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Samuel “Sammy” Montoya
Samuel “Sammy” Montoya, 88, of Flagstaff died on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the Loyalton Assisted Living under the care of his children and Hospice Compasses. Mr. Montoya was born on January 29, 1922 in Flagstaff to Atilano and Selfa (Sevedra) Montoya. Some of his first jobs were working as a Molder Operator and Grader. He entered into the U.S. Army in November, 1942 where his occupation was a laborer and attained the rank of Pfc. Quartermaster Corps and he was a qualified Sharpshooter. He served at Bismarck, Admirality Islands, New Guinea and the Philippines. His many decorations include a World War II Victory Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon with a bronze battle star and Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with three bronze battle stars. He was honorably discharged in July 1945. He continued to support the armed services by being an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1709 and the American Legion Post 3. Mr. Montoya was a well respected carpenter in Flagstaff for many decades. Mr. Montoya’s hobbies included fishing, hunting and woodworking. He loved listening to music, but country and Mexican music were his favorite. Overall his family was most important to his life. He is preceded in death by his wife Jennie Montoya in 1993, 2 sisters and 2 brothers. He is survived by his children Delano “Lonnie” Montoya of Flagstaff, Yolanda (Doug) Powell of Phoenix, 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and his brother Adrian (Grace) Jones of Mesa, along with numerous other relatives.
An evening vigil and holy rosary will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 7:00 pm with a funeral mass held on Monday, April 26, 2010 at 10:00 am, both held at St. Pius X Center, 2257 E. Cedar Ave. Following services, he will be laid to rest next to his wife, at Citizens Cemetery, 1300 S. San Francisco St. Veterans section. Veteran honors will be rendered by Sammy’s comrades and friends of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1709, American Legion Post 3, Marine Corps League, San Francisco Detachment 912, Scottish American Military Society Post 2000 and Military Order of Purple Heart, Dale E. Crick Post 793.
Gaby Riddle
On April 16, 2010, my beloved and cherished wife of 37 years, Gaby Riddle, died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by friends and family. My wife was born Gabrielle K. Hurler in Stuttgart, Germany on March 10, 1951. Before moving to the United States in 1965, she and her family lived in Toronto, Canada. Gaby graduated from concord High School in Concord, CA, in 1969. She and I met at First Baptist Church in 1970 while working with the Youth group and married on June 2, 1973. In 1989 my wife and I moved to Flagstaff, where Gaby worked full-time as an instructional aide for Flagstaff Unified School District while completing a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education in 1999. She graduated with highest honors and was a member of the Gold Key Honor Society. After teaching for three years on the Navajo Reservation in Pinon she spent three years as a Special Education Instructor at Coconino High School. Gaby was a published poet, and she and I loved concerts, musical performances, traveling, and our two Cocker Spaniels Molly and Margeaux, who miss her daily.
She joins her parents Gertrud and Matthew Hurler in the arms of our Lord.
Gaby leaves behind her loving husband Doug of Flagstaff, AZ, sisters Lorraine (Rick) Renno of Red Bluff, CA and Bernice (Joe) Hurler-Favels of Cottonwood, CA, her brother-in-law Gary Riddle and his wife Debbie of Vacaville, CA, her niece, Christina Riddle, and nephews Nathan Riddle, and Jason and Matthew Davis.
Gaby was my one and only and the love of my life. My hope and prayer is that the light she brought to my life continues to shine for the educators, musicians, and children whose many lives she touched. May she rest peacefully now.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Gaby’s life will be held on June 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Main auditorium at Coconino High School. A memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Northern Arizona University. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gabrielle K. Riddle Memorial Scholarship Fund, #5240 c/o NAU Foundation, PO Box 4094, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4094
Jessie Smith Raponi
Born Jessie Alexander on February 7, 1976. Jessie was a remarkable woman who was admired and loved by everyone whose life she touched. Jessie’s warmth, energy, and family focus drew people to her throughout her life.
Born while Jessie was married as a young woman to Chris Harper, Jessie’s daughter Kyla was the foundation of a loving family. Later while married to Kirk Smith, daughters Kayla Smith and Madison Smith joined the circle. A few years after Kirk’s death, Jessie married Dan Raponi, and Dan’s children Isabella and Anthony Joseph were wrapped in Jessie’s affection and care. An active family, the extended group enjoyed camping and four-wheeling.
A life time resident of Flagstaff, Jessie was known to many as a caring and professional massage therapist, by more as dedicated and loving wife, and mother, and by even more as a generous, warm and faithful sister, daughter, and friend. She will be missed more than mere words can express by brothers Kenny and Kevin Alexander.
Preceded in death by husband Kirk Smith. Jessie is survived by the five children she loved so much. He extended and loving family, her father, Henry Alexander and his wife Vicki, her mother Diana Alexander, her sister Shelly Alexander, and her brothers Larry Mullens, Russ Alexander, and Daniel Alexander.
Jessie’s family is grateful to the many many neighbors and friends who have come together to support them at this unimaginably sad time.
Services will be held Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm at the Elks Lodge BPOE #499, 2101 N. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ to be followed by a brief graveside service at Citizens Cemetery, 1300 S. San Francisco Street. An Informal gathering at the Elks Lodge will follow.
Noreen F. Sutphen
Noreen Frances Moore Sutphen was born in Cleveland, OH on September 14, 1930 and passed away at her home in Flagstaff on April 4, 2010 following a courageous and nearly lifelong battle with lung disease.
Fiercely devoted to her family and home, Noreen and her husband, Dale, raised three children -- Sandra (Sutphen) Wood (Flagstaff), Debra Sutphen (Sacramento, CA), and Warren Sutphen (Flagstaff)--during their nearly sixty years in Arizona and fifty years of residence in Flagstaff. Noreen was the youngest of three children born to Clarence S. and Bernice G. Moore. In 1945 the Moore family moved from Cleveland to a small farm in Ortonville, Michigan--near Clarkston--when Clarence Moore assumed an executive position with General Motors Corporation in Flint, MI. Noreen graduated from Clarkston High School in 1948 where she met Dale Sutphen; she then took a position in Pontiac, MI with GMC as a comptometer operator, later working at Whizzer Manufacturing. She moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1952 after marrying Dale, whose family had left Michigan in 1947.
In 1960 Dale, Noreen, Sandy and Debbie moved to Flagstaff when Dale was promoted to a management position at Mountain Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co.
Youngest son Warren was born in 1967.
Noreen was a dedicated homemaker and active member of the Sechrist School PTA, the Junior Woman's Club, the Coconino County Elections Board, and her service sorority.
Her greatest passion, joy, and pride in life were her husband, children, grandchildren and friends; she loved planning family get-togethers and celebrations and always had a kind word and a package of homemade brownies or date-nut bread for her friends.
She was the caring, loving, and nurturing backbone of our family who, despite her Midwestern roots and the strains on her breathing of living at 7000 feet elevation, loved Flagstaff and vowed never to leave "The Mountain."
Noreen is survived by Dale, her devoted husband of 58 years, her daughters Sandy and Deb and son Warren, daughters-in-law Kathleen and Rebecca, beloved Amy and Matthew, three great-grandchildren, and her faithful puppy, Jenny.
She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Northland Hospice of Flagstaff.
A celebration of Noreen's life will be held on Saturday, April 10, 11AM at Hope Community Church in Flagstaff with a gathering of friends to follow at Dale and Noreen's home.
Maria De La Luz (Lucy) Vergara
Maria De La Luz (Lucy) Vergara died April 10, 2010, at Olivia White Hospice Home in Flagstaff surrounded by her loving family. She was 79.
She was born Dec. 10, 1930, in Flagstaff to Alejandro and Paula Vergara. A lifelong Flagstaff resident, Lucy attended South Beaver Elementary School, Flagstaff Junior High School and Flagstaff High School.
Lucy held various jobs during her lifetime but is best remembered for 22 years of dedicated service working for Coconino County beginning in 1973. She began her career with the county in the mailroom before working in voter registration, retiring in 1995 as an elections technician in Coconino County Elections.
Lucy was devoted to the former Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, and was an active member of the Legion of Mary with OLG. She also made a Cursillo as further testament to her Catholic faith.
She is survived by Carmen Vergara, Aida (Jose) Garcia, Olga Vergara, and many loving nieces and nephews who will remember her as a wonderful aunt who was caring and loving.
Lucy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Alejandro Jr., Alfredo and Irineo; and sister Petra Roybal.
A visitation will be held Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Lozano’s Flagstaff Mortuary, 2545 N. fourth Street, Flagstaff, AZ. Holy Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. and Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, April 16, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, 224 S. Kendrick St. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Olivia White Hospice Home, Po Box 997, Flagstaff, AZ 86002.
Stanley “Lefty” Wajda
Stanley “Lefty” Wajda, 75, formerly of Flagstaff, AZ died Thursday, April 22, 2010.
Stan was born August 10, 1934, in Savannah, IL to Stanley and Carmella (Cravatta) Wajda.
He served in the US Marine Corp during Korean War, was a Volunteer Fireman, a member of a Barbershop Quartet, and retired from General Motors.
Stanley is survived by his children Regina Johnson, Valerie Langin, Heidi Shafiyoon, Steven Wajda, Samuel Wajda, Scott Wajda and nine grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife Marilyn Wajda and his parents.
In celebration of Lefty’s life there will be a get together with family and friends Friday, April 30, 2010 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the home of Mike and Valerie Langin, 2499 N. Sweetclover Way, Flagstaff, AZ
A memorial service will be held May 8, 2010 at St. Ann’s Church in Bellevue, MI.
Daniel Ramirez Calistro
Daniel Ramirez Calistro was born in Cottonwood, AZ on January 21, 1928 he left us to join God on May 21, 2010.
He lived here in Flagstaff for 67 years; he attended Flagstaff High School, leaving his junior year to join the Army-Air Force, where he made it to the rank of Sergeant before leaving with an honorable discharge. He would marry and settle down with his loving wife Cleo Abeyta for the next 58 years of his life. He worked at the Southwest Sawmill as a wood dryer and was a member of their volunteer fire department. He also worked at NAU and retired from there. He played guitar in a mariachi band and was a devoted member of the Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, his daughter Theresa Contreras, his several grandchildren and his sister Lydia Tercero and his brother Reuben Baca. He is preceded in death by his parents Gabriel and Margarita Calistro and his four sisters.
Holy Rosary will be held Friday, May 28, 2010 at 9:00 followed by the funeral mass at 10:00 at St. Pius X Chapel, 2257 E. Cedar Ave, Flagstaff, AZ.
Susan J. Sterman
Susan J. Sterman, 64, died after a long battle with cancer, with her family by her side, on May 13, 2010, in Phoenix. She led a full life leaving a lasting legacy of helping numerous struggling families and children in northern Arizona through her capacity as an attorney and a friend.
She was born in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Aug. 24, 1945, and grew up all around the West, including, Colorado. She was part of a large Army family, including grandparents, uncles and aunts who all had a long and proud history of being in the Armed Services. She was the oldest of nine children and distinguished herself early in high school, earning a college scholarship for academics and becoming homecoming queen. She did all this despite fighting polio and its scars at a young age.
She entered the U.S. Air Force in 1966 at the age of 21 and traveled the world as a communications specialist including the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan, earning an Outstanding Unit Award and a Vietnam Service Medal. She left the service in 1971 to have her first child settling in New Jersey where she graduated from Montclair State University and then New York Law School where she graduated with a law degree in 1980.
In 1981, only one year into her fledging law career, she distinguished herself again by intercepting a rent gouging ring in Brooklyn, N.Y., by wearing a wiretap and standing up to assailants even after her life was threatened. Susan earned the moniker "Super Susan, " by the local papers, and was awarded a Medal of Honor by the then mayor of New York City, Ed Koch.
Soon thereafter she started her own successful law practice in Manhattan specializing in landlord/tenant law until 1994 when she relocated to Flagstaff. She joined the Coconino County Attorney's Office where she worked as a county prosecutor and in Drug Court for nearly 10 years. Susan also taught at Coconino County Community College where she helped pioneer the Paralegal Studies department. Upon leaving the County Attorney's Office she then started her own family law practice where she specialized in divorce and custody cases, touching the lives of many. Most recently, she moved to Glendale in early 2009.
She is survived by her husband of five years, Dean Cody, two daughters and son-in-laws, two grandchildren, a sister in Flagstaff, and seven other siblings. She also leaves behind a big family of friends and acquaintances.
A memorial service will be Saturday, May 22, between 3 and 5 p.m. in the banquet room at Alvin's, 5200 Cortland Blvd., off Country Club Drive in Flagstaff.
In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to The Hope Cottage in Flagstaff.
