Deaths

• Begaye, Samantha
• Benally, Edwin
• Nieto, Gabrial
• Skeets, Bennie
• Spencer, Nelson
• Talayumptewa, Beulah
• Tennison-Woody, Marilyn

Samantha Begaye

NASCHITTI — Services for Samantha Begaye, 34, will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Naschitti Christian Reformed Church. Jerome Sandoval will officiate. Burial will be in Naschitti Community Cemetery.

Begaye died Aug. 28, 2009, in Naschitti. She was born Feb. 12, 1975, in Gallup, into the Salt People Clan for the Water Flows Together People Clan.

Begaye attended Rehoboth Christian School, Tohatchi Middle School, Newcomb High School, and Navajo Community College majoring in Art.

She was employed with the Mesa Verde National Park, Blackfeet Firefighters of Browning, Mont., and was self-employed in arts and crafts. Growing up she was known for her talent in Basketball and long distance running. She was very artistic and loved to paint, listen to music and hang out with friends.

Survivors include her son, Dominick Shaw Tsosie of Naschitti; mother, Linda Livingston of Naschitti; brothers, Christopher Begaye of Lake Valley, Lucius Begaye of Naschitti; sisters, Lucinda Tailfeathers of Browning, Mont., Louise Begaye of Naschitti, Samuelita Begaye of Teec Nos Pos.

Begaye was preceded in death by her brother, Marcus Begaye; father, Samuel Begaye; grandparents, Tony Livingston, Victoria Livingston, Joe Dineh Yazzie, Marie Manuelito.

Pallbearers will be Jason Jake Calf Rope, Augustin Eagle Speaker, Jermaine Thompson, Ernie Henry, Barlow Smith, Lewis Watchman.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Edwin Benally

MEXICAN SPRINGS — Services are pending for Edwin Kee Benally, 31.

Benally died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. He was born Oct. 3, 1977, in Gallup, into the Hairy People Clan for the Edge Water People Clan.

Community gathering will be 5 p.m., tonight, Sept. 1, at Mexican Springs Chapter House.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Gabrial Nieto

GRANTS — Funeral Mass for Gabrial Nathan Nieto 28, will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 3, at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church. Burial will be in Grants Memorial Park. The Very Rev. Alberto Avella will officiate. A rosary will be 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept.2, at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.

Nieto died Aug. 29, 2009, in Grants. He was born July 8, 1981, in Albuquerque.

Survivors include his wife, Melinda Montano Nieto of Grants; son, Matthew Nieto of Grants; daughter, Esabella Nieto of Grants; parents, Mauricio Nieto and Sylvia Holguin Nieto of Grants; brothers, Roy Holguin of Grants, Alex Nieto of Grants, Jessie Nieto of Grants; grandparents, Hortencia Nieto of El Paso, Texas, Roberto Holguin and Socorro Holguin of El Paso, Texas.

Nieto was preceded in death by his grandfather, Mauricio Nieto Sr.

Pallbearers will be Roy Holguin, Alex Nieto, Jessie Nieto, James Martinez, Chris Rougemont, Jacob Aldaz, Miguel Aldaz, Nick Hernandez, Andrew Holguin, Jerry Phol, Sr., Jerry Phol, Jr., Christopher Montano, Xaiver Hernandez.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements

Bennie Skeets

BRIMHALL — Services are pending for Bennie Skeets, 63.

Skeets died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Albuquerque. He was born March 29, 1946, in Rockypoint.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements

Nelson Spencer

PHOENIX — Services for Nelson Spencer, 83, will be 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, at Holbrook Faith Assembly of God, Holbrook. The Rev. Marcus James will officiate. Burial will be in Holbrook Cemetery.

Spencer died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Phoenix. He was born in 1926, in Greasewood, into the Towering House People Clan for the Bitterwater Clan.

Spencer attended Leupp Boarding School and Fort Wingate High School. He joined the Marines at the age of 16, where he was encouraged to join the United States Army. During his service in the Army, he traveled throughout the Philippines, Hawaiian Islands ending his service in Nagasaki, Japan. He boxed professional, played chess, shot pool, threw darts, played ping-pong, played baseball and fished. Upon his honorable discharge he worked for the railroad and traveled throughout the United States. He and his wife returned to the Navajo reservation, where he was hired as a Navajo Police Officer, built a home and started their family. He later worked 10 years for Chester E. Lewis at the Wigwam Texaco Station, 2 years at the Snowflake Paper Mill, 25 years for Milton Phillips at the Holbrook Shell Truck Terminal., and retired in 1995. Spencer was a member of the Faith Assembly of God Church and the Holbrook American Legion Post #37. He loved to travel and enjoyed the beauty of Arizona. He enjoyed visiting the various casinos throughout Arizona. He spent the remaining 10 years of his life in Phoenix. He participated in the family baseball games, bowling tournaments, volleyball games and entered various horseshoe tournaments. He also enjoyed sitting under the sun during family events listening to the sound of laughter from his children and grandchildren.He was a fan of the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Rattlers, Atlanta Braves and the Phoenix Suns.

Survivors include his sons, Herman B. Spencer of Showlow, Leon Spencer of Tiss Tsoh Sikaad, Arthur Spencer of Holbrook; daughters, Kathleen Spencer Bain Sr. of Phoenix, Gloria S. Montoya of Holbrook, Beverly Patricia Spencer of Phoenix; sisters, Nellie Denetso of Greasewood, Evelyn Baldwin of Grand Junction, Colo., Helen Allen of Flagstaff; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

Spencer was preceded in death by his wife, Lois B. Spencer; mother, Lena Elk; sisters, Mary Lou Kinlicheenie, Faye Ward; grandparents John and Yanibah Cowboy; one grandson; one great-granddaughter.

Pallbearers will be Ernest J. Montoya, Jr., Nicholas Montoya, Vino Manuel, Erik Nelson Bain, Reginald Bain Jr., Matt Philpott, Michael Daniel Spencer and Christopher Spencer
The family will receive relatives and friends at 5 p.m., tonight, Sept. 1, at Holbrook Faith Assembly of God, 311 E. Erie Street, Holbrook. A reception will follow at the church.

Beulah Talayumptewa

GALLUP — Funeral Mass for Beulah Lorinda Talayumptewa, 39, will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup.

Talayumptewa died Aug. 27, 2009. She was born Feb. 27, 1970.

The family will meet 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Knights of Columbus Hall (KC Hall).

Marilyn Tennison-Woody

CHURCHROCK — Services are pending for Marilyn Scott Tennison-Woody, 47.

Tennison-Woody died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Gallup. Born June 25, 1962, in Fort Defiance.
Family gathering will be 5 p.m., tonight, Sept. 1, at Churchrock Chapter House.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.