Pauline Marie Lehman, 78, of Mesa, died Tuesday, December 12, 2000, in Mesa. Mrs. Lehman lived in Ajo for many years while her husband, the Rev. Olin F. Lehman, was pastor of the Ajo Federated Church. She was preceded in death by her husband on June 21, 2000. Mrs. Lehman is survived by her children and other family members. Memorial services were held Saturday, December 16, at the First United Methodist Church in Gilbert.
Andrew M. Montijo, 72, died December 21, 2000, in Mesa. He was born February 4, 1928, in Ajo, the son of Felisardo & Marcela Montijo. A lifelong resident, he was graduated from Ajo High School and was a blasting foreman for Phelps Dodge before he retired. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Hill Montijo. He is survived by his children and other family members. Services were conducted by the Rev. Rob Johnston in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 30. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Francisco Ortiz, 77, died December 11, 2000, in Indio, California. He was born December 4, 1923, in Ajo, the son of Aniceto & Francisca Trejo Ortiz. He grew up in Ajo and lived here until his retirement from Phelps Dodge in 1983 after thirty years of service. He then made his home in Coachella, California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosina Rendon Ortiz. He is survived by his children and many other family members. Mass was celebrated in Our Lady of Soledad Catholic Church on Friday, December 15. Burial was in the Coachella Valley Cemetery.
Candelaria N. "Connie" Avalos, 85, died January 3, 2001, in Tucson. She was born February 2, 1915, in Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico, the daughter of Jose & Vicenta (Ramirez) Negrete. She and Meliton R. Avalos were married February 8, 1933, in Prescott. In 1950 they moved to Ajo from Cottonwood. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Meliton R. Avalos, who died May 15, 1993. She is survived by her children and many other family members. Mass was celebrated by Father Fernando Manzo in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Tuesday morning, January 9. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery next to her husband.
Melody Yazzie McMillin, 47, died in a New Years Eve car accident in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was a Tucson lawyer who devoted much of her career to Native American issues and had recently made an unsuccessful bid for the Pima Community College Governing Board, losing by a tiny margin. During her campaign she made many friends in Ajo. She is survived by her husband of four years, Dave McMillin, and by the children in their blended family. Memorial services have been held in Tucson.
Adam R. Mitchell, 86, died January 1, 2001, in Phoenix. He was born February 28, 1914, in Belford, North Dakota, the son of Joseph & Christina (Shook) Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell came to Ajo from Washington in 1950, and lived here until moving to the Arizona Pioneers Home in Prescott in 2000. Before retiring, he worked for Phelps Dodge in the ore dressing division of the mill. Mass was celebrated Saturday morning, January 6, by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery.
Theodore W. "Ted" Ozanne died December 25, 2000, in Phoenix. He was born October 29, 1918, in Ajo, leaving as a youth. After World War II, he and his wife, moved to Ajo and opened a gift shop called The Copper Shingle in the Plaza. They left in 1947. At the time of his death he made his home in Phoenix. Mr. Ozanne was preceded in death by his wife in August 2000. He is survived by children and other family members.
Abe Parra Gray, 68, of Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, died in St. Mary's Hospice in Tucson on January 12, 2001. He was born September 18, 1932, in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, to Bartola (Parra) and Abraham Cope Gray. A rancher, he owned his own ranch, Los Vidrios. He had worked at Paloma Ranch for many years. He also worked at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the late 1950s. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Briones Gray of Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, and by many other family members.
Virginia R. Moody, 79, died in Tucson on January 9, 2001. She was born May 5, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York, to William & Frieda (Haase) Reiman. She married Roland G. Moody in New York on October 16, 1944, and they moved to Ajo from New York City in 1955. During her working career in Ajo, Mrs. Moody worked in the Phelps Dodge Mercantile office, was a bartender at the Brass Knob, and a cashier at Circle K. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland G. Moody, who died July 17, 2000. She is survived by her daughters and many other family members. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 19, at Douglass Funeral Home with Pastor Gary Stacy officiating.
Petra Soila Nogales, 82, died in Sunbridge Estrella Care Center in Avondale on Wednesday, January 10, 2001. She was born in Ajo on June 29, 1918, to Agueda Parra Reina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pedro Nogales. She is survived by her daughters and many other family members. Mass was celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday morning, January 13. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Gary Michael "Mike" Williams, 56, died in Phoenix on Wednesday, January 10, 2001. He was born in Ajo on July 22, 1944, to Ethel (Rosenberger) and Kenneth Grady Williams. He attended school here and was graduated from Ajo High School, later attending a year of college. He and Jeanette Runge were married on March 12, 1981. Mr. Williams was an mechanic. He taught auto shop at Ajo High School from 1981 to 1984. He was head mechanic for Bob Alford Chevrolet. On February 5, 1985, he and his wife opened Mike's 5th Street Garage. He was a volunteer firefighter for many years. Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, Jeanette Williams of Ajo and by his daughters and other family members. Mr. Williams was given a fire department funeral at noon on Saturday, January 13, in the Ajo Cemetery.
Wilfred Patricio, 66, died January 17, 2001, in Sells Hospital. He was born on August 24, 1934, in Sells. He came to Ajo in 1952 from Tucson and worked for Phelps Dodge for 31 years 9 months before retiring as a pipe fitter foreman in 1983. Before moving to Sells he enjoyed roping at Doyle's arena. He loved working with horses until the time of his death. He is survived by his children and many other family members. Burial was on Tuesday, January 23, at San Miguel Village.
Jennie Campos, 83, died Saturday, January 27, 2001, in her home in Ajo. She was born July 5, 1917, in Guanajuto, mexico, to jesus & Antonia (Esquivel) Luna. She married Farnk Campos in 1934 and they moved to Ajo from Jerome in 1950. A homemaker, she loved to work in her garden and yard and to walk. She was preceded in death by her husband and by a daughter, a son, and a grandson. She is survived by many other family members. Funeral mass was celebrated by Father Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 31. Burial was next to her husband in Ajo Cemetery.
Bruce Gerald Kostling died October 12, 2000, at his home in Ajo. He was born May 7, 1944, in Marysville, California. He served for thirty years in the US Navy as a marine diesel engineer. After he retired, he lived for a time in Mexico before moving to Why and then Ajo. He is survived by his children. Military funeral arrangments were made by Desert Rose Mortuary.
Fexlix "O'oje" Miranda Sr., 62, of San Lucy, died January 22, 2001, in Phoenix. he was born in Ajo on March 2, 1938, to Manuel & Josephine (Orosco) Miranda. He lived in Ajo for 32 years before he moved to San Lucy near Gila Bend in 1970. He worked for Vi:ikam Doag Industries. He is survived by his wife, Lucyanna (Lopez) Mranda, and by his children and many other family members. Mass was celebrated in Saint Lucy Church near Gila Bend. Burial was at Darby Well Cemetery.
Virginia Stevens, 80, died January 27, 2001, in El Dorado Hospital in Tucson. She was born April 25, 1920, in Lancaster, Wisconsin, to Anna Laura (Trowbridge) and Harley Allen Fay. She moved to Glendale from Redmond, Oregon, in 1982, and came to Ajo a year later. She operated a personal charity she called Angel Wing for many years and was known to those she helped as Mother Angel. She helped animals as well as people and frequently sheltered homeless cats. She is survived by her sons and other family members. Private services were planned.
Robert Alba "Bob" Allen, 70 died February 4, 2001, in Chandler Regional Hospital. He was born July 2, 1930 in Phoenix to A. A. "Jimmy" & Hazel King Allen. He lived in Ajo from age four until retiring from Phelps Dodge as a journeyman electrician in 1979 at age 49 when he moved to Page with his family. There he worked for Salt River Project at the Navajo Generating Station until retiring in 1984. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Geneeta L. Allen, and by many other family members. Services will be Wednesday February 7, at 1 p.m. at the Meldrum Mortuary, 52 N. Macdonald St. in Mesa.
Mark F. Alley, 51, died January 29, 2001, at his home in Ajo. He was born January 7, 1950, in Phoenix to Peggy L. (Fisher) and Perry C. Alley. He grew up here and was graduated from Ajo High School. He lived in Arizona most of his life. He owned a men's clothing store in Flagstaff. He is survived by his parents, his children, and many other family members Private services have been held.
Reynaldo Hernandez, 81, of Prescott Valley, died January 6, 2001, in the VA Medical Center. He was born November 6, 1919, in Mayer, the son of Francisco & Maria Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez worked as a truck driver for Phelps Dodge before retiring in May 1977. Mr. Hernandez was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Hernandez, and a daughter. He is survived by his duathers and many other family members. Celebration of Life was on Thursday, January 11, at Sacred Heart Church, led by Father Joe. Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery with a miltary honor guard.
Norma R. McKay, 64, died February 4, 2001, in Thunderbird Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. She was born December 29, 1936, in Ajo to Helen (Trujillo) & Manuel Rendon. A lifetime resident, she was graduated from Ajo High School. She was employed by Ajo Unified School District 15. She is survived by her husband, James P. McKay of Ajo; by her mother, Helen T. Rendon of Ajo; by her son and daughter, and many other family members. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, at Douglass Funeral Home. Funeral services will be led by the Rev. Robert Johnston in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 9.
Forrest R. "Rick" Rickard, 79, died Friday, January 26, 2001, in Tucson. He was born June 12, 1921, in Douglas to Althea (Wilcoxson) & Frank Randell Rickard. He was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering from the University of Arizona in May 1942. After his graduation, he and his wife moved to Ajo where he worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation's New Cornelia Branch from May 1942 through June 1978. He spent the last twelve years of his PD career as smelter superintendent. In 1963 the University of Arizona awarded Mr. Rickard the professional degree of metallurgical engineer. He was a founding member of the Ajo Historical Society and was considered an expert on both local and mining history. He maintained a life membership in that organization and also belonged to the many other historical and profession organizations. He wrote several papers on the mining industry and published a book, Exploring, Mining, Leaching, and Concentrating of Copper Ores as Related to The Development of Ajo, Arizona
(to Mid-Year 1942). He was an active member of the Ajo Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Tucson. He was a board member and secretary of the Pima County Parklands Foundation, Pima County Parks and Recreation Board, and was a former member of the University of Arizona Alumni Board. Mr. Rickard is survived by his wife of 59 years, Doris Rickard, and by his children and many other family members. Private family services were held.
Lester Arnold "Les" Wilson, 67, died January 29, 2001, at the Tucson Medical Center Hospice. He was born August 18, 1933, in Creede, Colorado, to Edna Mae (Robberson) & William Cephus Wilson. He moved to Ajo from McCall, Idaho, in 1993 and worked for Minerals Research & Recovery as a heavy equipment operator. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Fay Wilson, by his mother and his children, and by many other family members. Private services will be held.
Jefferson D. Jordan, 89, died February 1, 2001, in Tucson after a short illness. He was a native of New Mexico and a long time resident of Arizona. Mr. Jordan was employed a an official of Phelps Dodge Corporation for many years before his retirement. He is survived by a sister, Mary Lou Smith of Santa Barbara, California, and by one grandson and several nieces and nephews. No services are planned.
Blanche Payne, 95, died January 25, 2001, at her home in Callahan Village, Roseburg, Oregon. She was born November 27, 1905, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to George & Gertrude Kent. The family moved to Keyes, Oklahoma, where she met and married Johnson VanDyke Payne when she was sixteen. The couple first moved to Ajo in 1923 and made Ajo their permanent home in 1937. They moved to Tenmile, Oregon, in 1962. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.V. Payne. She is survived by her sister, Faye Stewart of Ajo, and by many other family members. Services were held on Thursday, February 1, in Oregon. She is buried next to her husband in the Tenmile cemetery.
Verna M. Hudson, 76, died March 3, 2001, in Casa Grande Regional Medical Center. She was born January 4, 1925, in Seygeah, Oklahoma, to Alice (Williams) and William J. Moore. She came to Ajo from North Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1955 and lived here the rest of her life. Many longtime residents remember Mrs. Hudson helping her husband Harvey with mechanic jobs and at their ice dock. After her husband's death, Mrs. Hudson turned to helping care for others, tending to sick and elderly people in their homes. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey L. Hudson, who died February 11, 1987. She is survived by her sons & daughters and many other family members.
