Deaths

• Velva Oellerich
• Nicholas Urias-Bowman
• Carl Wauneka
• Louisa Chavez
• Christine Begay
• Mae Etsitty
• Paul Yazzie

Velva Oellerich

GALLUP — Services for Velva I. Oellerich, 87, will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 7 at the First Baptist Church in Gallup. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 2-4:30 p.m., today, March 6 at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel.

Oellerich died March 3 in Gallup. She was born May 20, 1919 in Harrisburg, Mo.

Ollerich worked for Mountain Bell Telephone and retired from U.S. West in 1976. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, the WIBC, the Does #164 and the Red Hat Society.

Survivors include her daughter Shirley Wilson of Gallup; and one grandchild, two great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband William Ernest Dysart and her second husband Edward William Oellerich.

Pallbearers will be Heath Wilhelm, Derek Wilhelm, Everett Wilhelm, Darell Olson, Jack Bebo and Bart Stanley.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nicholas Urias-Bowman

GALLUP — Services for Nicholas Urias, Bowman, 5, will be at 1 p.m., today, March 6, at St. Francis Catholic Church. Rev. Garald Steinmetz, OFM, will officiate.

Visitation was Monday, March 5 at Rollie Mortuary.

Urias-Bowman died March 2 in Denver. He was born July 8, 2001 in Gallup.

Survivors include his parents Eliseo Urias, Hilda Bowman, both of Gallup; brother Eric Urias of Gallup; grandparents Richard Bowman, Virginia Bowman, both of Mexican Springs, Irene Urias, Merced Urias, both of Portales and numerous aunts and uncles.

Pallbearers will be Robert Goldsten, Jay B. Muskett, Vincent Muskett, Jay Barton, Eric Urias, Armondo Urias.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Carl Wauneka

KLAGETOH, Ariz. — Services for Carl D. Wauneka, 71, will be at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 7, at the Klagetoh Shelter Mission. Rev. Paul Jones Jr., will officiate. Burial will follow in the community cemetery in Klagetoh.

Wauneka died March 4 in Fort Defiance. He was born July 10, 1935 in Piney Hill, Ariz., into the One Who Walks Around People Clan for the Red Running Into the Water People Clan.

Wauneka went to school at the Fort Defiance Boarding School, Chemawa Indian School in Oregon, and was employed with ONEO, CETA, was a Navajo Community School Board Member and worked as a Home Improvement Training Program Instructor. His hobbies included woodworking, bike riding, spending time with children and watching sports.

Survivors include his sons Fedell, Cameron and Swenson Wauneka, all of Klagetoh, Jerry Wauneka of Steamboat, Ariz., Stanford Wauneka of Colo.; daughters Vernita Wauneka-Begaye, Carla Wauneka, both of Klagetoh, Madalaine Yazzie of Jeddito; brothers Freddie Wauneka of Farmington, Louis Wauneka of Peach springs, Ariz.; sisters Nellie Roanhorse, Eleanor Bustamante, Martha Joe, Della John, Isabell Fuller, all of Fort Defiance, Linda Garnanez, Jane Benally, both of Shiprock, Louise Chamberlain of Rio Rancho; 29 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hosteen Tso and Anita Mae Wauneka; wife Betty N. Wauneka; sister Vida Nelson; brothers Dan Wauneka, Billy Wauneka Sr., David Wauneka and one grandson.

Pallbearers will be Jason Wauneka, Philbert Nez, Lorrence Gorman, Ranford Wauneka and Bennie Joe Sr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Klagetoh Chapter House following services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Louisa Chavez

CASAMERO LAKE, N.M. — Services for Louise Ann Chavez, 45, will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 7 at the Borrego Pass Christian Church in Borrego Pass, N.M. Pastor Jimmie Etcitty will officiate. Burial will follow in the community cemetery in Borrego Pass.

Chavez died March 1 in Farmington. She was born May 29, 1961 in Crownpoint.

Survivors include her husband James Etcitty of Casamero Lake; daughter Jennifer Etcitty of Casamero Lake; mother Nellie Chavez of Casamero Lake; sister Marie Chavez of Grants.

She was preceded in death by her father Charley Chavez and grandmother Jean W. Johnson,

Pallbearers will be DeWayne Garcia, Paul Johnson, Olson Platero, Jones Platero, Frankline Bodie and Lerrimie Bodie.

Christine Begay

FORT DEFIANCE — Services for Christine Marie Begay, 39, will be 10 a.m. today, March 6 at the Assembly of God Church in Fort Defiance. Kee Wauneka will officiate. Burial will follow at Buells Park, Ariz.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. March 6 prior to services.

Begay was born Sept. 8, 1967 in Fort Defiance into the Black Streak Wood People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Begay was a 1986 Window Rock High School and graduated from SIPI. She was a grand prize winner in the baking category in 2006 at the Navajo Nation Fair. She was a homemaker and her hobbies included baking and traveling.

Survivors include her husband, Benson Begay; sons, Perry Sherman, Benson Begay, Jr., Bryson Begay, Beau Chandler Begay and Canon K. Begay; daughter, Chantel T. Sherman; parents, Ella Mea Perry and Robert R. Perry, Jr.; brothers, James W. Perry and Antonious M. Perry; grandparents, Helen Charlie and Jimmy Charlie.

Begay was preceded in death by her son, Andraine Begay; her brother, David C.R. Perry; grandparents, Glennie M. Kee and Robert Perry, Sr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Assembly of God Church in Fort Defiance after services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mae Etsitty

BRIMHALL, N.M. — Services for Mae Fern Etsitty, 84, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 7 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Gallup. Herman Plummer, Sr. will officiate. Burial will follow at the family land in Coyote Canyon.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. March 7 prior to services.

Etsitty died March 3 in Gallup. She was born July 2, 1922 in Coyote Canyon into the Red Running Into the Water People Clan for the Meadow People Clan.

Etsitty retired in 1985 from Chooshgai Boarding School and Coyote Canyon BIA. Etsitty enjoyed doing word search puzzles, watching wrestling, stiching, sewing, her sheep and spending time with her family.

Survivors include sons, Anthony Etsitty and Vern Etsitty, both of Coyote Canyon, Wilfred Etsitty of Fruitland; daughters, Melinda L. Begay, Margaret Etsitty and Mary Plummer, all of Coyote Canyon, Pauline Sandoval of Tohatchi; brother, Rosco Benally of Jemez, N.M.; sisters, Emma Etsitty of Coyote Canyon and Roberta Etsitty of Shiprock; 25 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.

Etsitty was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Etsitty; her parents, John Benally and Ethel Daniel; sister Florence Barney.

Pallbearers will be Herman Plummer, Jr., Jerome Plummer, Anbrose Tsosie, Oliver Charleston, Sr., Tyrell J. Etsitty and Sean Etsitty.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Paul Yazzie

BREADSPRINGS — Services for Paul Yazzie, 41, will be announced at a later date.

Yazzie died March 4 in Breadsprings. He was born May 5, 1965 in Gallup into the Saline Water People Clan for the Salt People Clan.

A family meeting will be 6 p.m., today, March 6 at Breadsprings Chapter House.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.