Deaths

• Hale, Henry
• Harris, Jasper
• Upshaw, William Jr.
• Vigil, Ernest Jr.
• Yoe, Jane

Henry Hale

RICO RIVERA, Calif. — Funeral Mass for Henry A. Hale, 75, will be 10 a.m., Monday, May 11, at St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Michaels. The Rev. Gilbert Schneider will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Visitation will be 9-10 a.m., one hour prior to services.

Hale died May 4, 2009, in Whitties, Calif. He was born April 14, 1939, in Oak Springs, into the Saline Water People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.

Hale attended Hunters Point Boarding School. When he was 21 years old he moved to California to attend Sherman Indian School in Riverside. He graduated in 1953. He retired from Norris Industries after 42 years of service. Hale was very active in the Pow Wow circuit as a Southern Plains style singer and dancer. He was nationally recognized for his skills in hoop dancing, fancy feather dancing and drumming. He formed the Hale Dancing Company and the drumming group known as Hale and Company. Hale was the longest serving active board member of the Southern California Indian Center Inc.

Survivors include his wife, Lucy Jean Hale; sons, Benjamin A. Hale, Bruce A. Hale, Kevin C. Hale, Phillip R. Hale; daughters, Kathy Panjwani, Sandra M. Logan, Melinda A. Alvarado; brothers, Vernon Hale Sr., Joe Hale, James T. Hale, Frank Hale Jr.; sister, Evelyn Hale, Ethel Roanhorse, Mary Ruiz, Jeanette Hale-Begay, Aileen Hale-Chee; 12 grandchildren.

Hale was preceded in death by Frank K. Hale Sr., Ahadesbah Hale, David E. Hale, Bruce Peshlakai.
Pallbearers will be Benjamin Hale, Kevin Hale, Phillip Hale, Nathan Logan, Martin Orozco, Scotman Hale.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Michaels Mission Hall, following services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Jasper Harris

BLOOMFIELD — Funeral services for Jasper Philip Harris, 81, will be 10 a.m., Thursday, May 14, at Cow Palace, Grants. Memorial services will be 1 p.m., today, May 9, at #26 County Road 5190, Bloomfield. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at Compassion Mortuary, Grants.

Harris died May 6, 2009, in Bloomfield. He was born May 5, 1928, in Bluewater.

Harris attended school in Grants. He moved to Farmington in 1996. He was a rancher and later became a pilot. Harris and his family owned the Cow Palace Western Wear Store. His latest venture is in a successful Commercial Cleaning business.

Survivors include his wife, Kimberly Harris; sons, Wayne Harris, Buck Harris; daughter, Tyra VanBelle; brother, Andy Harris; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

Harris was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Harris; son, LP Harris; parents, Virgil Harris, Caroline Harris; brother, Vigril Harris; sisters, Jessie Quin, Myrtle Corley; one grandchild; one great-grandchild.

Pallbearers will be Brittny Padilla, Spurlin Darby, Ty Darby, Casey VanBelle, J.W. Harris, Who Harris.

William Upshaw Jr.

GALLUP — Funeral services for William “Mickey” Upshaw Jr., 73, will be 10 a.m., Monday, May 11, at Rollie Mortuary Chapel. Sister Marlene will officiate. Burial will be in Lone Pine Cemetery, Mexican Springs.

Upshaw died May 6, 2009, in Fort Defiance. He was born Dec. 7, 1935, in Rehoboth, into the Sioux People Clan for the Folded Arms People Clan.

Upshaw served in the US Army from 1958-1962, and attended University of Notre Dame and played football for Norte Dame. He worked as a contractor specialist for the U.S. Government and retired with the Navajo Nation. Upshaw enjoyed fishing, being outdoors and being with family.

Survivors include his wife, Val Upshaw of Gallup; sons, Maurice Upshaw, Robert H. Upshaw, Calvin L. Upshaw, all of Brimhall, William Jack Upshaw, Alverman Tsosie, Peterson Tsosie of Fort Defiance, Clarence Tom of Gallup; daughters, Charlene Upshaw Lansing of Brimhall, Darith Bluitt of Gallup, Loretta Tsosie of Fort Defiance; brother, Silas Upshaw of Texas; sisters, Corrina Owen’s of Minnesota, Yvonne Begay of Odgen, Utah, Rowena Peshlakai of Sheepsprings, Lois English of Salt Lake City, Utah, Delores Tso of Toadlena; 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.

Upshaw was preceded in death by his father, William R. Upshaw Sr.; mother, Lorena C. LaPlante Upshaw; brother, Michael Upshaw; sister, Marilyn Upshaw.

Pallbearers will be Maurice Upshaw, Calvin Upshaw, Mike Roper, Alvin Bitsilly, Alvernon Tsosie, Michael Bluitt.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ernest Vigil Jr.

ALBUQUERQUE — Memorial services for Ernest John Vigil Jr., 49, will be 6 p.m., tonight, May 9, at Reflections of Life Chapel, Albuquerque. Mass of Intentions will be 9 a.m., Sunday, May 24, at St. Francis Church, Gallup. Private disposition will be at a later date.

Vigil died May 7, 2009, in Albuquerque. He was born Sept. 1, 1951, in Raton.

Vigil enjoyed doing mechanic work, fishing, camping, sharing special moments with family, friends and his pets. He had a heart of gold and will be missed by all.

Survivors include his companion, Lojann Hooee; sons, Ernest Vigil III, Anthony Vigil, Dominic Vigil; daughters, Alisha Vigil, Mary Lou Vigil, Ernestine Vigil, Tiffany Vigil, Shalene Thompson; brothers, Richard Vigil, Manuel Vigil, David Vigil, Andrew Vigil; sister, Debra Vigil.

Vigil was preceded in death by his father, Ernest John Vigil Sr.; mother, Mary Atenzion Hernandez; sister, May Lou Vigil.

Jane Yoe

WHEATFIELDS — Funeral services for Jane C. Yoe, 92, will be 10 a.m., Monday, May 11, at St. Isabel Mission, Lukachukai. The Rev. Cormac Antram, OFM, will officiate. Burial will be in community cemetery, Lukachukai. Visitation will be one hour prior to services.

Yoe died May 7, 2009, in Chinle. She was born Feb. 14, 1917, in Chinle, into the Towering House People Clan for the Tangle People Clan.

Yoe attended Fort Defiance Boarding School and graduated from Santa Fe Saint Katheryn Indian School. She was employed with BIA Lukachukai Boarding School as a clerical. She was also a homemaker and rancher. Her hobbies include sewing, cooking, rug weaver, and horse back riding. Survivors include his son, Paul Yoe of Wheatfields; daughter, May Ann John of Fort Defiance; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.

Yoe was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Yoe; parents, Sam Charley Yellowhair, Lilly Charley; brothers, Juan Charley, Samuel Charley; sister, Isabelle Charley; one granddaughter.

Pallbearers will be family members.