Deaths

• Brown, Yilhabah
• Daniel, Harrison
• Gonzales, Gilbert
• Gorman, Kee
• Lupe, Vanassa
• Meritt, Alvin
• Vandever, Tony

Yilhabah Brown

BLANDING, UT. — Services are pending for Yilhabah T. Brown, 84, formerly of Chinle.

Brown died Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Monticello, Utah. She was born May 20, 1924, in Chinle.

Desert View Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Harrison Daniel

COYOTE CANYON — Services are pending for Harrison Daniel, 72.

Daniel died Sept. 8, 2008, in Gallup. He was born April 6, 1936, in Coyote Canyon, into the Bitterwater People Clan for the Red Streak People Clan.

A family meeting will be 5 p.m., tonight, Sept. 10, at the Coyote Canyon Chapter House.
Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to send condolences.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Gilbert Gonzales

GALLUP — Funeral Mass for Gilbert Gonzales, 87, will be 11 a.m., Sept. 11, at the St. Francis Church, Gallup. Father Gerald Steinmete will officiate. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Gallup. Visitation will be 11a.m.,-4:30 p.m., today, Sept. 10, at Rollie Mortuary. A rosary will be recited 7 p.m., tonight, Sept.10, at St. Francis Church.

Gonzales died Sept. 7, 2008, in Gallup. He was born May 25, 1921, in Tokey, N.M.

Gonzales was a Gamerco Coal Miner, and worked at El Paso Natural Gas and ICX Trucking. He was a coach for little league baseball in Gallup. He moved to California and worked at Fortiber Corporation for 25 years. Gonzales bowled, coached women’s softball team “Hustlers” for 3 years and won championships. He enjoyed helping his grandchildren in all sport activities, soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball. He was also a dedicated Gallup Catholic Panther fan. Gonzales loved to hunt, fish, spend time with his brothers and sisters and enjoyed family times.

Survivors include his wife, Lydia Gonzales; sons, Johnny Gonzales, David Valadez; daughters, Cecilia Lamey, Lorraine Gutierrez, Cassandra Lopez, Yvette Andrade, Denise Yepez; brothers, Manuel Gonzales, Raymond “Buster” Gonzales, Frank Gonzales; sister, Josie Jaramillo; 19 grandchildren.

Gonzales was preceded in death by Manuel D. Gonzales, Emelia Gonzales; 1st wife, Juanita Gonzales; Cecelia Gonzales, Celia Gonzales, Joey Gonzales, Tony Gonzales, Alehandra Gonzales, John Gonzales, Chano Gonzales, Ruth Gonzales, Alvita Gonzales, baby Thomas Gonzales.

Pallbearers will be Johnathan Gutierrez, Brandon Lopez, Anthony Gutierrez, Shawn Gutierrez, Rick Flores, David Valadez, William Lamey, and Frank Gonzales.

The family will receive relatives and friends at KC Hall, following services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gallup Catholic Athletic Fund, 515 Park Ave., Gallup.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Kee Gorman

CHINLE — Services are pending for Kee Gorman, 74.

Gorman died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, in Chinle. He was born June 12, 1934, in Chinle, into the Water’s Edge People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Vanassa Lupe

CIBECUE, Ariz. — A two night traditional wake for Vanassa Lupe, 63, will be 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 12. Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14, at the CBQ Miracle Church, Cibecue.

Lupe died Sept. 5, 2008. She was born in Cibecue, into the White Mountain Apache People Clan.

Lupe traveled with her brother-in-law, the late Rev. Franklin Jame and his wife, as a song leader. They worked with Pastor A.J. Williams, Brother Boot Wagner and other Preachers. She loved to visit Navajo land and made lots of friends.

Survivors include her brother, Warren Lupe; sisters, Pastor Evelina James, Virginia Martinez, all of Cibecue.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the family resident, following services.

Alvin Meritt

WINSLOW — Memorial services for Alvin Gene Meritt, 65, will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, Winslow. The Rev. Sid Moore will officiate. Visitation will be at 7-9 p.m., tonight, Sept. 10, at Greer’s Mortuary, 316 W. 2nd St., Winslow.

Meritt died Sept. 6, 2008, in Winslow. He was born June 28, 1943, in Peru, Nebraska.

Meritt attended school in Reynolds beginning at the age of four. He wanted to go to school with his older brother. He proved he could count to ten using a deck a cards. When he showed his teacher the numbers one through ten and then continued counting jack, queen, king, ace, they allowed him to enroll. He graduated from Reynolds High School before his seventeenth birthday. He moved to Winslow in 1968 and worked for Hancock Construction for a short time, before beginning his 36 year railroad career as a conductor on the Santa Fe Railroad. He retired in February 2004. Meritt was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and active in the congregation. He loved being with his friends and family. He liked sports, fishing, and playing cards and was the “heart of every gathering”. All who knew him will remember his big smile.

Survivors include his wife, Emma Meritt of Winslow; sons, Tom Meritt of Las Vegas, Nev., James Meritt of Phoenix; daughters, Cindy Meritt of Littleton, Colo., Tina Padilla of Gallup, Carol Soto of Albuquerque, Amber Meritt of Tolleson, Ariz., Georgianna Carr of Winslow; brothers, Wayne Meritt of Brownville, Neb., Gerald Meritt of Winslow, Kent Meritt of Louisburg, Mo.; sisters, Sharon Richards of Gallup, Ruth Schrimshaw of Gallup, Geraldine Kera of Topeka, Kan.; 13 grandchildren.

Meritt was preceded in death by his parents, Jes and Golda Meritt; sister, Rosella McBratney; brother, Dale Meritt.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Girl Scout House on the corner of Colorado and Cherry, following services.

Tony Vandever

PREWITT — Services for Tony Vandever, 76, will be 10 a.m., Sept. 11, at the Compassion Mortuary. Burial will be in Thoreau Community Cemetery. The Rev. Bobby Martinez will officiate.
Vandever died Sept. 5, 2008, in Grants. He was born March 19, 1931.

Survivors include his wife, Grace D. Vandever of Grants; daughters, Rita Willie of Thoreau, Margaret Largo of Grants, Regina Vandever of Crownpoint, Flora Vandever of Gallup; sons, James Vandever of Haystack, Albert Largo of Haystack, Art Vandever of Crownpoint, Tony Vandever Jr. of Crownpoint, Robert Vandever of Prewitt, Andrew Vandever of Nazlini; brothers, Harry Vandever of Haystack, Edison Vandever of Prewitt; 33 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren.

Vandever was preceded in death by his parents, Tom Vandever, Hanna Vandever; sisters, Lucy Kee, Zani Vandever, Anna Mustache; brothers, Edward Vandever, Willie Vandever.

Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to send condolences.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.