Deaths

• Arthur Holyan
• George Romero
• John Vigil
• Sue Pemberton
• Ernest Baldonado
• Sharnelle Cook
• Cynthia John
• Brandon Platero
• Mary Martin
• Megan Ortiz
  

Arthur Holyan

GRANTS — Services for Arthur A. Holyan, 79, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Bible Baptist Church, Grants. Burial will follow at the Rehoboth Mission Cemetery, Rehoboth.

Holyan died Jan. 20, 2008, in Grants. He was born Feb. 17, 1928, in Tohatchi.

Holyan was retired from the BIA Road Department.

Survivors include his wife, Theresa F. Holyan of Grants; children, Antoinette Lewis of Albuquerque, Jonathan Lewis of Lawton, Okla., Alexander Lewis of Mexican Springs; sisters, Martha Charley of Many Farms, Ariz.; Alice Holyan of Gallup; Regina Holyan of Gallup; six grandchildren.

Holyan was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Holyan, Margaret M. Holyan; son, Arthur Holyan Jr.; sister, Caroline Holyan; brothers, Franklin Holyan, David Holyan.

Pallbearers will be Melvin Mescale, Tyler Robert Holyan, Ed Holyan, Karlett Dennison, Marcus Holyan Jr., and Robert McCabe.

George Romero

GRANTS — Services for George H. Romero, 70, will be 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Church of Christ, Grants. Burial will follow at the Grants Memorial Park. Pastor Charlton Taylor will officiate.

Romero died Jan.. 22, 2008, in Grants. He was born Oct. 9, 1937, in Vadito.

Survivors include his wife, Marylou Romero of Grants; children, Patricia Corley of Grants, George J. Romero of Yuma, Ariz.; brother, Fhilimon Vigil of Espanola; six grandchildren.

Romero was preceded in death by his parents, Arturo Pacheco and Maria DeLaLuz; daughter, Annette Jones; brothers, Joe D. Vigil, Mel Vigil; sister, Lydia Martinez.
Pallbearers will be Nick Romero, Bert Romero, Demecio Romero, Gerald Romero, Victor Romero, Richard Vigil and Rudy Romero.

John Vigil

GRANTS — Funeral Mass for John Daniel Vigil, 46, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at St. Vivians Catholic Church, Milan. Burial will follow at the Grants Memorial Park. Very Rev. Alberto Avella will be the celebrant. A rosary will recited 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 at the St. Vivians Catholic Church.

Vigil died Jan. 20, 2008, in Albuquerque. He was born March 30, 1961, in Grants.

Survivors include his wife, Lenore Bernal of Grants; children, Adrian Nicolas Vigil, Andrew Daniel Vigil of Grants; sisters, Pat Sena of Albuquerque, Gloria Vigil of Albuquerque, Virginia Salazar of Grants, Denice Salazar of Grants.

Vigil was preceded in death by his parents, Ricardo Vigil, Rosina Ortiz Vigil; brothers, Richard Vigil, Wilfred Trujillo.
Pallbearers will be Willie Salazar, Joe Rodriguez, Johnny Martinez, Ramon Vigil, Jack Sena, Mike Berg, Denise Salazar and Brad Overson.

Sue Pemberton

EL PASO — Memorial service for Sue Pemberton, 91, will be 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 7050 McNutt, La Union. 

Pemberton died Dec. 28, 2007, in El Paso, Texas. She was born Oct. 18, 1916, in Lott, Texas.

Pemberton was one of ten children, to Margaret Byrne Joiner and Joseph Joiner, a blacksmith. She graduated from Mary Hardin Baylor College.  After college, she was a County Home Extension Agent. She married Samuel Pemberton in 1940 and traveled with him as a military wife, living in North Carolina, Japan, New York, Alabama and Florida. She returned to the Southwest upon his retirement from the Air Force where she taught school in Reserve and Artesia. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors include her brothers, John Joiner of Lubbock, Texas, Curtis Joiner of Pleasantview, N.Y.; sister, Josephine Washburn of Tacoma, Wash.; sons, Samuel Pemberton of Gallup, Joseph Pemberton of Artesia; daughter, Sue Pemberton Hobart of El Paso; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Pemberton was preceded in death by her son, Colonel John Pemberton; husband, Samuel Lee Pemberton. 

Memorial contributions in her honor may be sent to VNA Hospice of El Paso, 4171 N. Mesa, El Paso, TX 79902.

Ernest Baldonado

GALLUP — Memorial services for Ernest Raymond Baldonado, 65, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the St. Francis Church.

Baldonado died Jan. 21, 2008, in Gallup. He was born Feb. 19, 1942, in Gallup.

Baldonado worked as a carpenter and for the Gallup-McKinley County Schools. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, and camping.

Survivors include his sons, Ernest Baldonado Jr., Andres Baldonado, both of Gallup; Joe Ray Baldonado of Albuquerque; daughters, Stephanie Martinez, Lisa Baldonado of Gallup; granddaughters, Kristin Cuellar, Jasmyn Cuellar; brothers, Leo Baldonado, Manuel Baldonado, Robert Baldonado, of Gallup; Gregory Baldonado of Grants; sisters, Susie Otero, Barbara Sawes, Jennie Reed, Esther Lucero, all of Gallup.

Baldonado was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Jennie Baldonado; brothers, Jimmy Baldonado, Eddie Baldonado; sister, Josie Baldonado.

Pallbearers will be Freddie Martinez, Greg Garcia, Eddie Martinez, Frank Gaona, Tom Duckett, Duane Baldonado, Miguel Palacios, Charles Rohan, Dickie Chavez, Richard Sanchez, Mark Baldonado, Scott Carnall.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Knights of Columbus, following services.

Cope memorial is in charge of arrangements.

Sharnelle Cook

CROWNPOINT — Funeral services for Sharnelle Cook, 14, will be 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day of Saints Church, Crownpoint. Burial will be Community Cemetery, Crownpoint.

Cook died Jan. 19, 2008, in Crownpoint. She was born Oct. 5, 1993, into the Zuni People Clan for the Salt People Clan.

Cook attended Lake Valley School and Crownpoint Mid. School. She was in the seventh grade.

Survivors include her parents, Johnson Cook and Ethel Platero; brother, Tyler Cook; sisters, Tyra Lynn Cook, Tyla Cook, Jolene Cook; grandparents, Alice Platero, Ned Cook Sr., Lettie Cook.

Cook was preceded in death by Shannon Cook.

Pallbearers will be Mark Cook Jr., Tyler Platero Cook, Michael Cook, Sherman Troy Cook, Rudy Cook, and Shawn Begay.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Crownpoint Chapter House, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Cynthia John

CROWNPOINT — Funeral services for Cynthia Rose John, 21, will be 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 25, at the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day of Saints Church, Crownpoint. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, Crownpoint.

John died Jan. 19, 2008, in Crownpoint. She was born Jan. 14, 1987, in Gallup into the Zuni People Clan for the Red Goat People Clan.

John attended Crownpoint High School and Fort Wingate High School up to the 12th grade.

Survivors include her parents, Ethel Platero and Glenn John; brother, Tyler Cook; sisters, Tyra Lynn Cook, Tyla Cook; grandparents, Alice Platero, Harry and Julia John.
John was preceded in death by Shannon Cook.

Pallbearers will be Tyler P. Cook, Tyson Bitsui, Randy Platero, Randell Platero, Patrick Cook and Trason Woody.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Crownpoint Chapter House, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Brandon Platero

CROWNPOINT — Funeral services for Brandon A. Platero, 24, will be 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day of Saints Church, Crownpoint. Burial will be in Crownpoint.

Platero died Jan. 19, 2008, in Crownpoint. He was born June 25, 1983, in Gallup into the Black Streak of Forest People Clan for the Zuni People Clan.

Platero graduated from Crownpoint High School in 2001. Later, he spent time in Durango looking for employment. He liked spending lots of time with his parents and cousin brothers, and enjoyed playing with his PSP and Playstation. On his spare time, he enjoyed watching movies, going fishing, playing volleyball and baseball.

Survivors include his parents, Anderson and Elsie J. Platero of Crownpoint; sisters, Tiffany K. Platero of Crownpoint, Tonya Platero of Dalton Pass; grandparents, Alice Platero.

Platero was preceded in death by his brother, Emerson Platero; grandparents, Thomas Kee James and Helen Kee James.

Pallbearers will be Trent Morgan, Shawn James, Tyolyn Sam, Shelton Bitsuie, Aaron Shorty, and Calvin Tom.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Crownpoint Chapter House, 5 p.m. Jan. 23.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Martin

PINEDALE — Funeral services for Mary Lee Martin, 81, will be 10 a.m. Jan. 25, at the Rollie Mortuary Chapel, Gallup. Martin Kirk will officiate. Burial will be in family land, Pinedale.

Martin died Jan. 21, 2008, in Gallup. She was born Nov. 18, 1926, in Rainbow Trail into the Two Come to the Water People Clan for the Start of the Red Streak People Clan.

Martin’s hobbies included being a silversmith, cooking, rug weaving, and herding sheep. She helped friends and relatives and was a really loving person. Martin liked playing cards, going to casinos, traveling and watching t.v., along with telling stories, smiling and laughing.

Survivors include her sons, Phillip Martin of Twin Lakes, Gilbert Martin of Pinedale; daughter, Shirley Lee of Pinedale; brother, Juan Lee of Pinedale; sisters, Elise Becenti, Annie Becenti, both of Pinedale; 20 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

Martin was preceded in death by her parents, Hosteen and Allottee Suey.

Pallbearers will be family members.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Pinedale Chapter House, Pinedale, following services.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Megan Ortiz

TOHLAKAI — Memorial services for Megan D.Ortiz, 15, will be 3 p.m. Jan. 27, at the Rehoboth Christian Church.

Private disposition will be in Rehoboth Cemetery.

Ortiz died Jan. 19, 2008, in Albuquerque. She was born April 5, 1992, in Gallup into the Charcoal Streaked People Clan for the Red Running Into the Water People Clan.

Survivors include her parents, Rick Ortiz, Wilhelmina Johnson; brothers, Reece Ortiz, Roman Ortiz; sisters, Kimora Myla Begay, Kami Ortiz; grandparents, Dorothy Hubbard, William Ortiz, Mary C. Ortiz.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Johnson’s residence, Tohlakai.