Deaths

• Cook, Frank
• Gee, Benjamin
• McMeel, Nora
• Ratliff, Floyd
• Salaz, Genevieve

Cook, Frank

CROSS CANYON, Ariz. — Services for Frank Cook, 88, will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 30, at the Assembly of God Church, Fort Defiance. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, Fort Defiance.

Cook died July 25, 2008, in Gallup. He was born May 16, 1920, in Cross Canyon, into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Big Water People Clan.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Cook, his son, Franklin Cook; step-daughter, Lorraine Upshaw; brothers, Kee Cook, Tommy Cook; sisters, Betty Marie Kirk, Alice Cook; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Cook was preceded in death by his parents, John Cook, Lillian Yazzie Cook.

Pallbearers will be Brannon Begay, Larris Whitney, Ruben Sanchez, Lawrence Tahy, Cecil Henry, Ferguson Belone.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Assembly of God Church Hall, Fort Defiance, following service.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Gee, Benjamin

LOW MOUNTAIN — Graveside services for Benjamin Gee, 101, were 12 p.m., today, July 29, at the family cemetery, Low Mountain, Ariz.
Gee died July 25, 2008, in Chinle. He was born March 3, 1907, in Low Mountain, into the Towering House People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Gee worked at the BIA Coal mine, the railroad,in the lumber Industry, and as a chapter official. He was also a farmer/rancher raising sheep, horses and cattle. Gee was a decorated World War II Veteran. After he completed infantry training, he joined C Company, 803rd Tank Destroyer

Battalion attached to the U.S. Third Army. He saw extensive combat action in the European Theatre. Several times he talked about sitting on one of the lead tanks as General Patton’s Third Army raced toward Germany. After the war ended in Europe, he stayed in Germany with the 803 Tank Destroyer Battalion for seven more months to perform occupation duties. Gee earned numerous Army medals, ribbons with campaign stars, as well as the Sharp shooter badge and several unit citations. He held the rank of PFC and was honorably discharged at Ft. Bliss, Texas in 1945.
Survivors include his sons, Anson, Johnnie, Gene, Kee Yazzie, Edward Jerry, Alvin; daughters, Linda Uentillie, Nancy Bigman, Marion Phillips; 49 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.

Gee was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Shorthair Gee; son, Billy; sister, Irene Yesslith.

Pallbearers will be Val Uentillie, Jeff Uentillie, Al Uentillie, Wright Wilson, Ernie Gee, David R. Gee.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Gee family home, following services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

McMeel, Nora

GALLUP — Memorial services for Nora “Dimas” McMeel, 88, will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 30, at Rollie Mortuary. The Rev. Bob Montoya will officiate. Private Disposition will be in Sunset Memorial Park, Gallup.

McMeel died July 25, 2008, in Gallup. She was born June 3, 1920, in Madrid, N.M.

McMeel attended Madrid High School. She was a waitress and worked in sales.

Survivors include her daughter, Edwina Gonzales; sister, Rebecca Moreno; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.

McMeel was preceded in death by her mother, Graballa Moreno; daughter, Mary Dimas; son, Robert Dimas.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Gallup Community Center.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ratliff, Floyd

ALBUQUERQUE — Funeral services for Floyd Ratliff, 87, will be 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, at the Del Norte Baptist Church. The Rev. Bob Myers will officiate. Burial will be in Sandia Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., tonight, July 29, at the Daniels Family Funeral Coal Avenue Chapel.

Ratliff died Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Albuquerque. He was born 1921, in Roby, Texas.
Ratliff grew up in and around the Sweetwater area where be became an All-State football player. He attended College at Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tenn. on a football scholarship. Ratliff went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad until he was drafted into the Army during WWII. Ratliff, his wife, and newborn son, moved to Paso Robles, Calif. where they lived in a remodled chicken coop while he attended basic training. Just prior to being deployed overseas, he broke is ankle playing football and was released from the Army. The family settled in Gallup and he resumed his 45-year career with the railroad. Ratliff was very active in the First Baptist Church of Gallup. He served as a church treasurer from 1952 to 1987 and was an ordained deacon. He also served as a City Councilor in Gallup. Ratliff retired form the railroad in 1990 and they moved to Belen and joined the First Baptist Church. He then served as a deacon there for many years. He was an active member of the Lebanon Lodge No. 22 AF&AM as a 32 degree Mason and was recently recognized for his 50 years of service.

Survivors include his sons, Floyd William Ratliff, Ronald Ratliff; daughter, Jovanna Rainly; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.

Ratliff was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “The Ranches” (NM Boy’s and Girl’s Ranches), 6209 Hendrix Rd. NE #2A, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

Angela Watters

GRANTS — Graveside services for Angela Angelita Watters, newborn, will be 1 p.m., today, July 29, at the Grants Memorial Park. The Very Rev. Alberto Avella will be the celebrant.

Watters died July 26, 2008, in Albuquerque. She was born July 26, 2008, in Albuquerque.

Survivors include her parents, James Watters, Amber Martinez of Grants; brother, Selustriano Watter of Grants; grandparents, Filiberto and Mary Martinez of Grants, Christina Bustos of Cubero, Peter and Denice Martinez of Grants, Angela Hedrick of Cubero, Jerry Watter of Longmont, Colo., Dorie Otero of Cubero.

Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to send condolences.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Salaz, Genevieve

GALLUP — Services are pending for Geneieve Salaz, 82.

Salaz died July 28, 2008, in Gallup. She was born July 6, 1926.

Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to send condolences.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Carolyn Sanchez

TOOELE, UT. — Memorial services for Carolyn Sue Sanchez, 69, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Joshua Generation Church, Gallup. The Rev. Dennison Gallegos will officiate.

Sanchez died May 22, 2008, in Tooele, Utah. She was born Aug. 29, 1938, in Westerville, Ohio.
Sanchez will be remembered for her loving ways, kindness and willingness to help her family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Alfonso J. Sanchez of Tooele; sons, David Hickman of West Virginia, Tommy Hickman; daughters, Melinda Sanchez of Tooele, Belinda Snyder of Las Vegas; three grandchildren.

Sanchez was preceded in death by her mother Martha Grace Hartley; father, Glenn Dennison; son, Robert Hickman.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Cliffside Apartments Community Center, 1375 Elva Drive, Gallup, following services.