Estella Foster Esparza, 67, of Phoenix died May 7, 2001. She was born in Ajo on May 2, 1934. She was graduated from Ajo High School and later attended beauty school in Phoenix. She is survived by her husband, Jose Esparza, by her sons, and by many other family members. Services were held on Thursday, May 10, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Phoenix.
Wayne V. King Jr., 41, died April 27, 2001, in Reno, Nevada. He was born September 2, 1959, in Ajo and lived here until he was 21 when he left for Spokane, Washington. Known as Beaver to his family and friends, he was a silversmith and traveled extensively. He is survived by his mother, Leona King of Ajo, and by his children and many other family members. Graveside services were held Sunday evening, May 13, at the Childs Ranch Cemetery with Pastor England officiating.
Ruth M. Wood died Tuesday, May 15, 2001, at her home in Orangevale, California. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 7, 1921. Her family moved to California, while she was a child and she lived there the rest of her life. She is survived by her husband, Jack Wood; by her sons, Dennis Roney and Richard Barajas; by her daughters Pam Spencer, Gail Provencal, and Linda Gonzales; and by many other family members. Services are being held at Cochrane's Chapel of the Roses in Roseville, California, on Wednesday morning, May 23. Interment will be at the Auburn District Cemetery in Auburn, California.
John W. Corp, Sr., 89, died Wednesday, May 23, at his home in Ajo. He was born January 23, 1912, in San Jose, California, to Pearl E. (Thompson) & Joshua W. Corp. He was the owner and operator of an auto repair shop until he retired in 1980. He and his wife Dorothy came to Ajo in 1988. They quickly became active in local affairs and he served as president of the Ajo Lions Club for his first three years in town. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy L. (Comstock) Corp of Ajo, by his sons and daughters, and by many other family members. Memorial services will be led by Pastor Rob Johnston at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2.
Robert G. Moreno, 69, of Phoenix, died May 27, 2001, in St. Luke's Hospice. He was born in Ajo on June 20, 1931, to Ramalda (Gonzalez) & Manuel Moreno. He was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He worked for the City of Phoenix for over 24 years before retiring. Mr. Moreno is survived by his son and daughters and many other family members. Mass was celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday morning, June 2. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery with military graveside honors by VFW Post 3578 and American Legion Post 10.
Roberta Nichols Jackson Ours, 79, of Tucson, died May 26, 2001. She was born April 25, 1922, in Coalton, Oklahoma, to Elizabeth M. & John Nichols. She came to Ajo as an infant in 1923 and grew up here, leaving soon after her graduation from Ajo High School. A registered nurse, she completed her training at St. Mary�s School of Nursing. She last worked at a nursing home in Tucson. She was preceded in death by her first husband, John L. Jackson, and by her second husband, James J. Ours. She is survived by her son and daughter and by many other family members. Graveside services were conducted by Pastor Roger Smith in the Ajo Cemetery on Thursday morning, May 31.
Mary Alice Ashby, 63, of Riverside, died Saturday, May 26, 2001, in Miami. She was born in Ajo on January 2, 1938, to Ada (Wells) and Otis B. "Buck" Tinnin. She was a lifelong resident of Arizona. On November 3, 1955, she married Homer Douglas Ashby in Ray. A housewife, she enjoyed painting in oils and working with wood. She is survived by her husband, Homer Douglas Ashby of Riverside, by her children, and by many other family members. Memorial services were held Thursday, May 31, at Kearny Southern Baptist Church with Pastor Gene Talley officiating. Interment was private. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial donations by made to Banner Hospice, 2250 E. Highway 60, Suite B, Miami, Arizona 85539.
Joseph Henry "Joe" Nelson, 69, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at his home in Ajo. He was born in Nevis, Minnesota, on January 28, 1932. He came to Ajo from Minnesota in 1947 and lived here the rest of his life. He worked as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service until he retired. He is survived by his daughters and by many other family members. Private services are planned.
James Robert "Jim" Patrick, 61, died June 14, 2001, at his home in Why. Mr. Patrick was born Dember 18, 1939, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, to John & Kathryn (Salmans) Patrick. A college graduate, he worked for Westinghouse Electric as an accountant. He moved to Why from Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 1997. He is survived by his son & daughter-in-law and by his grandson. Memorial services will be held in South Carolina.
Basil J. Black, 84, died July 14, 2001, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tucson. He was born November 2, 1916, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Inga (Soleberg) & Joseph Black. He served in the US Army during World War II. He worked as a car painter for an automotive shop for most of his life and then worked as paper dyer for Scott Paper before he retired. A winter visitor, Mr. Black moved to Ajo on a full-time basis two years ago from Everette Washington. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Scoleri Black of Ajo, by his son and his step-daughters, and by other family members. He will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Everette, Washington.
Ruth Russo of Why died June 29, 2001, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tucson. There were no services.
Arturo Dorame, 92, died at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tucson on Thursday, July 19, 2001. Mr. Dorame was born April 18, 1909, in Tombstone, to Gregoria (Gomez) and Jose Dorame. He came to Ajo in 1945 and lived here for 56 years. He was a driller's helper when he retired from Phelps Dodge Corp. Mr. Dorame is survived by his wife Ysidora Dorame of Ajo; by his children, and by many other family members. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, July 25, at 6 p.m. at Douglass Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Thursday, July 26, at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Ajo Cemetery.
Louis M. Ramirez, 83, died in St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson on Friday, July 20, 2001. Mr. Ramirez was born March 25, 1918, in Ajo to Antonia (Martinez) & Milardo Ramirez. He lived in Ajo all his life and was a graduate of Ajo High School. A dragline operator, he retired from Phelps Dodge Corporation. Mr. Ramirez was preceded in death by his wife, Sofia Ramirez, who died November 13, 2000. He is survived by his son and daughters, and by many other family members. Rosary will be recited on Friday, July 27, at 6 p.m. at Douglass Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m.
Ruth J. Taylor, 90, died in Silver City, New Mexico, on July 17, 2001. Mrs. Taylor was born March 25, 1911, in Fruita, Colorado. She moved to Cottonwood from Colorado in 1940 and came to Ajo in 1950 from Clarkdale. She married Murlin A. "Bill" Taylor in 1934 in Palisade, Colorado. A homemaker her whole life, she was active in the community. Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by husband on April 20, 1990. She is survived by a son & daughter and other family members. Services at Ajo Federated Church on Friday, July 20, were conducted by Pastor Roger Smith. Graveside services were held in Ajo Cemetery where she was buried next to her husband.
Eliza Lopez Zazueta, 87, died in Glendale on Wednesday, July 18, 2001. Mrs. Zazueta was born November 20, 1912, in Trincheras, Sonora, Mexico. She lived most of her life in Sonoyta, but resided in Glendale for several years. She is survived by her son Romeo Cubillas of Ajo, by her other sons and daughters, and many other family members. She was buried on Saturday, July 21, in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico.
Getty Jo Kesler, 74, died July 25, 2001, in Phoenix. She was born April 1, 1927, in Texarkana, Texas, to Winnie Ione (Carter) & Getty Wiley. She married Elton Kesler on December 30, 1945, in Texarkana, Arkansas. The young couple, known to their friends as Jo and Buddy, moved to Ajo from Missouri in 1947. A homemaker, Mrs. Kesler was known as an accomplished seamstress. She is survived by her husband, Elton "Buddy" Kesler of Ajo, by her sons and daughter, and by many other family members. Services were conducted by the Rev. Gary Stacy in Ajo Calvary Baptist Church on Monday morning, July 30. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Fidel M. Gonzales Sr., 88, died August 2, 2001, in Phoenix. He was born April 24, 1913, in Salt Lake, New Mexico, to Ambrosio & Anita Gonzales. He married Dorothy Lewis on July 17, 1935 in Los Angeles, California, and they came to Ajo in 1948. He operated the Gonzales Barber & Beauty Shop in Mexican Town. The shop was later moved to the Gibson area. Mr. Gonzales was recognized by the Arizona Board of Barbers as having the oldest owner-established barber shop in the state of Arizona. He worked in the barbershop until he was 87 years old. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Gonzales, who died in 1989 Mr. Gonzales is survived by his sons and daughters, and by many other family members. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 10, at Douglass Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated by Father Richard Rego in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 11. Burial will be in Ajo Cemetery.
Suzanne M. "Sue" O'Rourke, 65, died July 30, 2001, in Kindred Hospital in Phoenix. She was born September 15, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louise (Pingel) and Roy Anderson. She married Thomas O'Rourke in Houston, Texas, in 1964. A secretary, she worked for a real estate firm in San Diego, California, before moving to Ajo in 1990. She is survived by her husband, Tom O'Rourke of Ajo, and by her son and other family members. Memorial services will be led by the Rev. Gary Stacy at the Full Gospel Fellowship Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 10.
Steve M. Rogers, 54, of Why died in July in Nebraska. He is survived by his mother, Bessie Rogers of Omaha, Nebraska, by his sons and daughter-in-law, and other family members. Military services were held July 30 in Omaha.
Alvaro Alegria, 39, died August 8, 2001, in Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix. He was born July 31, 1962, in Ajo to Juanita Rios Parra & Alvaro Alegria. A painter, he was self-employed and often worked with his brother. He is survived by his mother & stepfather, Juanita & Carlos Parra of Ajo; and by his brother and by sister Services will be conducted by the Rev. Roger Smith in Ajo Federated Church at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15. Burial will be in Ajo Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Carlos Parra, Jose Alegria, Ramon Reyna, Michael Amada, John Alvarez, and Loretto Alegria.
Geneeta L. "Neet" Allen, 70, died July 25, 2001, in Flagstaff. She was born June 1, 1931, in Erick, Oklahoma, to Annalee & T.O. "Pappy" Dollar. Mrs. Allen was a homemaker. A former resident of Ajo, she was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Desert Music Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. "Bob" Allen; She is survived by her sons and by many other family members. Memorial services were held July 29 in Phoenix.
Eugene E. Neal, 82, died of cancer on Thursday, August 9, 2001, in Tucson Medical Center. He was born May 12, 1919, to Uriel & Josephine Neal. After serving in the U.S. Navy for twelve years, he worked for the Lincoln Police Department and retired from the State of Nebraska Board of Pardons & Parole in 1982 after 24 years of service. He lived in Lincoln for 62 years. After his retirement, Mr. Neal and his wife, Roberta, moved to Coyote Howls in Why, where they lived until his death. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Roberta Neal, who now is living at Devon Gables Health Care Center in Tucson, and by his sons and brothers. No services were held.
John T. Jackson, 81, died August 24, 2001, in Casa Grande Regional Medical Center. He was born March 17, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, to Minnie (Dooley) & James Jackson. Mr. Jackson was an inspector of meat for the City of Chicago. He and his wife came to Arizona in 1980 and moved to Ajo in 1991. He is survived by his wife, Billie Jane Jackson of Ajo and by his children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Services will be held on Wednesday, August 29, at 2 p.m. in Ajo Federated Church. The Rev. Roger Smith will officiate.
