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William Verhulst
William Verhulst (Bill) of Cave Creek, Ariz. passed away on May 30, 2013.
He was born September 11, 1942 in Hackensack, N.J. Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a graduate of Arizona State University and an accomplished Country Western drummer during his college days.
He was a high school history teacher with the Paradise Unified School District until retirement and he will be remembered by many of his students as their favorite.
Bill enjoyed reading, camping, hiking and spending time with his family.
Bill is survived by his wife Carol and loving dog Lucky, sons Daren (Mafe), Devin (Amy), grandchildren Alexander, Marisa and Kinzley, sister Ellen (Robert) Eastly, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Desert Foothills Library, P.O. Box 4070, Cave Creek, AZ 85327.
Jean R. Nelson
Jean Rebecca Aidala Nelson, 77, passed away on February 15, 2013.
Jean was born in Manhattan, New York. She lived in Pennsylvania, California and Guam before settling in Arizona. She and her husband have lived in Cave Creek for the past 15 years.
Jean was an officer in the Arizona Kidney Foundation and the Chaine des Rotisseurs. She is survived by her husband, Walter B. Nelson, Jr., a local architect who has been a principal in several Phoenix firms. She is also survived by their niece Allison Brice and family of Douglas, Georgia and her dear friends.
A private memorial has been held. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek, P.O. Box 4070, Cave Creek, AZ 85327.
Frank P. Coughlin
Frank P. Coughlin, 79, father and grandfather, died on January 9, 2013. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Frank Jr. and Patti Coughlin, three daughters, Caroline, Debbie and Donna Coughlin, two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Nicole Coughlin.
Frank was born the son of William and Eileen Coughlin in Dublin, Ireland.
He came to this country in 1958 and settled into the California life where he stayed until 1998 when he moved to Arizona.
Frank was a General Contractor in California and in Arizona did Commercial Construction Management.
He was a strong-willed, self-made man with an extremely hard work ethic.
Frank was a generous, gentle, loving man. He was a natural at sports, an accomplished artist, an avid golfer, played an electronic keyboard, could play a mean game of darts and would recite Irish poetry at the drop of the hat. In his younger years he raced Grand Prix motorcycles.
Frank believed in living “the moment” to its fullest. He will be greatly missed but his spirit will live on in the hearts of so many people whose lives he touched. A memorial is planned for February.
Pamela Tomich Beckert
Pamela Tomich Beckert, 54, of Durango, Colo., passed away on January 15, 2013.
She was born in Akron, Ohio on September 23, 1958.
Pamela is survived by her son Sean Dillman (Jessica Dillman), mother Alta Tomich, brothers James Peebles (JoBeth Peebles) and Preston Peebles (Teri Peebles), nieces Barbara Comstock, Jody Harris and Tisha Suarez, nephews Paul Walker, Michael Walker, James Peebles and Preston Peebles II, along with other family and friends.
Pamela is preceded in death by her father Peter Tomich and sister Marlene Radcliff.
A memorial service for immediate family and friends will be held on February 23, 2013 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Rosemarie Ann (Rosselli) Connery
Rosemarie Ann (Rosselli) Connery, 76, loving wife of 40 years of William Patrick Connery (d. June 24, 2002), passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, Dec. 18 in her home in Carefree.
Rose, as she was affectionately known by so many, spent most of her life in Massachusetts where she leaves cherished family and friends. Born April 28, 1936 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to Thomas and Mary (Scopa) Rosselli, Rose moved to Arizona in 1999 with her husband, Bill and called the desert 'home' for the last 13 years. Rose attended Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Carefree where she was a faithful crafter - volunteering her time, culinary skills and creativity to raise monies for various charities. After her husband's passing in 2002, she became an active volunteer with Foothills Caring Corps where she was much loved and appreciated by the staff, the volunteers, and those she would visit or call on the phone to provide friendship and encouragement.
Rose is survived by her four daughters, Jeanette Begin (Manchester, NH), Patricia Connery (Maynard, MA), Katherine Connery Baltins (Milwaukee, WI) and Joyce Connery Shaw (Gainesville, VA). She will be cherished always as a loving grandmother to Rebecca Rose and Sarah Elizabeth Begin (Manchester, NH) and Jonathan Daniel, Christina Renee, and Ashley Nicole Shaw (Gainesville, VA) as well as a loving mother-in-law to Don Shaw.
Service and reception was held Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree, AZ 85377 (480-488-2081 / www.ctlcarefree.org). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Foothills Caring Corps, Inc., PO Box 831, Carefree, AZ 85377.
Patricia Schlottmann
Pat passed away peacefully October 8, 2012 in her home in Carefree, Ariz. at the age of 77, while surrounded by her family and friends after suffering a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Pat was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She is survived by her loving husband, Herman; daughters, Leslie K. Joyce, Karin Schlottmann-Castillo, Stacey A. Lemiesz, Natalie C. McWhorter, Whitney D. Joyce and Susanne P. Schlottmann. Grandchildren; Claudia Castillo and Ryan McWhorter. In addition to her brother, Charles R. Harris, and sister, Nancy L. Harris, Pat leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Pat was born in Detroit, Michigan May 7, 1935 to Carl Harris and Helen Harris (McCauley). She attended Mackenzie High School (Class of 1953). Pat spent many of her early years in Farmington, Farmington Hills and Pinckney Michigan. She moved to Arizona in 1987 where she and her husband ran an electrical engineering firm (Control Logic, Inc.) until her retirement in 2000.
In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association/Society, Alzheimer’s Association/Society, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or Hospice of Arizona.
Robert Thornley
The memorial service for Robert Thornley, who died October 8, 2012 after a long illness, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Christ Anglican Church, 35500 N. Cave Creek Road (1/2 mile north of the Carefree Hwy. on the west side of Cave Creek Road). Father Dart will conduct the memorial at the cross Robert carved for the church.
Memorial donations may be made to Christ Anglican Church (480-488-0525) to honor Robert where he installed his Cave Creek Cross; P.O. Box 5892, Carefree, AZ 85377.
Nancy Bjorge Hjelm
Nancy Bjorge Hjelm, 59, of Cave Creek, Arizona, formerly of Culbertson, Montana, passed away on September 9, 2012, at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Nancy is predeceased by her parents, Audrey McNeil Ostby and Ralph Bjorge. She is survived by her sister, Carol Frideres; her brother, Don Bjorge; her daughter, Brooke Hjelm; and her daughter’s father, Brock Hjelm.
Nancy was born February 26, 1953, in Culbertson, Montana. She graduated from Culbertson High School in 1971, and went on to study Architectural Drafting at Montana State University in Bozeman prior to her returning to Culbertson to run “the bar, ” or what was previously known under her ownership as The Stagecoach, and later, The Coach.
Nancy spent much of her life as a manager and business owner of the bar in Culbertson, and later also a restaurant and art store/gallery. During this time, she was actively involved in many community events, including yearly Halloween and New Years Eve parties, the Culbertson Centennial, Frontier Days and the Culbertson rodeo, amongst many other activities that kept her busy. She moved to Arizona in 2002 to be closer to her daughter, Brooke, and to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist liaison, connecting Native American, Montana and Southwest art to as many people as possible. She achieved her goals of marketing and selling artwork throughout the Southwest, but more than anything, she was privileged and thankful to have met and become friends with so many artists and talented people.
Nancy was a friend to ALL. She will be remembered as a creative soul with an enormous heart.
There will be two services for Nancy Bjorge Hjelm. A candlelight vigil will be held at 7 p.m. in the historical church located at the Cave Creek Museum in Cave Creek, Arizona, on Thursday, September 20, 2012. Vigil will include a short reception where Beloved friends and artists will have the opportunity to decorate Nancy’s urn so she may take a piece of Arizona with her, and will be followed by a Native American prayer service at about 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Culbertson, Montana, on Saturday, September 29, 2012. Nancy’s ashes will be placed in the Culbertson Cemetery followed by a reception at the church.
For their care and devotion to Nancy, and their immense support of Nancy’s daughter in the past few weeks, Brooke asks that all memorial donations be made to: St. Vincent Hospital Foundation, 455 St. Michael’s Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.
Carol Oliver
Carol Oliver, 57, of Carefree, passed away peacefully on September 3 after a sudden and all-too-rapid bout with cancer.
She was born June 4, 1955 in Buffalo, New York. After her family moved to Carefree, she graduated from Saguaro High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in recreation from the University of Oregon, and a master’s degree in athletic training from Indiana University.
She is survived by her husband Perry Oliver and their son Dell, her mother Claire S. Steigerwald of Carefree, brothers Gary Steigerwald (Anne) of Bloomington, Indiana, and Alan Steigerwald (Janet) of Oakdale, California, sister Laura Howe of Redondo Beach, California, mother-in-law, Marilyn Westley of Scottsdale, brothers-in-law Clint Oliver (Marsha) of Ridgway, Colorado, Bart Oliver (Sharyl) of Gilbert, and numerous nieces and nephews. Last December, she was preceded in death by her father John (Jack) Steigerwald. Carol had served as an athletic trainer, substitute teacher and athletic director at Cactus Shadows High School.
A devoted and beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, she was also an enthusiastic volunteer, school booster, and a cheerful, dynamic presence in her community and in the lives of all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
Timothy “TJ” John Sessums
November 9, 1958 – September 14, 2012
TJ was born in Peterborough, England, to Theodore and Sonja Sessums. As a United States Air Force family, they traveled extensively. After TJ’s graduation from high school in Bellevue, Nebraska, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he attended college at the University of Memphis and enjoyed playing competitive soccer. Following his education he started a thirty four year career with Federal Express as a courier and aircraft mechanic.
It was in Memphis he met and fell in love with Laurie Anne, leading to what would be an almost thirty year marriage. Together, they raised three children Sara McCracken, James McCracken, and Madison Paige Sessums.
In 1999, TJ opted to take a job transfer and moved the family West, making Cave Creek, Arizona their new home.
TJ was a gentle spirit whose loyalty, kindness, and compassion were felt by all those who were lucky enough to have known him. During his battle with cancer, he continued traveling, making memories, and reconnecting with friends and loved ones.
TJ leaves behind his beloved wife Laurie, his two daughters and son, his father Ted Sessums of Santa Paulo, California; two sisters, and countless other family members and friends.
A celebration of TJ’s life will be held on Saturday September 22 at 1 p.m. at El Encanto which is located at 6248 E. Cave Creek Road in the heart of Cave Creek. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.