Winona P. Bruce, 85, died December 29, 2002, in Glendale. She was born February 2, 1917, in Clyde, Texas, to Annie Mae (Brady) and Ira Ray. She married A.J. Bruce in Texas in 1945 and they moved to ajo from Abilene, Texas, in 1946. After her husband's retirement, the couple moved to Douglas; she returned to Ajo in 1998 following her husband's death in 1997. She is survived by her son and other family members. Services are being held in the Ajo Church of Christ on January 12; burial will be in the Ajo Cemetery.
Ruby Jaeger, 54, died January 1, 2003, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was born in Ajo on January 24, 1948, to Frank and Nellie (Madewell) DeWitt. She married Lowell Jaeger here on December 28, 1967. A seamstress and homemaker, she was a longtime resident of York, Nebraska. She is survived by her husband, daughters, and other family members. Services were held January 4 in Faith Evangelical Bible Church in Nebraska.
Audrey Walker, 88, died January 2, 2003, in Phoenix. She was born May 12, 1914, in Haselem, Texas, to Pearl (Prewitt) and Carr Palmer. She came to Ajo from Louisiana in 1936. She married Buford Ray Walker. She is survived by her daughter and other family members. Graveside services were held in the Ajo Cemetery.
Anthony Francis "Tony" Ramon, 52, died December 31, 2002, in St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. He was born in Ajo on February 11, 1950, to Mary Lou (Ortiz) and Gene Ramon. He had a variety of careers, including construction worker, store clerk, counselor and social worker. He most recently operated a resource office, serving Native Americans and others, as a volunteer. He is survived by his mother, his sister, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in Ajo Cemetery.
Robert L. "Bob" Kaster, 63, died January 11, 2003, at his home in Ajo. He was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, on November 8, 1939, to Marie (Hazen) and Earl Kaster. He moved to Ajo from Nebraska in 1970 and, 24 years ago, married Ruth Cabello. He was a body and fender repairman but is probably best remembered for selling fruits and vegetables at a stand on Highway 85. He is survived by his wife, his father, his sons and daughter, and other family members. Services will be held at Douglass Funeral Home on January 18.
Scott Allen Huish, 43, died January 18, 2003, in Show Low. He was born February 11, 1959, in Racine, Wisconsin, to Edward & Margaret Huish. After being seriously injured in a car accident, he moved to his parents' home in Ajo, working at the Ajo Food Bank and Desert Dairy. He is survived by his parents, his son and stepdaughter, and other family members. Services were held in the LDS Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Elton L. "Bud" Kesler, 80, died January 23, 2003, in Phoenix. He was born August 6, 1922, in Avalon, Missouri. He married Getty Jo Wiley on December 30, 1945, in Texarkana and in 1947 they moved to Ajo. Mr. Kesler was a crusher shift foreman when he retired from Phelps Dodge. He was preceded in death by his wife; he is survived by his sons, daughter, and other family members. Services were held the LDS Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Michael J. "Midgie" Francisco, 42, died January 20, 2003, in Tucson. He was born August 20, 1960, to Juanita (Neblina) and William J. Francisco. He lived in Ajo all his life. He did electrical work. He is survived by his mother and grandmother, brothers and sisters, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Alice M. Hold, 90, died January 20, 2003, in California. She was born IN Danville, Illinois, on November 7, 1912, to Ona & Bill Metz. She married Ronald D. Hold on April 17, 1935, in Decatur, Illinois. She moved to Ajo in 1948 and operated Jo's Drive In for many years, retiring in 1970. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her son and other family members. At her request, no services were held.
J. L. "Jay" Smith, 84, died January 11, 2003, in Mesa. He was born October 13, 1918, in Snowflake. He made a career with Mountain Bell Telephone and AT&T and served the LDS Church in several offices. After the death of his first wife, Lyle Boyden Smith, he married Irma Fullagar and they made a home in Mesa. He is survived by his wife, daughters, and other family members. Services were held at an LDS church in Mesa; burial was in the Mesa City Cemetery.
William E. "Bill" Elms, 87, of Gila Bend died January 19, 2003. A longtime Gila Bend resident, he was a 1935 graduate of Gila Bend High School. He made a career in the civil service and was active in the community. He was preceded in death by his wife; he is survived by his daughters and other family members. Services were held in the First Baptist Church with burial in the Pioneer Cemetery in Gila Bend.
Rex R. Topping, 79, died Monday, January 13, 2003, in Casa Grande. He was born February 27, 1923, in Birmingham, Iowa. He married Betty Stagers in Douds, Iowa, on October 6, 1945. He farmed in Iowa and worked at American Chain and Cable. He retired in 1981 and moved to Arizona, though he and his wife continued to spend time in Iowa. He is survived by his wife, his sons and daughter, and other family members. Services were held in Iowa.
Louie Johnny Thurlo, 78, died February 4, 2003, at his home in Globe. A longtime resident of Ajo, he worked as a locomotive engineer for Phelps Dodge before retiring. He is survived by his sons, daugther, and other family members.
Denny Harman died February 8, 2003, in Provo, Utah. He was born June 6, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lived in Ajo for about 11 years, working for Phelps dodge, before moving to Manti, Utah. His is survived by his wife Ann and five children. Services were held in the Grandview LDS Ward in Utah; burial was in Manti, Utah.
Florence Bliss, 96, died February 11, 2003, in Prescott. She was born February 2, 1907, in Douglas to Grace (Willingham) and Alexander Jameson. She lived most of her life in Ajo. She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Bliss. She is survived by her stepson, John Bliss, and other family members. Services were held in Prescott.
Michael "Augie" Aguila, 46, died February 23, 2003, in Mesa. He was born in Ajo on August 14, 1956, to Anastasia (Solana) and Refugio Aguila. He married Lynda Lopez in June 1983. He was an engineer for Intel Corporation and made his home in Gilbert. He is survived by his wife, father, sons, daughters, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Daniel Bosworth, 58, died January 27, 2003, at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born March 17, 1944, in Wilmington, Ohio, to Edward and Mary Bosworth. While stationed at the Ajo Radar Base, he married Carol Speegle in 1963. After leaving the Air Force, he mad a career in the Federal Aviation Administration. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and other family members. Services where held in New Mexico.
Maria Hernandez and Gabriel Hernandez died on the day of their birth, Saturday, February 15, 2003, in Wuerzburg, Germany. The infants were the children of Megan and Ariel Hernandez. They are survived by their parents, grandparents, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Sam Korolsky Sr., 90, died March 6, 2003, in a Casa Grande hospice. He was born to Fred & Sophia Korolsky on July 28, 1912, in North Dakota. He was a 20-year veteran of the Air Force who later moved to Ajo and worked in security for Phelps Dodge before retiring in 1982. He then moved to Casa Grande. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Marjorie Korolsky, by his sons and daughter, and by other family members. Services were held at Calvary Southern Baptist Church in Casa Grande.
Viola Morago Johnson, 63, died Saturday, March 1, 2003, in Chandler. She was born in Sacaton on October 9, 1939 and came to Ajo as a child. After graduating from Ajo High School she became a nurse. She was CEO of Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital. She is survived by her mother, her daughter, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in St. Mary's Catholic Church on March 7.
Caswell Thomas Johnson, 72, known to his friends as Casey, died February 1, 2003, in Phoenix. He was born December 3, 1930, in North Carolina to Mary (Anthony) and Fred G. Johnson. He served in the US Air Force. He married Melba Soto on September 29, 1952, in Tempe. He made a career in the US Postal Service and served as acting postmaster in Ajo for six months in 1980. He is survived by his wife, Melba Johnson of Ajo, and by his sons, his daughter, and other family members. Services were held February 6 in Phoenix.
