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Lee Boyce Kight
Lee Boyce Kight, 79, passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, in Mesa. Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 29, at the LDS Thatcher Stake Center at 11 a.m. Viewing will be Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Caldwell Funeral Chapel from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to funeral services at the church. Interment will follow at the Graham Cemetery.
Lee was born Oct. 11, 1929, in Pima to the parents of Alma Lee Kight and Dora Pulsipher. He grew up in Pima, where he worked with his father and brothers hauling hay. He learned to be a hard worker and realized that he could accomplish hard tasks.
Lee served in the Army for two years at the end of the Korean War. He served six months in Germany. Then he worked for Northrop in California and made frequent trips to Safford to court his sweetheart, Velma Talley. They later married in 1955. He was delighted to tell others he had been married for 53-1/2 years. Together they had three children, who are Krisanne Hoopes (Fred), Kevin Lee Kight (Debi) and Jamie Ellen Stone.
Lee worked for the telephone company for 37 years. After retirement, he enjoyed taking art classes, lapidary, silversmithing and faceting, where he crafted jewelry for his family. Lee was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings.
Lee is survived by his wife, Velma Talley, and his three children. He is also survived by his sister, Elda Meadows, and brother Varlyn D. Kight of Pima, sisters Ila Mae Howard of Thatcher and Marvella Anders of Florida.
He was preceded in death by sisters Thirma Hancock, Lenora Murphy, Levora Walker and brothers Vestal, Kenneth and Vance Cluff. Lee has 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Marland Pennington
Marland Franklin Pennington passed away at his home in Apache Junction, surrounded by his family, on Jan. 16, 2009, at the age of 75, after battling cancer for two years.
He was born in Wister, Okla., on Jan. 8, 1935. He moved with his family to the Gila Valley in 1947 and attended school in Central.
He met the love of his life, Margaret York, in Safford. They married and moved to Apache Junction, where they raised five children – two sons and three daughters.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons Marland Pennington Jr. and Howard Pennington (Becky); daughters Karen Fimbers (Manny), Kathy Pennington and Beverly DeMoss (Rodney); 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three brothers and five sisters: Autry Pennington (Margie) of Safford, Dale Pennington (Debbie) of Thatcher, Gale Pennington (Niamoi) of Durango, Colo., Loveda Ferguson of Mesa, Mary Severin of Mesa, Betty Stone (Carl) of Mesa, Carolyn Miller (Bud) of Durango, Wanda Ginn (Art) of Central; and many nieces and nephews.
Marland and Margaret had just celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary (Nov. 22, 2008) on his birthday, Jan. 8, 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Bessie Pennington. He will be missed by all.
Memorial services were held Jan. 24 in Apache Junction. A private burial will be held at a later date in Central.
Verna Cluff Carter
Verna Cluff Carter, 86, of Safford passed away at her home Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.
Mrs. Carter was born in Pima on Dec. 3, 1922, to Vernon H. and Pearl Allen Cluff. She married Irven O. Carter and was a wonderful wife and mother.
Mrs. Carter was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings. Her family was very important in her life. She enjoyed their time together.
Mrs. Carter was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Pearl Cluff; husband Irven O. Carter; grandsons Heath and Brock Gibbons; and siblings Glenna (Ray) Foote and Wayne Colvin.
She is survived by her children, Marlene (Ben) Wheeler of Tempe, Carol Jean (Dan) Bingham of Safford, Linda (George) Gibbons of Thatcher, James Irven (Shelley) Carter of Central, Ronald Vernon (Clarece) of Clifton and Terri Lyn Carter of Safford. She is also survived by 35 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; siblings Mildred (Ray) Kerby of Gilbert, Cleora Colvin of Show Low, Clea (Roy) Beach of Lakeside and Gale (Karen) Cluff of Lakeside.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. in the LDS 20th Street Chapel. Visitation will be Sunday evening at the Caldwell Funeral Chapel from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to funeral services at the church. Mrs. Carter will be laid to rest at the Pima Cemetery.
Barbara “Vita” Cienfuegos Ruiz
Barbara “Vita” Cienfuegos Ruiz, a lifelong resident of the Gila Valley, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at the age of 92.
Barbara was born June 9, 1916, in Thatcher to Francisco Franco Cienfuegos and Dolores Figueroa Burruel. She was raised in Thatcher, the fourth of five children, and often spoke of the happy times she spent in the small Mexican community of Salitran located in Thatcher. As a young child she lived with her aunt and uncle in Solomonville in order to attend religious education classes and as a young woman spent her summers in California, working as a nanny.
In May of 1938, she married Juan Ruiz Jr., and they had 11 children. After 23 years of marriage, they divorced, and Barbara devoted herself to raising her eight school-age children. Although times were difficult, she remained a devoted and loving mother, never losing sight of her first priority, her children.
Barbara was a lifelong member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, where she devoted many hours cooking in the church kitchen. She collected porcelain dolls and over the years donated several for church fund-raisers.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her siblings and two granddaughters, Stephanie Ruiz and Jacquita “Dixie” Ruiz.
Barbara is survived by her children, Rosa, Robert, Rudy (Samantha), Raymond (Paula), Ruben (Ida), Richard (Gloria), Rachel (Tom), Rebecca (Danny), Rita, Rosana and John; 24 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, dear friends and neighbors.
A viewing and rosary will be held Tuesday, Jan. 13, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Safford, the viewing beginning at 6 p.m. and the rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Thatcher Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Paul W. Gray
Paul W. Gray of York Valley passed away peacefully in the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center on June 28, 2008, at the age of 80, after suffering a short illness with non-Hodgins lymphoma cancer.
Paul was a best friend, husband, father and grandfather who loved his family. He always had a smile on his face and a story to share.
Paul and Joyce were married in Tukwila, Wash., on June 16, 1948. They moved to Morenci on July 1, 1950, where Paul went to work for Phelps Dodge as a track laborer and then became a heavy-duty truck mechanic. Later, he worked in the mine machine shop and became a journeyman machinist, retiring in 1990 after 40 years.
They then moved to York Valley, where Paul enjoyed working on their home inside and out. He loved helping Joyce with all her “honey do’s,” from working on the yard together to designing oak shelves. He enjoyed going to the mountains and sitting by Luna Lake with the love of his life by his side. In his younger years, Paul enjoyed camping and taking an evening ride on Hobo, his horse. He was a cowboy at heart who liked being around his friends down at the good ole corrals in Morenci.
Paul was born Aug. 25, 1927, in Tonganoxie, Kan. When he was 9, his family moved to Kent, Wash. He was next to the youngest of 10 siblings. Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Edwin and Fanny Elizabeth Gray; two sisters; and five brothers.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; and three children and their families: Wayne (Edwina) Gray of Clifton, Gary (Ingrid) Gray of Safford and Lori (Joe) Sedgeman of Thatcher.
He has six grandchildren: Aron and Arleta Gray, Gary Jr. (Andrea) Gray, Amber Gray, Lisa (Lance) Shurtz and Michael Sedgeman; eight great-grandchildren: Brody, Cole and Delany Gray, David Haskins, Landen, Lathen, Garret and Tyler Shurtz; brothers Dale (Betty) Gray of Lakewood, Wash., and James Gray of Auburn, Wash.; along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many friends.
Paul will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Dad, you are our hero, and we love you so much. You’ll always be in our hearts forever.
Funeral services will be at the nondenominational New Life City Church on 3754 S. U.S. Highway 191 on Saturday, July 12, at 11 a.m. A luncheon will be provided after the service in the fellowship hall. Arrangements are under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
John Charles Allen
John Charles Allen of Orem, Utah, locally known as Johnny, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away Thursday, Dec. 23, in Orem.
John was born and raised in Safford and graduated from Safford High School in 1962. After high school, he served an LDS mission in Johannesburg, South Africa. He received his bachelor’s degree from BYU and graduated from the physician’s assistant program at the University of Utah.
At BYU he met and fell in love with his sweetheart, Lauana Kay Rowe. They married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on Nov. 21, 1968. During John’s military service, the young couple spent time in Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania and Asmara, Ethiopia. His service as a medic in the Army eventually led to his career as a physician’s assistant.
“Dr.” Allen practiced as a physician’s assistant for a total of 35 years in the offices of Dr. Paul Sondrup, Dr. Roger Lewis, and for the past 21 years, Dr. William Preston. He thoroughly enjoyed serving thousands of patients in the community over the years. His unique ability to relate to his patients, especially children, endeared him to all who knew him.
John leaves a tremendous legacy of love, serving as a P.A., bishop, M.T.C. branch president, stake executive secretary, home teacher and other numerous assignments. His influence was felt by family, friends and often strangers who continually benefited from his “off the clock” medical care. His eternal optimism and warmth lives on in the lives of his 17 grandchildren.
John is preceded in death by his father, Walter Allen. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lauana Rowe Allen; his grateful children, Ty Allen (Heather), Amy Brown (Carter), Wade Allen (Erin), Wendy Chatfield (Cameron); and his 17 precious grandchildren, better known as Grandpa’s squirrels. He is also survived by his mother, Florenia Watson Allen; and his three siblings, Florene Pyrah, LaRee Kempton and Farrell Allen.
The funeral was held Saturday, Dec. 27, in Orem.
Tammy Lynn Trammell
Tammy Lynn Trammell passed away Jan. 3, 2009, in Morenci at the age of 40.
Tammy was born April 16, 1968, to Coy Dale Scott and Roeanne Hill.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Xi Beta Theta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.
Tammy loved her children dearly.
She is survived by her husband, William Trammell; her parents, Coy Dale Scott and Roeanne Hill of Safford; her children, Kendra Smith (J.J.) and grandson Tije Phoenix Smith of Duncan, Donald of Duncan, Alicia Wilbur of Duncan, Clayton Wilbur of Duncan, Caitlin Trammell of Duncan, Jonelle Trammell of Duncan; and her sisters, Rose Moncur (Mike) and children Megan and MiKayla of Safford, and Shannon Torrez (Tony) and children Pearl and Troy of Safford.
Services will be held in her honor Friday, Jan. 9, at the Duncan LDS Chapel, and interment will be in the Duncan Cemetery.
Services will be conducted by McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Consuelo Franco
Consuelo A. Franco, 86, of Solomon entered into rest Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, surrounded by her loving family, at her home in Solomon.
She was born Feb. 16, 1922, in San Jose to Guilleramo A. Alvillar and Adelina M. Peru. She married Pete G. Franco in November 1939. Pete entered into rest Sept. 14, 1993.
Consuelo grew up in the Solomon and Sanchez area. She attended schools in Solomon.
She loved to cook, crochet, garden and had the most beautiful rose bushes, and she loved to go for walks. She walked most of her life. She loved to spend time with her family.
She was a devoted member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
She is survived by her sons, Pete A. Franco of Safford and Ramon Franco of Solomon; sisters and brothers, Rosa Jimenez of Los Angeles, Maria Maldonado of Oracle, Celia Gonzales of Solomon, Ray Peru of Safford, Ralph Peru of Safford and Francisco Peru of Oracle; two grandchildren, Chris (Michelle Peru) Franco and Bryna Franco; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Franco, Serena Peru-Franco and Aviana Ramirez; two step-grandchildren, Ronald (Rebecca) Jurado and Carolyn (Frank) Gutierrez; and 16 great-stepgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister Lupe Rodriguez; and one step-grandson, Ramon Jurado.
Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Solomon. Viewing was 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, with a rosary at 7 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Safford Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal-Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
