Deaths

• Baca, Antonio
• Blea, Arthur
• Niiha, Marie
• Riffle, Marion

Antonio Baca

ALBUQUERQUE — Funeral services for Antonio (Tony) T. Baca, 81, will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE. Steve Delgado will officiate. Interment will follow in Santa Fe National Cemetery. Friends may visit at the mortuary on Tuesday, 9 a.m. until time of service.

Baca died Thursday, June 26, 2008. He was born Aug. 19, 1926.

Baca was a long time resident of Gallup. His mother passed away when Tony was 4-years old and he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Manuelita and Juan Chavez (Mom and Dad). Baca retired in 1989 from the Gallup Fire Department. He had also served as a police officer in Gallup. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and was the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal.

Survivors include his companion, Muriel Montano, Albuquerque; children: Victor Baca of Los Lunas, Ida Chavez of Rafael, Orpha M. Baca, Diana M. Esparza, both of Albuquerque, Anthony Baca of Flagstaff; sister, Barbara Sedillos of Albuquerque; brother, Gilbert Chavez of California; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.

Baca was preceded in death by his parents, Manuelita and Juan Chavez; wife, Cecilia S. Baca; brother, Leo Chavez; sister, Melba Chavez.

Pallbearers will be Victor A. Baca, Ralph Chavez, Paul H. Chavez, Jacob E. Chavez, Micheal Walker, and Victor Vaquera.

Arthur Blea

GRANTS — Funeral Mass for Arthur “Auturo” Blea, 72, will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, at the St. Teresa of Avilla Catholic Church. Burial will follow with full military honors by VFW Lodge 3221, at the Grant Memorial Park. The Very Rev. Alberto Avella will be the celebrant. A rosary will be recited 7 p.m. June 30, at St. Teresa of Avilla Catholic Church.

Blea died June 26, 2008, in Albuquerque. He was born May 12, 1936.

Blea was a veteran of the US Army. He was employed with the uranium mines from 1970 until 1985. Then he worked at the Grants High School and with the Forest Service and other jobs. He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and being with his family. He loved everyone and had no enemies.

Survivors include his wife, Lena Blea of Grants; children, Samuel Blea of Grants, Verlinda Blea of Grants, Sampson Blea of Grants, Rachel Blea of Grants, Jonathan Blea of Grants, Christopher Blea of Grants, Annette Blea of Albuquerque; brother, Julian J. Blea of Albuquerque; sisters, Virgina Uguaret of San Antonio, Texas, Nancy Chavez of Albuquerque, Priscilla Serrano of Espanola, Mela Borrego of Albuquerque, Christine Fragua of Antonito, Colo., Norman DeSalla of Albuquerque; 13 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren.

Blea was preceded in death by his parents, Julian L. Blea and Raquel G. Blea.

Pallbearers will be Samuel Blea, Verlinda Blea, Sampson Blea, Rachel Blea, Jonathan Blea and Christopher Blea.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Compassion Mortuary.Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to send condolences.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Marie Niiha

ZUNI — Funeral services for Marie G. Niiha, 61, will be 10 a.m., Monday, June 30, at the Good Shepherd Mission, Fort Defiance. The Rev. Red Stevens will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m., Monday, June 30, at the Good Shepherd Mission.

Niiha died June 26, 2008, in Zuni. She was born Aug. 22, 1947, in Ganado, into the Salt People Clan for the Red Bottom People Clan.

Niiha was raised in Fort Defiance, and went to elementary and high school at Fort Defiance (Window Rock High School). She worked in various places in Gallup doing Indian Jewelry work. She lived in Zuni with her husband and there she had livestock and did some farming.

Survivors include her husband, Donald N. Niiha; sons, Cornell Vincent Paquin of Albuquerque; daughter, Myra Garro of Los Lunas; parents, James and Agnes Gatewood of Fort Defiance; brothers, Edward Gatewood of Fort Defiance; sisters, Louise Cooka of Albuquerque, Helen Bluehorse of Fort Defiance, Betty Gatewood of Albuquerque; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Niiha was preceded in death by Daniel Roanhorse Jr.

Pallbearers will be Timothy A. Garro, Nicholas C. Garro, Myles B. Panteah, Daniel M. Boyd, Orlando J. Johnson, Wilfred L. Murphy.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Good Shepherd Mission Parrish Hall, following services.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Marion Riffle

GALLUP — Services are pending for Marion E. Riffle, 74.

Riffle died Thursday, June 26, 2008, in Gallup. She was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Farmington.

A rosary will be recited 7 p.m., June 30 at Rollie Mortuary.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.