Obituaries

Barbara Joyce Power, 65 years old, passed away March 20thin Tempe, Arizona.  She was born in Mesa, Arizona July 22, 1953, to Kent Jackson Power and Joyce Hicks, the third child out of four.  Barbara grew up on Power Road in Higley, AZ.  She attended Higley Elementary, where she was the valedictorian of her class.  Afterwards, she attended Chandler High...

William David Hollister, Born 8/14/1941 in Danbury, CT, died 3/19/2019 in Gilbert, AZ. Survived by his daughters, Dawn Teachout of Iowa, Cheryl Joyce of Apache Junction, Az, Jody Garrett of Florence, AZ and son David Hollister of Colorado. He had 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He retired from the United States Post Office after 30 years of service, first in...

Kenneth D. Bell, age 49, passed away unexpectedly on March 13, 2019 in Mesa, AZ.  He was born October 30, 1969 in Lock Haven, PA to Kenneth M. and Pamela (Kingery) Bell.  Ken grew up in Woolrich, PA before moving to Lakeland, FL in his teen years.  He graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, FL in 1989.  After...

John Louis Pickens, 69, departed this life on March 11, 2019 at The Villa Hospice. He was born on September 27, 1949 in Anderson, SC to the late Richard and Mable Pickens. He graduated from New Deal High School in Starr, SC. He was a member of the Generostee Baptist Church and attended Sunday School and Baptist Training Activities.He received...

Janet Marie ForteLove of family and friends is the theme of Janet’s life. As one of twelve siblings, the tests that came with sharing space and parent, led her to prioritize love of family over self. Anyone that was ever touched by her instinctively felt the warmth that emanated from her and if that didn’t win you over, her contagious...

Eugene McCray, Jr., 83, died peacefully at home in Chandler, Arizona on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. Eugene was born in Indianola, MS and raised in Greenville, Mississippi. He will be fondly remembered by his children, Sandra Boyd, Reginald McCray, Cedric (Angela) McCray and Adriane (Norman) Jones. He is survived by a brother, Carl (Jeri) McCray, a sister, Dorothy Fort, along...

George Bock RansdellRufus and Mildred Ransdell of Seattle Washington gave birth to George Bock Ransdell on January 9th 1943.  He spent  his childhood in Seattle along with sister Linda Ransdell Gurnari, graduating from West Seattle High School in 1961.  Following graduation, George joined the military serving in Germany and Fort Knox.  In 1963, George married classmate Joan Frances Pickart, together...

James Robert Williams Jr.was called home on February 26th, 2019, at 8:58 pm. He was born on August 11, 1961 to James R. “Bob” and Lydia, and was the oldest of 4 boys. Born in Biloxi, MS, James traveled the world in his youth as a result of his father’s military service. He and his family moved to Phoenix, AZ...

Lynne Carol (Cox) Brookswas born to Orin J. Cox and E. Ruth Cox on September 24, 1944 in Berkeley, California. She called California home along with her parents and only sister Elaine (Cox) Ells; until she met Will Dallas Brooks Jr. (Bill) at Pasadena College in Pasadena, California.Lynne and Bill were married in Van Nuys, California on March 27th 1965,...

Ernest Dillihay, 93, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Affectionately known as “Ernie” by family and friends, Ernie was an active and devoted member of his community and church.While stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, Ernie, a WWII Army Air Corps member, met his first wife, Betty, an enlistee in the Women’s Army Corps...

Clytie Mae Fleetwood, 96, passed away peacefully February 21, 2019, at her home in Sun Lakes, Arizona, surrounded by her devoted children following a brief illness.Born in Tokio, Terry County, Texas, and raised in eastern New Mexico, she was the only daughter of Andrew Quincy and Lillie Helmer Smith.  She met her husband, Haldon Thomas Fleetwood, in Clovis, New Mexico,...

Brenda Rae Whisenant (Gibson) completed her earthy mission on February 18th2019,Brenda is survived by her loving husband Troy of 28 years. Her parents, Patricia and Nolan Gibson of Gold Canyon, Brothers Scott and Rodney. children, Joshua (21) Tyler (18) Charly(15) and Allie (14). Brenda was born on September 26, 1968. She graduated from Washington High school in 1986.  She attended...

Shirley Toya Yokom, a long-time resident of the Queen Creek area, died suddenly on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019, at Mercy Gilbert Hospital, in Gilbert, Arizona.Shirley was born in 1931. She was the second child of four children, born to Shirley and Felix Vivas of Pasadena, California.Shirley enjoyed dancing, mischief making, and always had a good story to tell. She...

Bernadine S. (Hanson) Gillespassed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, February 11, 2019 at the age of 93. Bernadine was born in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin on December 16, 1925 to Alice F. (Phillips) and Axel W. Hanson. Bernadine married Bernard C. Gilles on August 20, 1946.Bernadine is survived by her sons Michael (Michelle), Bernard (Alice), daughter in-laws Dolores and...

Floyd Dale Beans, 92, passed away February 16, 2019 in Chandler, AZ.  He was born January 5, 1927 in Greybull, WY to Guy and Cora (Fouts) Beans.  His family moved to Lexington, Nebraska in 1933 and he grew up there on the farm, graduating in 1946 from Lexington High School.The day after graduation, he left for the service and spent...

Anita “NIki” Rainhadied unexpectedly on 2/9/19 at Chandler Regional Medical Center Chandler, AZ.She was born 12/2/1946 in Clearfield, PA ,the daughter of Guy T. Smeal and Dorothy Grubb Smeal of Clearfield, PA.Niki graduated from Bradford High School Class of 1964. Following graduation she worked as a secretary at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT, and also operated her...

Joan Margaret Cahoy, 90, of Sun Lakes, Arizona and formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away on February 12, 2019. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mayme Sheehan, two brothers, Robert and Leslie Sheehan and sister, Marie Sheehan and grandson, Ryan McMullan. She is survived by her husband Dr. Harold Cahoy, whom she married in 1958 and...

Ramona Reyes Florespassed away on February 10, 2019. She was born in Guadalupe, Arizona on February 29, 1940. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, nana, great nana, and friend. She is survived by her 8 children Arthur, Lydia, Eddie, Ernie, Mary Carmen, Mary Lou, Esther, and Raymond. She is also survived by her sisters, Frances Castro, Connie Martinez,...

Shirley Ann (Jones) Wilkinsonof Chandler, Arizona, was born on Sept. 9, 1935 at the United Verde Hospital, now known as the Grand Hotel, in her beloved Jerome, Arizona. She passed away at age 83 on Jan. 20, 2019 in Chandler, a resident of the city for 60 years. Shirley was the daughter of the late “Peggy” Iris Estelle Jones and...

Conway Thomas Ryan(89) died on February 1stafter bravely battling multiple illnesses. He lived at his home in Chandler with his wife Mary until his death. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Dr. Martin Joseph and Kathleen Conway Ryan. He was a graduate of Central High School in Sioux City, Loras Academy in Dubuque, Iowa, Creighton University in Omaha,...