Orsina Castillo, 57, died March 11, 2001, in St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. She was born in Ajo on October 28, 1943, to Bertha Maria (Soto) & Ramiro Gonzales, and lived here all her life. She married Abelardo Castillo on February 2, 1963, and together they raised a family. She enjoyed crafts and flowers but most of all she enjoyed her family and taking care of her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Abelardo "Lito" Castillo of Ajo; by her father, Ramiro Gonzales of Ajo; and by her children and grandchildren.
Thomas Martin "Marty" Winkler Jr., 44, of Why died March 13, 2001, in Tucson. He was born October 9, 1956, in Albany, Georgia, to Peggy (Mozingo) & Thomas Martin Winkler Sr. He was a field operations supervisor for the United States Border Patrol who came here from Vista, California, fourteen years ago. He is survived by his wife, Susan Winkler, and his children, Harlan Thomas Winkler and Victoria Louise Winkler, of Why; and by many other family members.
Paulette Jean Chico, 32, of Tucson, died March 13, 2001. She was born September 15, 1968, in Ajo. She is survived by her parents, Claude & Lillian; by her children, William and Alexis; and by her sisters, her brother, and many other family members and friends. Funeral services were held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Tuesday, March 20, followed by interment at Ajo Cemetery.
Margaret M. Rendon, 73, died March 19, 2001, in St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. She was born in Miami on September 10, 1927, to Eustacia (Martinez) & Leonardo Molina. She came to Ajo from California in 1940. On September 16, 1946, she married Ralph Rendon in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph S. Rendon, who died November 10, 1995. She is survived by her daugher and other family members. Mass was celebrated by Father John O'Rourke in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday, March 24. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery by her husband.
Ralph E. Shelly died March 19, 2001, in Peoria, Arizona. He was born in Ajo in 1925 and grew up here. At the time of his retirement, he was superintendent of Baltz School District in Phoenix. He is survived by his daughter and son and other family members. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Michael Joseph Krmpotich, 72, died March 17, 2001. He was born in Clarkdale on June 3, 1928, to Mike & Mary Krmpotich. He was graduated from high school in Clarkdale and then attended the University of Arizona on a football scholarship. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1951. In May 1958 he married Marlene Creighton in Clarkdale. They lived in Ajo where he worked for Phelps Dodge and she was a nurse at New Cornelia Hospital. In 1964 the family moved to Tempe where Mr. Krmpotich built the Spreckles Sugar factory, a facility he managed until his retirement. After retiring, he and his wife made their home in Tempe. He is survived by his wife, Marlene Krmpotich of Tempe, by his children, and by many other family members. Rosary was recited in St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Clarkdale on Tuesday, March 20. Mass was celebrated there on Wednesday, March 21. Burial was in Clarkdale Cemetery.
Jesse F. Clemmer, 88, died Sunday, April 1, 2001, at the Prescott VA Medical Center. He was born in Hamilton, Texas, on December 27, 1912, to Emma E. (Sewell) & John B. Clemmer. He served in the Army during World War II and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member of the VFW. Mr. Clemmer came to Ajo in 1937. He worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation here and was a tailings pump operator at the time of his retirement. Mr. Clemmer moved to the Pioneers Home in Prescott but came back to his home here every year to visit with family and friends. He is survived by his brother, C. W. Clemmer of Sierra Vista; by several other family members. Services were held Monday, April 9, in Ajo Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Mitch Vader and pastor Odell Henderson officiating.
Troy Whitfield Leatherwood, 80, died April 4, 2001, at La Colina Nursing Home in Tucson. He was born December 2, 1920, in Boswell, Oklahoma, to Sarah (Richardson) & Jackson L. Leatherwood. He came to Ajo from Comada, New Mexico, in 1941. On February 4, 1942, he and Thelma S. Branch were married here. During World War II he served in the US Marine Corps. He worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation for 35 years, 8 months, retiring as a locomotive engineer on May 26, 1976. He also built eight houses and also worked on the Ajo Assembly of God Church. Dozens of homes have additions he built and roofs he put up. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Thelma S. Leatherwood of Ajo, by his sons, and by many other family members. Memorial services were led by the Rev. Gary Stacy in Douglass Funeral Home on Monday afternoon, April 9.
Roy Stanley Shelly, 74, died Saturday, March 31, 2001, in Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix. He was born in Ajo on January 31, 1927, to Josie (Maddox) & Ellis D. Shelly. He grew up here and was graduated from Ajo High School. He also completed a year of college. During World War II, he served in the Army. Mr. Shelly held many jobs during his lifetime, including law enforcement. He worked for Ajo Improvement Company and Phelps Dodge Corporation as a plumber and pipe fitter, retiring in the early 1980s. He was active in the community. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Catherine Shelly of Ajo, by his children, and by many other family members. Services were led by the Rev. Roger Smith in Ajo Federated Church on Friday morning, April 6. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Charlie Davis, 74, died on Thursday, April 12, 2001, at his home in Ajo. He was born in Indiana on August 11, 1926, to Minnie (Humphrey) & Charles Davis Sr. He came to Ajo in 1940. In 1954, he married Ann Pudlas in Fort Ord, California. He worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation for 30 years and was a shovel operator when he retired. He also ran an exterminating business he started in the 1970s, Charlie Davis Pest Control. He is survived by his wife, Ann Davis of Ajo, by his son, and by many other family members. Mass was celebrated by Father John O'Rourke in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Tuesday morning, April 17. Burial was in the family plot in Ajo Cemetery.
Mary Jo "Jody" Walker, 70, died in the early morning on Wednesday, April 11, 2001, in Tucson. She was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 27, 1930, the daughter of Joe and Ruby Hefner. She came to Ajo as a child in 1942. Soon after her graduation from Ajo High School in 1948 she married E.S. "Bud" Walker. She is survived by her husband and her sons, and by many other family members. Services were held at Adair Funeral Home, Avalon Chapel, in Tucson on Saturday, April 14. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Ajo Foundation, 641 W. Soaring Hawk, Oro Valley, Arizona 85737.
Esgardo M. Lopez, known to his friends as Tojo, died April 13, 2001, in Goodyear. He was 76. He was born in Ajo on December 19, 1924, to Carlota (Martinez) and Alfredo Lopez. He grew up here and was graduated from Ajo High School before attending the University of Arizona for two years. In 1965 he married Guadalupe Carmelo in Ajo. He worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation and was working as a carpenter when he retired from the company. Mr. Lopez is survived by his wife, Lupe Lopez of Ajo; by his sons & daughter, his grandchildren, his great-grandchild, and many other family members. Rosary was recited Wednesday evening, April 18, in Douglass Funeral Home. Mass was celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Thursday morning, April 19. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Clyde D. Peed, 73, died Thursday, April 19, 2001, in the Tucson Medical Center hospice. He was born May 29, 1927, in Grandfield, Oklahoma, to Edna (Warrant) and Clyde D. Peed Sr. He came to Ajo from San Diego in 1950. After his high school graduation he attended Baylor College in Texas for a year. On July 3, 1953, he married Martha Quiroz in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A boilermaker, he was retired from Phelps Dodge Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Martha Peed of Ajo; by his son & daughter, by his grand children and great-grandchildren, and many other family members. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, in Douglass Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 26. Burial will be in the Ajo Cemetery.
Bertha Perez, 78, died Thursday, April 19, 2001, in Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. She was born in Ajo on December 8, 1922, the daughter of Cruz (Gonzales) & Tranquilino Rojo, and was a lifelong resident here. She was preceded in death by her husband, Severiano Perez, who died September 8, 1983. Mrs. Perez is survived by her sons and daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and many other family members. Rosary will be recited in Douglass Funeral Home at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 27. Mass will be celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 28. Burial will be in the Ajo Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Julio Perez, Gregorio Perez, Felix Perez, Abel Rios, Jose Vega, and Manuel Martinez.
Barbara A. Schnell, 58, of Why, died on Tuesday, April 24, 2001, in St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson. She was born in Ajo on March 10, 1943, to Talmadge R. & Ina Belle (Nelson) Cooper. A lifelong resident of the area, she was a graduate of Ajo High School. She married Donald Schnell on October 20, 1970, in Lordsburg, New Mexico. Mrs. Schnell was a homemaker and worked for many years as bookkeeper for the Why Utility Company. She is survived by her husband, Don Schnell of Why, by her mother, Belle Cooper of Ajo; by her sons and by daughters, and by many other family members. Memorial services were held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, at the Elks Lodge.
Gregorio N. Cruz, 80, died May 1, 2001, in Phoenix. He was born in Ajo on March 15, 1921, to Josefa (Nevarez) & Jose Cruz, and was a lifelong resident. Goyo, as he was known to his many friends, worked at the local lumberyard for 57 years, seeing the business name change many times from the days it was known as the O'Malley Cole Lumberyard to its present incarnation as Ajo True Value. He was its manager for many years. He loved to tinker with electrical appliances. Many houses in the Gibson area had their plumbing and wiring installed by him. He is survived by his wife, Adelaida Cruz of Ajo; by his son and daughters, and by many other family members. Rosary was recited Friday evening, May 4, in Immaculate Conception parish hall. Mass was celebrated by Father Muņoz on Saturday morning, May 5, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Graveside services in Ajo Cemetery were led by Fr. Muņoz with military honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
William C. Reid, 85, of Black Canyon City, died April 23, 2001, in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Phoenix. He was born October 13, 1915, in Sierra Blanco, Texas, to Otis & Eulah (Price) Reid. He came to Arizona when he was four years old and lived in Parker before moving to Harquahala Valley where he lived from 1931 to 1935. He came to Ajo in 1941 and worked for Phelps Dodge in the mill before moving to Phoenix in 1943. He joined the Army in 1943 and served in Germany during World War II. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he lived in Phoenix and had a sand & gravel pit at the Salt River and Washington Street. He drove a truck delivering sand, gravel, and dirt to people in Phoenix. Mr. Reid was preceded in death by his wife, Marcella, who died October 27, 1998. He is survived by his daughter, and many other familoy members. He was buried with full military honors on May 1 in the National Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Cave Creek Road in Phoenix.
Donald Tapp, 64, died May 1, 2001, in Tucson. He was born June 11, 1936, in Kenton, Ohio, to Maribel (Crook) & Louis Tapp. He served in the Army and Air Force for eleven years. He worked as a construction carpenter for many years. He is survived by his mother, Maribel Tapp of Ohio, by his sons and daughters, and by many other family members. Graveside services in the Ajo Cemetery were led by the Rev. Ken Kermode with military honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
Donald David Gregory, 86, died Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at his home in Woodland, California. He was born November 30, 1914, in Morley, Missouri. He was a coal miner for thirty years, working as a drag line operator in Indiana and Wyoming. He retired in 1980. He and his wife Anne enjoyed spending their winters in Ajo where they made many friends at the Senior Nutrition Program and at Calvary Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Ann Gregory of Woodland, California and by many other family members. Services were held at McNary's Chapel in Woodland, California. Interment was at Sikeston Memorial Park in Missouri.
Esther Barragan, 70, died May 14, 2001, at Hospice of the Valley at Desert Samaritan Care Center in Mesa. She was born November 19, 1930, in Clarkdale to Isabel (Orozco) & Efren Gonzales. She married Thomas "Rudy" Barragan on July 1, 1950, in Prescott, the same year she moved to Ajo. A homemaker, Mrs. Barragan devoted many hours to volunteer work at the Ajo Community Health Center. She had a friendly, outgoing personality and a ready smile. She is survived by her husband, Rudy Barragan of Ajo; by her daughters, and by many other family members. Mass was celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Friday morning, May 18. Burial was in the Ajo cemetery. Pallbearers were Rudolfo Gonzales, Alvaro Sepulveda, George Moreno, Carlos Sepulveda, Bobby
