Blair, 74, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 1997, at his home in Chino Valley.
He was born May 5, 1923, in Warren, Ariz., to John A. and Erma A. (Paff) Blair. He moved to Prescott from Flagstaff in 1967.
Mr. Blair graduated with a bachelor of arts degree and a master's degree in education from Northern Arizona University, and also took graduate courses at the University of Arizona. He started his education career in Prescott as a teacher at Lincoln School, and then taught for several years at Prescott High School. He retired in May 1986. He was Prescott Junior High School's assistant principal, but will best be remembered for the years he served this community as assistant principal at Granite Mountain Middle School.
He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II, and the Naval Reserves following the war. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he served in various leadership capacities, including bishop of the Chino Valley Ward. He was an honorary life member and past exalted ruler in Flagstaff of the BPOE, Elks, and also was a past state president of the organization.
Mr. Blair enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling and was currently president of the Yavapai Good Sam's Camping Club. Throughout his life he was actively engaged in family, church and community service. At the time of his death, he was serving as a board member of Yavapai Federal Credit Union. He was proudest of the accomplishments of his family.
Survivors include his wife, Nelda, whom he married on July 20, 1951; daughters, Karen Ginn of Chino Valley, and Joy Carpenter of Phoenix; sons, Jay and Gary, both of Mesa; brothers, Paul of Green Valley, David of Williams, and Niels Larsen of Joseph City; sisters, Marion Stodghill of Bisbee, Nelma Greer of Mesa, and Mary Lou Larsen of Parkdale, Ore.; and 12 grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Chino Valley Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 441 Perkinsville Road, NW, Chino Valley, with visitation one hour prior to services, in the Relief Society room at the church. Concluding services will be held at Chino Valley Cemetery.
Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Verna Holt
Verna E. Hole, 93, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 1997, in Fullerton, Calif.
She was born May 14, 1903, in Junita, Neb., to William A. and Hattie (Palmer) Cole. She moved to Yarnell from California in 1968.
She met the love of her life, her husband, Archie in the little sweet shop and luncheonette she owned. They were married Feb. 4, 1938, while Mr. Holt was serving in the armed forces during World War II. Mrs. Holt was managing an Army PX. They both were rock hounds, enjoying many hours in the desert and on the Navajo Indian reservations.
Mrs. Holt and her husband helped to raise their nephews, Shawn and Dennis. She was confined to Meadow Park Care Center for several years. Her husband drove to Prescott from Yarnell to spend his day with his wife. They were devoted to each other. After her husband's death this past July, Mrs. Holt moved back to California to be closer to the family.
Survivors include her sister, Arless Shivley of California; nephews, Shawn Doherty of California, Dennis Doherty of Florida, and Calvin Cole of Washington; nieces, Karen Morse of Washington and Mary Hamrey of Oregon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Archie, on July 15, 1997.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Genung Memorial Park in Peeples Valley, with the Rev. Paul Jones, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church, officiating.
Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Matthew Klinkhammer
Matthew J. Klinkhammer, 70, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997, at the Prescott Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 5, 1926, in Walworth County, S.D., to Matthew J. and Hope (Bennett) Klinkhammer. He moved to Holbrook from Nevada, and to the Veterans Affairs Hospice in October.
Mr. Klinkhammer served in the U.S. Army from June 29, 1945 to Jan. 2, 1947.
A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Veterans
Affairs chapel, with Chaplain Gerald Beilstein officiating. Concluding services will be at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.
Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Brian Fletcher
Brian Kirby Fletcher, 52, of Prescott, died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1997, at his home .
He was born on Dec. 7, 1944, in Paris, Ill., to Moss and Helen (Bales) Fletcher.
Mr. Fletcher had lived in Prescott for over two years. He was an aircraft pilot for the U.S. Government. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his mother, Helen Bales of Maraton, Fla.; brother, Scott of Salem, Ore.; and two nephews.
Memory Chapel Mortuary helped the family with arrangements.
Lawrence Mosley
Lawrence "Larry" Mosley, 75, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 1997, at his home in Peeples Valley.
He was born Feb. 24, 1922, in Kensett, Ark., to Thomas M. and Julia (Jowers) Mosley. He moved to Peeples Valley from Yuma in January 1992.
Mr. Mosley retired as chief juvenile probation officer for Yuma County, where he had served for 18 years. He had also been a policeman for the Yuma City Police Department. He served in the U.S. Army with Company K 273rd Infantry, seeing action in central Europe during World War II.
He was a member of Yuma #17 of the F. & A.M., Scottish Rite Bodies of Arizona, York Rite Bodies of Arizona, we served as grand master of the grand council from 1988 to 1989, and was honored with the Red Cross of Constantine. He was chapter dad of the Yuma Demolay for many years. He was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church and the American Legion Post #79, both in Yarnell.
When he was a young boy, he traveled with his family from Arkansas to Ash Fork, where they lived for many years. He loved to fish and work in his garden. He enjoyed nature programs on television, and with his new satellite dish, fulfilled his favorite pastime of watching the baseball season, from spring training through the World Series. He understood children and took time to help instill the code of ethics he lived by in as many of his young charges as possible.
Survivors include his wife, Immogene, whom he married on Dec. 18, 1964; daughters, Julia Clark and Arleen Emirk, both of Yuma, and Leah Wright of Prescott; sons, Milford of Biloxi, Miss., and Edward Wright of Peeples Valley; brother, Kenneth of San Dimas, Calif.; sister, Lucille Hall of Upland, Calif.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Genung Memorial Park in Peeples Valley, with the Rev. Paul Jones officiating, accompanied by the master and officers of Hassayampa #17 F.&A.M. and the Honor Detail American Legion Post #79.
The family suggests contributions in Mr. Mosley's name to Community Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 808, Yarnell, Ariz. 85362.
Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Emil Stefanovich
Emil William "Bill" Stefanovich, 68, died Friday, Nov. 7, 1997, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Prescott.
He was born on Oct. 4, 1929, in Gary, Ind., to Mike and Mary (Muzovic) Stefanovich. He moved from his native Gary, Ind., to Prescott in 1975.
Mr. Stefanovich served in the U.S. Army 11th Airborne during World War II and the Korean Conflict. In Korea, he became a sergeant first class and was honorably discharged with three Bronze Stars.
He kept busy by renovating an apartment building and working part-time as a bartender at the Moose Club and the V.F.W. lodges. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post and the American Legion Post, both in Prescott.
Mr. Stefanovich frequently played pool and bought plenty of rounds for the fellows, and was well liked by all of his friends.
Survivors include sons, Bob Djurich of Portage, Ind., Daniel of California, David of Tucson, and Steven of Prescott; brother, John of Tucson; sister, Anna Buda of Tucson; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nine nieces and 10 nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Veterans Affairs chapel, with Fr. Jerry Caffrey officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests friends contribute to the V.F.W. Post, 202 N. Arizona Ave., Prescott, Ariz. 86301, or the American Legion Post, 202 S. Pleasant, Prescott, Ariz. 86303, in his memory.
Memory Chapel Mortuary helped the family with arrangements.
