Deaths

• Vidal Lopez
• Marcella Leo
• Kimberlynn Billy
• Clara Kinney
• Joe Dawson Sr.
• Elizabeth Beyuka
• Varis Gillespie

Vidal Lopez

VEGUITA, N.M. — Funeral Mass for Vidal C. Lopez, 85, will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 10, at San Juan Catholic Church, Veguita. Interment will follow at San Juan Catholic Cemetery. Viewing will be 5 p.m. Sunday, March 9. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m, Sunday, March 9. A final visitation will be Monday, March 10, at 9:30 a.m.

Lopez died Thursday, March 6, 2008.

He was a member of San Juan Catholic Church in Veguita. Vidal was in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-1945 during WWII as a tail gunner in a B24 aircraft. He was awarded a Purple Heart. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph Teacher’s College. Vidal began teaching in La Joya in 1950 and retired from Belen Consolidated Schools in 1983. He also served as a board member and president for the Socorro Electric Cooperative from the late 1950’s to 1983.

Survivors include his wife, Cecilia Lopez; children, Ben Lopez, Bernadette Moya, Daniel Lopez, Sonya Lasher, Gina Lopez, Janel Molina, Doreen Vigil, Ann McMillan; sisters, Raquel Ortega, Adelaida “Lala” Carrillo; 22 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

Lopez was preceded in death by his parents, Patrociño and Sofia Lopez; son, Louis Lopez; grandson, Dale James Lopez; sister, Frances Lopez; brothers, Herman and Eutemio Lopez.
Pallbearers will be Bobby and Chris Molina, Jason Lopez, Daniel Lasher, Justin Olvera and Stanley Creech.

The online register book may be signed at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com.

Marcella Leo

CHAMBERS — Services for Marcella Leo, 38, will be 10 a.m., today, March 8, at St. Anne’s Church, Klagetoh. Father Flann officiated. Visitation was 9 a.m., today, March 8, at St. Anne’s Church. A Rosary was 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 included her mother, Marilyn Brown; brothers, Jerome, Stewart; sister, Denise; grandparents, John Leo, Mary Leo, Joe Chee, Stella Chee.

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

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

Tse Bonito Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Kimberlynn Billy

CHINLE – Services for Kimberlynn Billy, 22, will be 1 p.m., Monday, March 10, at Chinle Potter’s House, Chinle. Artie Aragon will officiate. Burial will be in Chinle Community Cemetery.

Billy died March 5, 2008, in Chinle. She was born Jan. 3, 1986, in Chinle, into the Red Running Into the Water People Clan for the Near the Water People Clan.

Billy graduated from Rough Rock Community School and was going to school at Diné College in Chinle. Her hobbies were taking care of her children, spending time with family and friends and going to school.

Survivors include her husband, Hank Williams of Chinle; daughters, Kimisha Williams, Kinora Williams of Chinle; parents, Terry Billy of Blue Gap, Marcy Segay of Chinle; brother, Jordan Carroll of Chinle; sister, Karey Lynn Billy of Chinle.

Billy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Kee Chee and Zonnie Segay.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Carroll, Hank Williams, Jerome Segay, Jeremy Begay, Duane Shorty and Darrell Nez.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Segay’s residence, 1/4 mile north of the Old Chinle Police Dept.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Clara Kinney

ALBUQUERQUE — Funeral services for Clara B. Kinney, 89, will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 10, at Cope Memorial Chapel, Gallup. Burial will be in the community cemetery, Naschitti.

Kinney died March 7, 2008, in Albuquerque. She was born Feb. 10, 1919, in Naschitti, into the Salt People Clan for the One Who Walks Around People Clan.

Kinney was a teacher at Chuska Boarding school and dormatory attendant at Naschitti Boarding School. She was a UNM graduate.

Survivors include her sons, Gregory Sr. Kinney, David Kinney, Archie Kinney; daughter, Celine Kinney.

Kinney was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Kinney; son, Jonathan Kinney.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Joe Dawson Sr.

MEXICAN SPRINGS — Funeral services for Joe Dawson Sr., 61, will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 10, at the Tohatchi Christian Reformed Church, Tohatchi. Pastor Bobby Boyd will officiate. Burial will be in Tse Destsoi Family Cemetery, Mexican Springs.

Dawson died March 6, 2008, in Gallup. He was born Dec. 11, 1946, in Fort Defiance, into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Mexican People Clan.

Dawson attended Highlands High School, Albuquerque and graduated from Shiprock High School. His occupation was in heavy equipment operating, working at La Plata Mne, Castle Dale, Uath and Navajo Mine in Fruitland. His last employment was with NECA, Shiprock. His hobbies included playing basketball, riding and training horses and he enjoyed rodeo as a roper in USTRC and other Indian rodeo associations.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis J. Dawson; sons, Shawn Dawson of Socorro, Michael Dawson of Mesa, Joe Dawson Jr. of Mexican Springs; daughters, Lynn Dawson of Albuquerque, Tracey Dawson of Albuquerque; stepdaughter Twila R. Begay of Mexican Springs; sisters, Ruth C. Bates, Agnes Thompson, Edith Willoughby, Matilda Tahe, all of Mexican Springs; four grandchildren.

Dawson was preceded in death by his mother, Helen D. Tahe, Steven Dawson, Brianna Rohen, and his grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Norman Bates, Brandon Bates, Lionel Jackson, Leo Thomas, Norman Tsosie, and Bryan Willoughby.

The family will meet at 6 p.m., Sunday, March 9, at the Mexican Springs Chapter House.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth Beyuka

GALLUP — Services for Elizabeth Ruth Beyuka, 82, will be Tuesday, March 11.

Beyuka died Friday, March 7, 2008, in Gallup. She was born Oct. 26, 1925, in Fort Defiance, into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Red Running Into the Water People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Varis Gillespie

RAMAH — Services are pending for Varis Lurene Gillespie, 89.

Gillespie died March 7, 2008, in Gallup and was born May 31, 1918, in Kline, Colo.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.