Deaths

• Esther Ott
• David Joe
• Vernon Smith

Esther Ott

GALLUP — Services for Esther M. Ott, 91, will be announced at a later date.

Ott died March 27 in Gallup. She was born October 1, 1915 in Weesaw, Michigan.

She enjoyed working as a church secretary for Zion Evangelical Church in St. Joseph, Michigan. She was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and knew the names of all the players.She is survived by her son Dennis of Jamestown; 2 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Francis Ott; son Gerald Ott; brother Porter Kempton; sister Alene Smith; granddaughter Darlene McGuire.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

David Joe

MEXICAN SPRINGS — Services for David Joe 54, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 2 at the Good News Mission in Houck. Reverend Milton Shirleson will officiate. Burial will follow on a family plot, three miles East of Sanders on Old Allentown Rd. Visitation will be at the Good news Mission.

Joe died March 28 in Mexican Springs. He was born December 5, 1952, in Rehoboth into The One Who Walks Around People Clan for the Towering House People clan.

Joe graduated from Sanders High School. He served in the US Army for three years. He was employed as a construction worker, security guard, as a Navajo Nation police officer, and a housekeeping aide with GIMC. He enjoyed working, being with family and friends and fellow co-workers. He also enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, football and guitar. After retirement, he enjoyed watching ball games on TV and playing bingo.

Survivors include his wife Daisy Barney; sons Darrell Joe and Shelby Joe; daughters Calandra Joe; father Hoskie Joe; brothers Jackie Joe of Mentmore and Thomas Joe of Lupton; sisters Mary Asley of Sanders, Betty Benally of Lupton, Nellie Begay and Joann Allen both of Querino Canyon, Ariz., and Grace Arviso of Houck; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother Lillie Joe; brother Kee Yazzie; and sister Aurelia Curley.

Pallbearers will be Marcus Arviso, Mark Franklin, Robert Kinsel, Alfred Barney, Chris R. Smith, and Loren Barney.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Houck Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Vernon Smith

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Services for Vernon Marcus Smith, 47, will be at 10 a.m., Monday, April 2 at Ganado Presbyterian Church in Ganado. Custer Love Jr., will officiate. Burial will follow in Cornfields, Ariz.

Smith died March 25 in Sunnyvale. He was born Nov. 6, 1959 in Oakland, Calif., into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Black Sheep People Clan.

Smith attended schools in Oakland, Calif., and Klamath Falls, and went to high school in Ganado. He took acting classes in Calif., and attended schools in the L.A. area. He was involved with numerous Native American organizations in the Oakland Bay area and southern Calif. He was a horse trainer and Navajo silversmith. He worked with various actors, including Jane Seymour in the TV series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." At the time of his death he was accepted to attend "Screen Actors Guild Productions."

Survivors include his wife Aischa Standing Crow Smith of Sunnyvale, Calif.; sons Eric Plenty Chief Smith of Sunnyvale; daughters Holly and Helena Smith of Chinle; parents Garnet Smith of Navajo Station, Ariz.; brothers Rene Roanhorse Sr., of Albuquerque, Lamonte Smith Sr., of Navajo Station, Darryl Smith of Gallup; sisters Judy Singer of Navajo Station, Georgia Plummer of Tohlakai, Delphine Smith of Burnside, Ariz.; five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father Tsosie Smith; brother Christopher Smith; sister Jaqueline Smith; grandparents Isaac Taliman, Mary Roanhorse Brown, Herbert Smith Sr., and Yelthesbah Baloo Smith.

Pallbearers will be Derek Benally, Darryl Smith, Calvin Arnold Jr., Robert Arnold and Johnny Nez.

The family will have a reception at Ganado Chapter House after services.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.