Obituaries

Verla Jean “VJ” Rieske Smithpassed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 8, 2023.  VJ was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend.  Her life was marked by service, action, love, faith, and intellectual curiosity.  She had a special gift for seeking out those who were overlooked by others and for serving and teaching children. ...

Justina “Tina” Barronborn in Terlingua, Texas. Born to Jesusita Llanes and Rodrigo Vasquez. Brothers Ventura Vasquez(deceased) Francisco Vasquez, Jose Vasquez and sister Andrea Leyvas. Tina’s childhood was spent traveling between Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Her mother was a farmworker and they moved a lot during harvest season. She settled in Hightown, Az where she met her husband J....

Gordon Eugene Gunzelmanwas born in Niagara Falls, New York on September 11, 1931, and went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the age of 91.Gordon enlisted in the Marine Corp on April 25, 1951, at Cherry Point, North Carolina.His service included: Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal...

Norece “Shorty” Hatchpassed peacefully on December 27, 2022, at his home at age 75. Norece was a father of nine children, a grandfather of 43, and a great-grandfather to 14. He was a long-time Gilbert resident, where he met and married Nivla Lamoreaux. Norece owned and operated a successful contracting business for over forty years before his retirement in 2011.Among...

“You are a King!” No words are more fitting to describe our beloved Wesley Eugene Moore. This description came from a nurse, who could not believe the sheer amount of people coming to be by our Patriarch’s side as he neared his final days. Truly, he was one of the wealthiest men on earth and even more so in the...

In Loving Memory of Joni BassettJoni Bassett, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully on November 15th, 2022, at age 57.Born to Robert and Shirley Cameron on May 26th, 1965, in Portland, Oregon. After growing up all over the country including in Oregon, California, Arizona, Mississippi and Utah, she met her sweetheart Greg Bassett in Logan, Utah.They...

Wilma Jean Phillipswent home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 16, 2022. She was 84 years old.Jean was born April 26, 1938, in Pound, Virginia to Delbert and Victoria Kiser. She was one of eight children. She attended school in Pound until she married Verlon Phillips on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1956, and they were married for 68...

A wonderful, loyal, caring and loving friend, sister, mother and grandmother was called to heaven.  Shirley Ann (Fish) Reid, 88, of Sun Lakes, Arizona passed away on December 14, 2022, due to kidney failure.  Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, LCDR VanCleave Reid, Jr, her parents Stanley D and Edythe E Fish and brother Robert Fish.Shirley was born...

Trygve Fekjan, beloved husband,was called home by our Triune God on December 7, 2022; he was 72 years young. Trygve ‘…fought the good fight … finished the race… kept the faith.’ (2 Timothy 4:7) ‘… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…’ (Hebrews 12:1). After many years of living with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a form of...

Marion Marie CardinalOn December 6, 2022, the Lord called our sister Marion Marie Cardinal home.  Born on June 21, 1961, in Marshall, Michigan, she was the 2nddaughter born to Francis and Barbara (Watson) Cardinal.  In 1979, she graduated from Olivet High School in Olivet, MI, and moved to Arizona in 1982.  Graduated community college with AA degree in Childcare, which...

James George Smith, III, MDOn December 8, 2022, Jim was reunited with his eternal companion, Lola.  Jim was born in Teton, Idaho on August 16, 1928 to James G Smith, Jr and Ada Irene Nichols and had 7 siblings.  He was the last of the Smith siblings as all had previously passed.Jim was a well-respected and loved father to Lynda...

In loving memory ofEvelyn Brown1956–2022Evelyn M. Brown, 66, of Chandler, Arizona, passed away after a short illness, in her home with her husband by her side on November 28,2022. She was the 7th child of 8 children born to Ernst and Hildegard Uebel in Wurzburg, Germany. Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents and brother Edmund. She is survived...

Leon Arthur “Art” Tucholski, 90, a long-time resident of Chandler, Arizona, passed away peacefully in his home Thursday morning, November 10, 2022, lovingly surrounded by his wife Nancy, and daughter Janet; his two granddaughters Katie (24) and Abbey (20) were also nearby. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Felicia (Switala) Tucholski, and siblings Edwin, Eugene, Chet,...

Hazel “Lorene” Little, longtime resident of Chandler, AZ passed away on Monday, November 28th, 2022.  She was 94 years old.Lorene was born May 28th, 1928, in Bennington, OK and was one of 10 children to Jasper and Thelma Sanders.  As a young girl, her family moved to Chandler, Arizona where she met and married her sweetheart, William “Denton” Little, where...

Norman David Jones, 74, of Gilbert, AZ passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 27, 2022, and was reunited with his parents Emerson and Virgie (Payne) Jones.  He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Alexa V. (Power) Jones and their 7 children: Amanda (W. David) Ramer, Nathan (Karmen) Jones, Susanna (Ryan) Christensen, Rebecca (Jared) Standage, David (Amanda) Jones, Ryan...

Ross Thomas Straw, 64, a long time resident of Chandler, Arizona, passed away peacefully at Parkland Memory Care on Wednesday morning, November 23, 2022. He is preceded in death by his mother, Martha (Thomas) Straw and his brother Ralph “Tre” Straw III.Ross was born on January 19, 1958, to Ralph & Martha Straw in Odessa, Texas. As a child, he...

Marianne Bealerjoined her husband Charlie in heaven on Nov 19, 2022.  She passed peacefully in her sleep at the Cassia Assisted Living Home in Gilbert Arizona.Born Jan 2, 1932, in Erie Illinois where she was raised by her aunt and lived in Illinois until she met her Charlie.  She married him in 1955 and as Charlie was a member of...

Charles E. Brintonpassed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, 15 November 2022, after suffering a lengthy mental illness. He was 73. Charlie was born in Mesa to Van B. Brinton, Jr. and Ruth Freestone Brinton, the first of seven children. As a Boy Scout in Troop 256, Charlie enjoyed camping, backpacking and working on merit badges, ultimately earning the rank of Eagle,...

Stuart Kenneth Harrah(SKH) was born in Chicago, Illinois to Katherine and Kenneth Harrah on October 5, 1937. His sister Shirley was born in 1942. The family moved to Arizona when Stuart was 10 in an effort to help his mother find relief from her severe arthritis.Stuart graduated from West High School, Phoenix, Arizona, in 1955. He attended Phoenix College for...