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Joseph Alonzo Garcia, 78, died September 21, 2003, at a hospice in Casa Grande. He was born in Ajo on October 19, 1924, to Carmen and Victoriano Garcia. He grew up here and lived in Ajo most of his life. He married Alvenita Celaya on December 1, 1956, in St. Catherine's Church in Ajo. He worked as a miner for Phelps Dodge, retiring in 1980. At the time of his death he was living in Chui Chu. He is survived by his wife, his sons and daughters, and other family members. Services were held at Darby Wells on September 26; burial was in Darby Wells Cemetery.
Victor Parsons, 74, died Sunday, September 7, 2003. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma, on June 17, 1929, the son of WJ. And Jesse Irene Parsons. A onetime Ajo resident, he worked for Phelps Dodge as a boilermaker and welder. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Parsons, and by his daughter and other family members. No services are being held at his request.
Henry Heiss, 79, known to his friends as Hank, died August 27, 2003, in Portland, Oregon. He was born In Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on November 5, 1924, to Frank and Frances Heiss. He married his wife, Sally Christie, on June 25, 1946. He was a watchmaker and jeweler. They came to Ajo about seven years ago, moving to Lake Havasu when he became seriously ill. He is survived by his wife and children and other family members.
Paul Joseph Carolan Sr., 86, died June 8, 2003, in Mesa. He was born July 6, 1916, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He moved to Tucson and then to Ajo in the 1940s and worked in personnel for Phelps Dodge for over 35 years. After his retirement, he and his wife Audrey moved to Green Valley. He was preceded in death by his wife and one son. He is survived by his sons and other family members. Services were held in Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Green Valley on June 12.
Margie M. Russell, 86, died June 14, 2003, in Phoenix. She was born April 19, 1917, in Shamrock, Texas. She moved to Ajo where she met George R. Russell whom she later married. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sons. She is survived by her daughter and other family members. Services were held In Church of Christ Northwest in Phoenix on June 18; burial was in Desert View Cemetery in Phoenix.
Jesus Galvan Santiago, 84, died in Tucson on June 16, 2003. He was born in Ajo on May 21, 1919, and lived here the first 24 years of his life. He moved to California and made a career in the US Postal Service. After the death of his wife Gilberte in 1977, he moved back to Ajo. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on June 20; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Ramiro V. Gonzalez, 8, died in Tucson on June 17, 2003. He was born in Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, on August 22, 1921. He came to Ajo in 1921 and lived here the rest of his life. He worked as a truck driver for Phelps Dodge before retiring. He was preceded in death by his wife Bertha. He is survived by his sos, daughter, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on June 21; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Luz C. Lopez, 90, died July 21, 2003, in Tucson. She was born October 21, 1912, in Sonoyta, Mexico, to Tomasa (Duran) and Reyes Carrasco. She married Francisco Lopez in Sonoyta in 1949 and moved to Ajo the same year. She was preceded in death by her husband. Her sons and daughter, stepsons and stepdaughter, and other family members survive her. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on July 24; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery next to her husband.
Alfred Lee Schneck, 75, died July 11, 2003, in Mesa. He was born November 23, 1927, in Savanna, Illinois, and later moved to Ajo with his family. He was a founding partner of the Ajo Camber Company, owned a television repair service, and worked as a copper minter. He moved to Mesa after retiring and worked at the Mesa Temple. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Schroder Enders; he is survived by his wife Dee Schneck, by his son and daughters, his stepchildren, and other family members. Graveside services were held July 26 in the Ajo Cemetery.
William Distler, 85, died July 4, 2003. He was born in Denver, Colorado. He was a mining engineer who retired as president of AMAX’s molybdenum division. He was married to Della Cole, a former Ajo resident, for over fifty years until her death in 1995. He was a resident of Scottsdale. He is survived by his second wife, Marie Distler, by his son and daughters, his stepdaughter, and other family members. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
John Boesenberg, 77, died at his home in Olympia, Washington, on July 30, 2003. He was born March 24, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1974 and then worked for the Clallam County sheriff’s Dept. in Washington. He came to Ajo from Washington in 1990 and lived here for thirteen years. He is survived by his sons and daughter and other family members. At his request, no service will be held for Mr. Boesenberg.
LaLoni L. Taylor died August 7, 2003, in Mesa. She was born in Ajo on December 3, 1946, to Claude & Virginia Flanary. She married Scott Taylor in 1963 and the family moved to Phoenix in 1968. She worked in the semi-conductor industry for over 30 years. She is survived by her mother, husband, daughter, sons, and other family members. At her request, no formal services are being held.
Weldon B. Corn, 83, died August 29, 2003, in Mesa. He was born July 15, 1920, in Baird, Texas, to Emily Annie (Bradley) and George Houston Corn. He came to Ajo from Texas in 1941. He married Claudine Lovell on March 20, 1942. He worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation and was a drill repairman when he retired in 1977. He is survived by his wife, his sons and daughter, and other family members. Services were held September 4 at the Ajo Church of Christ; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Gerald P. Bullock, 78, died July 8, 2003, in Peoria. He was born January 16, 1925, to Cliff and Mary (McMahon) Bullock, in Helena, Montana. He worked for Anaconda Copper Wire & Cable Company in Great Falls, Montana, for thirty years. He spent much of his retirement in Ajo. His brothers and other family members survive him.
Ina Belle Cooper, 94, died at her home in Ajo on September 23, 2003. She was born December 12, 1908, in Mangum, Oklahoma, to Jessie Mae (Wilson) and Martin L. Nelson. She married Talmadge Ray “Buck” Cooper in Hobart, Oklahoma on November 9, 1929. They came to Ajo from Oklahoma and lived here the rest of their lives. Mrs. Cooper worked at the school cafeteria for over twenty years. She was preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by her son and other family members. Graveside services were held in the Ajo Cemetery.
Elmer Griggs, 92, of Ajo, died in a Casa Grande hospice on September 24, 2003. He was born January 11, 1911, in Lordsburg, California, to Allen and Blanche (Standley) Griggs. he worked in California and Nevada in construction and in title & escrow. He moved to Why in 1989, He is survived by his companion, Bobbie Hargis, by his sons, and by other family members. At his request, there were no services.
Zobeida Campos, 34, died September 18, 2003, in Buckeye. She was born in Sonoyta, Mexico, on February 7, 1969, and brought to Ajo as a little girl. She began elementary school here; the family later moved to Gila Bend where she was graduated from high school. She married Manuel Campos in 1993. She worked as a receptionist in the Westside Medical Building in Goodyear. She was preceded in death by two children. She is survived by her husband, daughters, parents, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in St. Henry Catholic Church in Buckeye.
Timothy Jody Collins, 35, known to his friends as Bodie, died September 23, 2003, in Chandler. He was born July 14, 1968, in Sells to Charles Michael Collins and Jean T. Childs. He lived in Ajo his first 18 years and then moved to Chandler. He was a masonry worker. He is survived by his mother & stepfather, his father, his and daughter, and other family members. Services were held in Ajo First Assembly of God Church; burial was at Childs Cemetery.
Hattie Louise Guthrie, 85, known to most of her friends as Red, died September 29, 2003, in Chandler. She was born January 1, 1918, in Douglas to Mary Sue (Kelley) and Hyson James Johnson. She married James D. “Dokie” Guthrie on June 23, 1934. A longtime Ajo resident, she spent the last five years in Chandler due to health problems. She was preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by he daughters and other family members. Services were held in Douglass Funeral Home; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery next to her husband.
Walter August Zitlau, 91, died October 7, 2003, at his home in El Cajon, California. He was born June 7, 1912, to Peter and Gertrude (Fogelin) Laugerfeldt eight days after his father died in an accident on the family homestead near Douglas. He was brought to Ajo by his mother as a toddler and took the name of his stepfather, Emil Zitlau. He worked after college in the Ajo power plant and later went to work for San Diego Gas and Electric, becoming the company's president and CEO before retiring in 1975. He never forgot his Ajo roots and sponsored an annual scholarship for an AHS graduate. He is survived by his second wife, Jackie, by his son and daughter, and many other family members. The family is honoring his request that there be no services; his ashes will be scattered in the Ajo area.
Ysidora Dorame, 82, died in Tucson on October 26, 2003. She was born in Tombstone on April 4, 1921, to Jesus and Guadalupe (Gomez) Lopez. She came to Ajo from Patagonia in 1947 and, in 1953, married Arturo Dorame. She was preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by her son and daughters and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in Ajo Cemetery.
Maxine Annabelle McClenny Rasmussen died October 18, 2003, at her daughter's home in Payson. She was born in Ajo on January 9, 1928, to Geneva (Guinn) and Homer McClenny. She grew up here and was an Ajo High School graduate. She became an administrative secretary and real estate broker and held several responsible positions in many different cities. Returning to Ajo, she became the administrator of the Ajo Community Health Center and was the first president of the board of directors of Ajo Ambulance. She retired and moved to Lakeside to run a family travel park before moving to Payson. She is survived by her children and many other family members. Memorial services were held in Ajo Federated Church on November 29; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Ray Nelson, 80, died March 18, 2003, in Paso Robles, California. He was born in ducke, Oklahoma. During the 1940s, he lived in Ajo and worked for Phelps Dodge. Interment was private.
Robert B. Hastert, 57, died October 6, 2003, at a Tucson hospital. He was born January 13, 1946, in Everette, Washington, to Martha (Meyers) & Roger Hastert. He was a photographer. He came to Ajo from Washington in 1995 and married Pamela De La Zerda on December 22, 1995. He is survived by his wife, his mother, his son, daughter, stepsons, and other family members. Memorial services were held at the Ajo Country Club driving range.
Ted Szymczak, 51, died August 31, 2003, at his home in Why. He was born in Hamtramck, Michigan, on January 28, 1952, to Antonia (Lagiewczyk) and Marion Szymczak. Though his given name was Thaddeus, everyone knew him as Ted. His first career was as a gunsmith, a skill he carried over into his second career as a US Border Patrol agent. In 1971 he visited his family's hometown in Poland where he met Teresa Michalak, whom he married. He is survived by his wife, his sister and brothers, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in on September 5, burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Ernest Raymond Hawes II, 46, died September 2, 2003, in Casa Grande. He was born in Ajo on June 28, 1857, to Shirley (Mason) and Ernest R. Hawes I. Known as Ray to his friends, he grew up here and was a graduate of Ajo High School. He was employed in the funeral industry. He is survived by his daughter and other family members. Mass was recited in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on September 12; burial was in Ajo Cemetery.
Maria Eliza Valenzuela, 52, died September 5, 2003, in Phoenix. She was born in Jalisco, Mexico, on February 8, 1951, to Josefina (Ortega) and Refugio Aguila. She married Jose F. Valenzuela on March 15, 1969, in Ajo. She moved to Ajo from California in 1993. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her sons and daughters and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on September 11; burial was next to her husband in Ajo Cemetery.
Jesus C. Mesquita, 80, died February 9, 2004, in Goodyear. He was born in Ajo on December 25, 1923, to Rosa (Carreras) and Jose Mesquita. He serviced in the Navy during World War II. He married Dolores Gonzales. He worked for Phelps Dodge as a gas car operator. He was preceded in death by his wife. He is survived by his son, daughter, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in Ajo Cemetery.
Edna G. Reaves, 82, died in Sun City West on February 9, 2004. She was born in Foreman, Arkansas, on August 2, 1921, to Mollie (Willson) and Finis Alexander. She married Eugene Reaves on March 17, 1946, in Coleman, Texas. They moved to Ajo in 1953. She worked for Tucson Cornelia & Gila Bend Railroad and then transferred to Ajo Improvement. She is survived by her husband, daughter, and other family members. Services were held in Ajo Calvary Baptist Church; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
Linda Ann Muñoz, 45, died February 11, 2004, in Hobbs, New Mexico. She was born August 17, 1958, in Ajo to Pete and Edna Moreno. She was a 1976 graduate of Ajo High School. She married Bobby V. Muñoz in Bullhead City. They lived in Hobbs, New Mexico. She was employed by Texaco as a senior technician for 24 years. She is survived by her husband, her children, and other family members. Mass was celebrated in St. Helena's Catholic Church; burial was at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Hobbs.
