Deaths

• Begay, Mary
• Castillo, Ned Jr.
• Harrison, John
• Ray, Frank
• Smith, Elva
• Tapaha, Edward
• Yurcic, Johnna

Mary Begay

LITTLEWATER — Services for Mary Begay, 65, will be 10 a.m., today, May 29, at the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Crownpoint. Burial will be in private family land, Whiteridge, N.M.

Begay died May 22, 2008, in Shiprock. She was born Dec. 28, 1942, in Borrego Pass, N.M,

Survivors include her children, Vicky Brown of Tooele, Utah, Brenda Tom of Littlewater, Tommy L. Begay of Thoreau, Robert Begay of Casamero Lake, Verna Yazzie of Crownpoint; mother, Emma R. Jones of Borrego Pass; sisters, Anna Mitchell of Littlewater, Erma Hardy of Littlewater, Lora Platero of Littlewater; brothers, Tom Nez of Belen, Edward Jones of Littlewater, Eddie Jones Jr. of Littlewater, Harrison Jones Sr. of Littlewater; 16 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Begay was preceded in death by her father, Phillip Nez.

Compassion Mortuary is incharge of arrangements.

Ned Castillo Jr.

CHINLE — Graveside services for Ned Castillo Jr., 37, will be 1 p.m. May 30, at the family land, Smoke Signal, Ariz. Rev. Nance will officiate.

Castillo died May 25, 2008, in Flagstaff. He was born Jan. 14, 1971, in Keams Canyon, into the Zuni, Red Running Into the Water People Clan for the Mexican People Clan.

Castillo attended Chinle High School and graduated in 1989, Diné College, Tsaile, and graduated in 1993. He was an outstanding wrestler and football player for Chinle High School and 2 times state qualifier for wrestling. Castillo was a guitar player and was recently employed with the Navajo Tribe.

Survivors include his wife, Thomasita Guy Castillo of Chinle; parents, Ned and Sarah Castillo Sr. of Smoke Signal; grandmother, Eleonor Judy of Smoke Signal.

Castillo was preceded in death by his grandmother, Ruth Castillo; grandfather, Jason Judy.

Pallbearers will be Ned Castillo Sr., Jay Cee Judy, Larry Blackmountain Jr., Jakeson Jack Bahe, Regvnald Woody, Jackson Bahe, and Gregory R. Yazzie.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 1/4 mile south of Smoke Signal Mission.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

John Harrison

BIRD SPRINGS, Ariz. — Funeral services for John B. Harrison Jr., 53, will be 10 a.m. MST, Friday, May 30, at Norvel Owens Mortuary Chapel, 914 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona.

Harrison died May 20, 2008 in Phoenix. He was born on Sept. 21, 1954, into the Deer Spring People Clan for the Tangle People Clan.

Survivors include his wife, Carol John; children, Freeman, Athena, and Christopher Harrison; mother, Hope; sisters, Esther Miller, June Jim, Ruth Harrison, Delores Murray, Melinda Harrison; three grandchildren.

Harrison was preceded in death by his father, John B. Harrison. Sr.; sister, Evelyn.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.norvelowensmortuary.com.

Frank Ray

ALBUQUERQUE — Memorial Services for Frank Anthony Ray, 74, will be 9 a.m. May 30, at the Rollie Mortuary, Gallup. Rev. Lalo will officiate. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Gallup. Visitation will be at Rollie Mortuary. A rosary was recited on May 29, 2008, at the Rollie Chapel.

Ray died May 25, 2008, in Albuquerque. He was born Nov. 3, 1933, in Gallup.

Ray graduated from Gallup High in 1953, and attended the University of New Mexico, School of Accounting. He was then employed by Gurley Motors in Gallup and later moved to Albuquerque where he worked and retired from Cutter Flying Service. Ray was a veteran of the US Army. In 1973, he and his four closest friends founded the American Waterslager Society (AWS). Ray was an avid Hot Air Balloon enthusiast that attended the first Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and most of them since.

Survivors include his brother, Sam D. Ray Sr.
Ray was preceded in death by his father, Tony Ray; mother, Diana (Annie) Ray.

Pallbearers will be Joe Hausner, Ralph Ortega, William Silva, Chris Silva, and Eddie Ortega.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Frank Ray’s name to the American Waterslager Society, 556 S. Cactus Wren St., Gilbert, Arizona 85269-2402.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Elva Smith

AZTEC — Memorial services for Elva Leta Smith, 98, will be 2 p.m. May 31, at the First United Methodist Church, Gallup. The Rev. Layloui Drake will officiate. Private Disposition will in Sunset Memorial Park, Gallup.

Smith died May 26, 2008, in Aztec. She was born Jan. 6, 1910, in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Smith was a member of the 1st United Methodist Church, Naomi-Rebecca Circle, Ford Canyon Sr. Citizens, and RSVP Board of Directors.

Survivors include her daughters, Gwen Elkins of Aztec, Jane Ann Polich of Gallup; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.

Smith was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd B. Smith; daughter, Patsy Jean Smith.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church or charity of choice.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Edward Tapaha

WINDOW ROCK — Funeral services for Edward Tapaha, 40, will be 1 p.m. May 30, at the Palm Chapel. A family member will officiate. Burial will be in Gallup City Cemetery. Visitation will be 12 p.m. at the Palm Chapel.

Tapaha died May 26, 2008, in Albuquerque. He was born June 11, 1965, in Sacramento, Calif., into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.

Tapaha attended Window Rock schools, Denver Trucking School to obtain his CDL. He worked as a Bus driver for McKinley County School, Waste Management at Window Rock and McDonalds. Tapaha liked to read, draw, travel and be with family.

Survivors include his son, Escudero Tapaha; daughter, Esmerelda Tapaha; sister, Josephine Tapaha; one grandchild.

Tapaha was preceded in death by his parents, James and Evelyn Tapaha; grandparents, Sam Seeley, Nellie T. Jumbo, Dino Tapaha.

Pallbearers will be Art Begay, Orlando Tapaha, Escudero Tapaha, Duane Ellsworth, Phillip Reed, Ross Spencer.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Eleanor Seeley’s residence, Fort Defiance, 4 p.m. on May 30.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Johnna Yurcic

LAS VEGAS — Funeral services for Johnna Yurcic, 63, will be 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, at Palm Mortuary, Downtown 1325 North Main Street, Las Vegas. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, at the Sunset Memorial Park in Gallup.

Yurcic died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Las Vegas.

Survivors include his wife, Sue; daughters, Jenica and Kristin Yurcic; sister, Doreen Mataya.

Yurcic was well-known in both the national music and television industries.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Southwest Indian Foundation, located in Gallup, New Mexico.