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Opha Jo Price, 92, died March 20, 2003, in Peoria. She was born in Sinclair, Texas, on April 27, 1910. She married Joe Price in 1929 and came to Ajo in 1940, moving to Bisbee in 1950. After he retirement as cafeteria manager at Fort Huachucha, she returned to Ajo in 1986. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her daughter and other family members. Services were held in a family home in Elfrida.
George V. Sorenson, 80, died April 13, 2003. He was born October 2, 1922, near Willaims, Minnesota. He married his wife, Susan, on June 30, 1949, in Hawley, Minnesota. The couple spent the last ten winters in Ajo. Memorial services were held in the United Methodist Church in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Reginald L. "Chapo" Aroz, 76, died April 28, 2003, in a Tucson hospice. He was born in Ajo on June 1, 1926, to Maria Luisa (Leon) and Rafael Aroz. A lifelong resident, he worked as self-employed laborer. He is survived by his bothers and sisters and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Thurman Thomas Sanders, 86, died April 21, 2003, in Tucson. He was born April 20, 1917, in Hastings, Oklahoma, to Plummer and Lena Sanders. He married Ruby Carlisle in Oklahoma in 1935 and they moved to Ajo about 1945. He worked for Phelps Dodge in the mechanical department until he retired 26 years ago. He and his wife moved to Redington a few years ago to be near family. A private memorial service was planned by the family.
Steven H. Ramon, 75, died April 29, 2003, in Santa Rosa Village. He was born December 10, 1927. He was a longtime resident of Ajo who worked for Phelp Dodge from 1956 until his retiredment in 1983. He is survived by his wife, Jane (Noceo) Ramon and by his children and other family members. Mass was celebrated with burial following in Cababi Village Cemetery.
Eva Mattia died Sunday, May 4, 2003, in a motor vehicle accident on the Tohono O'odham Nation. The Ajo Copper News has not been given further information.
Fred Shoulders Jr., 80, died at his home in Ajo on April 15, 2003. He was born November 18, 1922, in Princeton, Indiana, to Julie Frances (Sancomb) & Fred Shoulders Sr. He first came to Ajo in 1943 and has lived here off and on since 1956. He married Marlene Joyce Richardson on March 1, 1951, in St. Clair, Missouri. While he was in Ajo, he worked for Phelps Dodge, ending his last term of service in 1971. He was a union boilermaker. He is survived by his wife, his sons and daughter, and other family members. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Roberta R. "Soapie" Halel, 87, died April 21, 2003, at the RTA Hospice in Casa Grande. She was born October 24, 1915, in douglas to Montie R. (Gardner) & Robert E. Kelley. She was a homemaker and avid golfer. She is survived by her daughter, her brothes and sisters, and other family members. Memorial services were held at the Ajo County Club.
Diana Bush died April 14, 2003, in Mesa. She was born May 13, 1938, in Iowa to John & Bonnie Mulleneaux. She moved to Ajo as a child in 1945, met and married Bill Bush in 1966, and moved to Scottsdale soon after. She was preceded in death by her husband. she is survived by her daughter and son, her sisters and brothers, and other family members.
Sharon Marie Stace, 59, died March 15, 2003, in Casa Grande. She was born November 23, 1943, in Prairie City, Oregon, to George and Lucille (Justice) Dougharity. She came to Ajo 2.5 years ago and worked as a caregiver. She is survived by her husband, Larry Stace of Ajo, by her daughter and son, and by other family members. Memorial services were held at the Ajo Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah Witnesses.
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 Aguila, 46, died February 23, 2003.
Margaret E. Ross, 79, died April 2, 2003, at her home in Ajo. she was born in Lochiel on May 9, 1923, to Leonor (de Garza) and John F. Eberling. She married Charles Ross on December 24, 1938, in Ajo. she had a variety of careers here, including postmistress of Rowood, rancher, bookkeeper, produce manage, bar owner, and farmer. She was preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by her daughters and other family members. Services were held in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church; burial was next to her husband and son in Ajo Cemetery.
Marina R. Mazon, 82, died March 30, 2003, in Peoria. She was born in Ajo on January 9, 1921, to Gertrudez (Mendez) and Antonio Ramirez. A homemaker, she also worked as a nurse's aide at the New Cornelia Hospital. She moved to Glendale in 1990. She was preceded in death by her husband, Heriberto Mazon, who died in 1988. She is survived by her son, daughter and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; she was buried next to her husband in Ajo Cemetery.
Lorena Turner, 60, died March 20, 2003, at her home in Pearl River, Louisiana. She was born in ajo to Billy and Loree Cole. A longtime resident of Pearl River, she was a receptionist at the LaQuinta Inn. She is survived by her children. Services were held in Louisiana.
Nancy R. Orr, 82, died March 15, 2003, in San Mateo, California. She was born March 1, 1921, in Sheeps Head Bay, New York. She married David H. Orr, Jr., and the two lived in many southern Arizona communities, including Ajo from 1965 to 1978. While here, her husband was mine manager for Phelps Dodge. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her sons and other family members. Graveside services were held in San Mateo.
Eva June Marie Mattia, 32, died May 4, 2003, in a motor vehicle accident. She was born June 6, 1970, to Caroline and Angelo Mattia. A former Ajo resident, she was making her home in Menager's Dam. She worked for the Tohono O'odham Nation Police Department, first as a dispatcher and later as a detention officer. She is survived by her father, her son and daughter, and other family members. Services have been held.
Marvin Z. Silva, 56, died June 20, 2003, in an accident on Highway 85 between Gila Bend and Buckeye. He was born June 27, 1946, in Wailuku Heights, Hawaii, to Thomas A. & Sophie V. Silva. He received a degree in pharmacy from the University of Arizona in 9170 and a degree in secondary education in 1973. He married Barbara Engle of Ajo on June 14, 1969, in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. The couple moved to Ajo from Tucson in 1972. Mr. Silva taught in the Ajo public school for many years, retiring on May 30, 2003. He is survived by his wife, his parents, his sons, and other family members. A memorial service was held in Dicus Auditorium on July 12.
Mae Asmussen Hall, 97, died April 9, 2003, in Phoenix. She was born March 14, 1906, in Coleridge, Nebraska, to Tina (Thompson) and Andrew Christian Asmussen. She married Kenneth R. Hall on June 27, 1935, in Iowa and they moved to Ajo in 1945. She was a teacher for many years and was known as "Mom Hall" to generations of DeMolay boys and most of the rest of the community. She was preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by nieces, nephews, and many friends. Services were held April 14 in the Ajo Federated Church; burial was next to her husband in the Ajo Cemetery.
Janice Lee Snyder, 70, died April 8, 2003. She was born December 30, 1932, in Benton, Kansas, to Clarence & Winnie Wintermote. A retired nurse, she and her husband Jim moved to Ajo in 1990. She is survived by her husband, her daughters and sons, and other family members. Memorial services were held in the Ajo Federated Church on April 13.
Alice Cortez Castillo, 64, died April 11, 2003, in Casa Grande. SHe was born in Phoenix on August 19, 1938, to Juan and Andrea Cortez. She lived in Ajo from many years and was active in in church. She is survived by her daughters and other family members. Mass was celebrated on April 15 in St. Michael Catholic Church in Gila Bend.
Genoveva Ortiz Dorame, 83, died June 7, 2003, in Glendale. She was born November 13, 1919, in Christmas to Maria (Quidera) and Juan Ortiz. She moved to Ajo with her family in 1934 and married Jose G. Dorame on November 19, 1939. In recent years she has made in home in the Phoenix area. She is survived by her husband, daughters and sons, and other family members. Services were held in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Richard D. Harpool, 64, died April 5, 2002, at his home in De Soto, Illinois. She was born December 16, 1937, in Illinois to Frieda (Funk) and Delbert Harpool. After his parents' death, he was raised in Ajo by his grandparents, Lillie & Fred Harpool. He worked for McDonnell-Douglas in Missouri, Olin Corp. in Illinois, and a project manager for several other companies. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Allen Harpool, by his children, stepchildren, and other families members. He is buried in Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort, Illinois.
Judith Sather Johnston died June 10, 2003, in Phoenix. She was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on March 3, 1941. She taught school and worked with her husband, the Rev. Rob Johnston, in his ministry. Until she became ill, she spent weekends in Ajo where he husband was pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her husband, her daughters and son, and other family members.
Robert James Chiono, 79, died June 12, 2003, in Sun City, California. He was born in Morenci on April 10, 1924, to Jim & Louise (Cislaghi) Chiono. He moved to Ajo as a youth and was graduated from Ajo High School. He worked in the machine shop for Phelps Dodge. In 1955 he and his wife moved to Buena Park, California. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Chiono, his sons and daughter, and other family members. Services were held in California.
Eleanor Patricia Keith, 78, died in Scottsdale on July 15, 2003. She was born on her grandfather’s ranch in Rowood, near Ajo, on April 17, 1925, to Susie Alice (Childs) & Wilbur Deming. Her son and daughter and other family members survive her.
Garry Wayne Briggs died July 13, 2003. He was born in Ajo on May 4, 1944, to W.L. “Bill” & Shelly (Bray) Briggs. He was raised here and worked for Phelps Dodge as a machinist. He married Ora Latham on September 26, 1964. On December 28, 1995, he married Joyce (Hamilton) Blythe of Douglas, Wyoming, and the two made their home in Glenrock, Wyoming. His wife, his mother, his son & daughter, and other family members survive him.
Raymond L. Carson, 70, died July 5, 2003, at his home in Eager. He was born April 7, 1933, in Bernie, Missouri. He worked for the Phoenix Police Dept. for four years and then became an Arizona Highway Patrol officer in 1965. He was stationed in Gila Bend and Ajo and made many friends in both communities. He later serviced a short stint at the State Liquor Board. In his later years, he was a minister. He is survived by his wife, Vickie Carson, his children, and other family members. Services were held July 11 at Faith Community Church in Tucson with a memorial service in Eager on July 19.
Helen T. Rendon, 86, died August 22, 2003, in Phoenix. She was born January 14, 1917, in Phoenix to Carmen (Grijalva) and Fermin Trejillo. She married Manuel Rendon in Visalia, California, in 1932. She is remembered by many as proprietor of Rendon’s Café. She was preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by her sons, daughters, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on August 28; burial was in Ajo Cemetery next to her husband.
Shirley Lorene Stewart, 71, died September 17, 2003, in Arkansas. She was born September 27, 1932, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Thelen and Arline (Domke) Wagner. She was a nurse and worked at New Cornelia Hospital for several years; she later worked abroad, retiring from nursing in 1985 in Saudi Arabia. She made Ajo her retirement home. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.D. Stewart. She is survived by her daughters and other family members. Services were held in St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
