Deaths

• Jimmie Chavez
• Michael Nez
• Marcella Joe
• Annie Shirley
• Philson Ben

Jimmie Chavez

TWIN LAKES — Funeral services for Jimmie Roy Chavez Sr., 67, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Established in the World Ministry. Pastor Tom White will officiate. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Chavez died March 2, 2008, in Gallup. He was born Sept. 26, 1940, in Bernalillo, into the Salt People Clan for the Edge Water People Clan.

Chavez was a high school graduate, certified substance abuse counselor, Navajo Nation Police Officer, railroad worker, and master silver and goldsmith with award winning pieces. His hobbies included listening to country and western music; watching wrestling, attending basketball games and spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his sons, Julius Chavez of Utah, Julian Chavez of Sawmill, Ariz., Orlando Chavez of Twin Lakes, Jimmie Chavez Jr. of Twin Lakes; daughters, Elaine Henderson of Window Rock, Marsha A. Yazzie of Twin Lakes; brothers, Bennie Chavez of Churchrock, Larry Chavez of Haystack; sisters, Jennie Nelson of Blackhat, Ines Adakai of Teec Nos Pos, Nelcie Chavez of Canoncito, Margaret Price of Albuquerque, Jeanette Pablo of Rock Springs, Virginia Price of Casa Grande; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

Chavez was preceded in death by his parents, Sam Chavez and Helen Lowley Emerson; sister, Gladys Smith; daughter, Priscilla Chavez.

Pallbearers will be Jimmie Chavez Jr., Nathaniel Natonabah, Nalmerthan Pablo, Nalton Pablo, Emerson Martin Jr., Horace Martinez Sr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Twin Lakes Chapter House, following services.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Nez

GREASEWOOD — Funeral services for Michael Edward Nez, 46, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Greasewood Catholic Church. Father Paul O’Brian will officiate. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, Greasewood. Visitation will be 9 a.m. March 8, at the Catholic Church, Greasewood.

Nez died Feb. 29, 2008, in Phoenix. He was born April 16, 1961, in Fort Defiance, into the Honey Combed Rock People Clan for the Salt People Clan.

Nez graduated from high school in 1980, in Many Farms. He served in the Army in Germany, Frankfurt from 1981-1986.

Survivors include his sons, Brandon Nez, Douglas Nez, Dentitras Nez, all of Phoenix; daughters, Jonie Billman of Las Vegas, Nev., Daniell Nez of Phoenix; father, Henry Art Nez Sr., of Sawmill; brothers, Henry Art Nez Jr. of Tse Bonito, Merle Arthur Nez of Crystal, Duane Nez of Sawmill, Orville Damen of St. George, Utah.; sisters, Mildred Carlston of Greasewood, Margaret Damon of Tohatchi; three grandchildren.

Nez was preceded in death by his mother, Marie Damon; grandparents, Jane Denetso, Elmor Denetso, Silago Nez, Josephine Nez; brothers, Saul Damon, Leander Damon, Harold Damon.

Pallbearers will be Jasper James, Willis Martin, Orville Damon, Merle Nez, Vaughn Tsosie, and Amos Lee Jr.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Marcella Joe

CHAMBERS — Services for Marcella Joe, 38, will be 10 a.m. March 8, at St. Anne’s Church, Klagetoh. Father Flann will officiate. Visitation will be 9 a.m. March 8, at St. Anne’s Church. A Rosary will be recited at 11:30 a.m. March 8, at the McCarroll Cemetery in Chambers.

Leo died March 3, 2008, in Phoenix. She was born Feb. 16, 1970, in Gallup, into the Towering House People Clan for the One Who Walks Around People Clan.

Leo graduated from high school in Ganado, in 1988. She went to college in Tsaile.

Survivors include her mother, Marilyn Brown; brothers, Jerome, Stewart; sister, Denise; grandparents, John Leo, Mary Leo, Joe Chee, Stella Chee.

Pallbearers will be Melvin Yazzie, Ricky James, John Leo, Craig Leo, Raymond Edison, and Matthew Clark.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Klagetoh Chapter House, following services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Annie Shirley

DEER SPRINGS — Services for Annie Tracey Shirley, 87, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Navajo Bible Church, Fort Defiance. Pastor R. Dean Baker will officiate. Burial will be in the family plot, Red Willow Springs, Ariz.

Shirley died March 4, 2008, in Albuquerque. She was born Oct. 19, 1920, in Fluted Rock, into the Sleeping Rock People Clan for the Red Streak People Clan.

Shirley was self-taught Navajo traditional woman. She was self employed as a rug weaver, seamstress and rancher. Shirley healed family and livestock with natural herbs and would get involved with assisting the community. In the early 1950s she won first prize on her natural dyes as Navajo rug weaver during the tribal fair. She was recognized for her famous rug weaving which was in a private collection. She loved to cook, herd sheep, tell Navajo stories and sing Navajo songs.

Survivors include her sons, Edward Shirley of Klagetoh, Lewis Shirley, Leroy Shirley, both of Deer Springs; daughters, Pauline Holmes of Window Rock, Ella S. Dalton of Fort Defiance, Linda Wilson of Albuquerque; sisters, Maggie T. Begay of Fort Defiance, Mildred Hubbard of Nazlini; 37 grandchildren; 81 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Justin Shirley; sons, Henry Shirley, Edison Shirley; parents, Sam and Ya Cos Bah Tracey.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Sawmill Chapter House, following services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Philson Ben

CHINLE — Funeral services for Philson “Phish” Phillip Ben will be 10 a.m., Saturday, March 8, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Chinle. Interment will follow at Del Muerto Community Cemetery. Gathering will be at Chinle Chapter House nightly at 6:00 p.m. in Chinle.

Ben died Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Chinle. He was born Oct. 18, 1983, in Ganado.
Ben spent most of his life in Grand Canyon, Ariz. He graduated from Grand Canyon High School in May 2001. He attended school at Arizona Automotive Institute in Phoenix in 2006. 

Survivors include his daughter, Laila Jadyn Ben of Chinle; parents, Martha and Phillip Ben of Grand Canyon, Ariz.; brothers, Donavon Lee of Glendale, Ariz., Delford Lee, Philton Ben of Grand Canyon, Ariz.; grandparents, John and Maggie Samuel of Chinle, Hoskie Ben of Whippoorwille, Ariz.. 

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Bah Yazzie Kee.