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Evelyn A. Litviak
1911-2004
Evelyn A. Litviak of Willcox died March 16, 2004 at the age of 92. She was born on March 17, 1911 in Chicago, Ill. to Adolph Edward and Bertha (Skala) Johnson.
Evelyn moved to Willcox from Tucson in 1989.
Survivors include her daughter Shirley Ann Lichter of Willcox; and her brothers Elmer and Eddie Johnson, both of Chicago, Ill. Also surviving are six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was her husband, parents and a son David.
Memorial services were held Saturday, March 20, beginning at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of Willcox.
Cremation was conducted at Westlawn Crematorium. Contributions may be made to the Northern Cochise Nursing Home, 901 W. Rex Allen Dr., Willcox, Ariz., 85643.
Services were under the direction of Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematorium of Willcox.
Nadine Mullins
1923 -2004
Nadine Mullins of Willcox died March 15, 2004 in Tucson at the age of 80. She was born in Henryetta, Okla. on December 25, 1923.
Nadine came to Willcox 40 years ago and was a foster parent for more than 25 years.
Survivors include her sons James (Michelle), Bill, Cecil and Robert, all of Willcox; along with eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death was her parents, Jess and Goldie Partin; her husband Grant "Moon" Mullins; and a daughter Patricia.
Memorial services were held Monday, March 22, at 10 a.m. at Westlawn Chapel. Burial of her cremains followed in Sunset cemetery.
Services were under the direction of Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematorium of Willcox.
Mary Evelyn (Mangam) Wootan
1920-2004
Another pioneer is lost to us. Mary Evelyn (Mangam) Wootan, a third-generation native of Willcox, was born March 31, 1920, and passed away in Lake Havasu City, on May 19, 2004.
Her beloved husband, Joseph F. Wootan, Jr., to whom she was married for 60 years (31 of which were spent in Willcox), and sons, Lewis Dale and Donald Robert, preceded Mary in death, as did her parents and a half sister, Jewel Summers. She is survived by daughters Millie (Lee) Barnes of Lake Havasu and Mary Jo (Bill) Page of Cave Creek; a great-grandson, Brandon Wootan, whom she and Joe helped raise, six grandchildren - Deanna (Tom) Bastian, Darla (Brian) Walschburger, Lew, Jr., Joseph, and Kevin Wootan; & Leslie Rene Wootan, 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mary and Joe farmed in the Steward District in the late'40s and early '50s, before moving into Willcox where Mary worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell, and in 1958 in bookkeeping for Valley National Bank (Bank One). She trained many of the Willcox graduates who entered the banking industry.
In 1971, Mary transferred to the Oracle-Grant Branch in Tucson, where she was promoted to assistant manager. She retired from VNB in 1979. They lived in Tucson until Joe passed away Dec. 23, 2000.
Because of health problems, Mary moved to Lake Havasu City, to be cared for by her eldest daughter, Millie (Lee) Barnes, and her great-grandson, Brandon Wootan, who is being raised by Millie and Lee.
Growing up, Mary attended many schools in Arizona, graduating from Gila Bend as valedictorian of her class in only three years. Willcox, however, was always home, and in-between school, she always returned to spend summers in Willcox with her "other mom," Bertha Boyd, and cousins Betty (Wootan), Bud Boyd, and Barbara (Cookerly).
Mary's family came to Cochise County in the 1860s, where her grandfather, a soldier stationed at Ft. Grant, fought and was killed by Apache Indians. Her grandmother moved to Willcox, where she had a home built on a lot directly east of the Rex Allen Railroad Park. Their children and grandchildren were born and raised in that house, which eventually was willed to a granddaughter, Bertha Boyd. Mary's mother, Lena McMeans, lived on the lot next to it. The original house stood for over a hundred years, until recently condemned and torn down.
She and Joe spent their retired years traveling, camping and fishing, visiting family and friends, enjoying their Tucson home and raising beautiful roses. Mary was a forty-plus-year member of Eastern Star (Willcox and later Benson), and a member of the Vallebanqueroes in Tucson. She still has many friends and family, young and old, who still reside in Willcox.
Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Rd. in Tucson.
Chapel services will follow at noon at East Lawn Palms Mortuary. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Havasu, P.O. Box 597, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 86405 in thanks for their caring professionals who greatly eased her passing.
Arrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory, Lake Havasu City.
Emogene Williams
1928-2004
Emogene Williams passed away May 22, 2004 at home in Plano, Texas at the age of 75. Emogene was born Nov. 26, 1928 in Appleton, Ark., the third of four children of Walter and Flaura Elam.
She is survived by her husband, Odis; two children: son, Brian and wife Jackie, daughter, Barbara and husband Carl; three grandchildren, Ryan, Becky, and Valerie; and sister, Ruby Sams.
Odis and Emogene moved to Willcox in 1961 from Morrilton, Ark. Emogene received her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Arizona in 1968. Emogene was a Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and Mother Advisor to the Willcox Chapter of Rainbow Girls. A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, Emogene was a respected teacher at Willcox Elementary School for 27 years, retiring in 1988.
Emogene was active in her community through the Northern Cochise Community Hospital Auxiliary and Women's Golf League. Odis and Emogene moved to Plano, Texas at Christmas of 1997, where she lived near her son and daughter.
Memorial Services will be held Thursday, May 27, at Ted Dickey Funeral Home, 2128 18th St., Plano, Texas, 75074.
Eugene H. Woods
1925-2004
Eugene (Gene) H. Woods, 78, died July 13, 2004. He was born Sept. 28, 1925, in Torrance, Calif., to Lonnie and Nellie Woods.
The Woodses moved their family, when Gene was four years old, to a ranch in Lyons Valley, southeast of San Diego. Mr. Woods always loved the life he and his three brothers lived on the ranch.
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Mr. Woods moved to Willcox, where he married his wife of 57 years, Betty Faye Byrd. He spent a few years traveling with his wife while while working with AT&T. After having two daughters, he transferred to Pacific Telehone in California. He retired from PACBell Escondido, Calif., in 1980.
While living in Escondido, the Woodses got involved in off-road racing during the sports inception. Mr. Woods raced in the Baja 500 twice, the Mexican 1000 and three Mint 400s, plus several other small competitive races. When the sport became too commercialized, he turned his talent toward woodcarving. He had carved his own toys as a child on the ranch. He specialized in carving eagles and Indians, and won many ribbons and awards showing his work in different art shows. Many of his pieces have been sold privately and many pieces he has given to family and friends.
After retiring, the Woodses lived in few places, finally settling in Payson.
Survivors include his wife Betty; two daughters, Connie Siplyak of Cardiff, Calif. and Sandra (Dennis) Kirksey of Payson; five grandchildren, Stacy Napolitano, Michael (Katie) Siplyak, Adam (Lisa) Siplyak, Jacob (Wendy) Siplyak and Gina Miller; three great-grandchildren, Cassie, Joey and Shelby; brothers, Don (Annalee) Woods of Jacumba, Calif., and Richard (Gloria) Woods of Cody, Wyo.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Oscar.
A memorial service was held at Friday, July 16, at 11 a.m., at Payson United Methodist Church, 414 N. Easy St.
Arrangements were handled by Messinger Payson Funeral Home.
John L. McKay
1955-2004
John L. McKay, of Pearce-Sunizona, died July 24, 2004, at the age of 48.
He was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sept. 23, 1955, to Terry T. and Elsie T. (Eddy) McKay.
John served in the U.S. Air Force and was a technician for Motorola Corp for 18 years.
He moved to Sunizona three years ago. John was currently the owner and operator of Ash Creek Computer and was the designer of the web page Cochisecounty.com.
On Sept. 1, 1984, in Las Vegas, Nev., he married Iva McGrath.
Survivors include his wife Iva of Sunizona; son Kevin Barrett of Gilbert; and his mother Elsie McKay of Phoenix.
Also surviving are his brothers, Richard, Tom and Howard; and his sisters, Cheryl Bean and Marian McKay, along with a granddaughter Nicole Donahue.
A memorial gathering was held on Sunday, August 1, at his home.
Cremation was conducted at Westlawn Crematorium.
Arrangements were under the direction of Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematorium of Willcox.
Bruce A. Erickson
1926-2004
Bruce A. Erickson went to be with the Lord, August 1, 2004. Bruce was born in Portland, Ore., on March 17, 1926.
He was preceded in death by his previous wife of 35 years, Barbara Erickson, of Hood River, Ore. He is survived by his wife, Adela Erickson of Oro Valley; children; Gail Erickson and Mark Erickson of Portland, Ore.; granddaughter, Leslie Swanson (Sean); two great-granddaughters, Aryana and Kyrin of Cottage Grove, Ore.; one grandson, John Mark; brother Kenneth Erickson (Joan) and nephew Luke and niece Angie; sister Linda Jenson (Marty) and nieces Jill and Wendy; also five step-children: Cheryl Barnes, Carol Bouldin, Loretta Landwerlen, Vincent Fiore and Elaine Fiore.
Six grandchildren: Kristin, Courtney, Candace, Aaron, Brandon and James, also survive him.
Bruce served his country during World War II with the U. S. Navy. He was city administrator of Hood River, Ore., for 25 years. He belonged to the Elks Lodge, Cochise Stronghold Lions, American Legion, the World and National Left-handed Golf Association, and Shadow Mtn. Men's club. He loved his golf, traveling and helping the community of Sunsites.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ALS Association (Lou Gehrig's disease), 5040 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 151, Scottsdale, Ariz., 85254 in his memory, or to ADOPT A FAIRWAY, 326 Sage Rd., Pearce, Ariz., 85625.
Memorial service will be held at the Community Senior Center on Treasure Road, Sunsites, on Saturday, August 14, at 11 a.m.
Berniece "Bea" Willcox
1930 -2004
Berniece "Bea" Willcox, of Pearce-Sunsites, died Oct. 8, 2004, in Tucson at the age of 74.
Bea was born on July 6, 1930, in Loveland, Colo., to Charles and Otha (Lee) Magruder.
She moved to Yuma in 1967, then moved to Douglas in 1968 until 1980, when she moved to Sierra Vista. There, she was manager of the Southeastern Arizona Federal Credit Union and retired in 1996, when she moved to Sunsites.
Bea was charter member of Faith Presbyterian Church and Choir in Sierra Vista, a former member of PEO, attended Willcox United Methodist Church, and was a volunteer with the Friends of the Library in Sunsites.
In 1951 in Greeley, Colo., she married Ray Willcox.
Survivors include her husband Ray of Sunsites; son Rich (Diane) of Sequim, Wash.; daughters Renee (Doug) Johnson of Spring City, Utah, and Rhonda Martin of Sierra Vista.
Also surviving are her grandchildren Tara and Ray Johnson; her sisters Margarite (Sam) Wagner of Denver, Colo., and Joan (Paul) Stedhome of Sunsites; and her brother Ken Magruder of Sunsites.
Preceding her in death was her parents.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m., at the Sunsites Senior Community Center.
Contributions may be made to the Willcox United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 307, Willcox, Ariz., 85644.
Arrangements were under the direction of Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematorium of Willcox.
