Deaths

• Caroline Begay
• Faith Bitsie
• Robert Felson Sr.
• Alberta Havens-Lawrence
• Donald Johnson
• Pat Martinez
• Connie Pierce
  

Caroline Begay

CHINLE — Services for Caroline Ann Begay, 58, will be 10 a.m., May 14, at Grace Fellowship Church, Chinle. Joe J. Begay will officiate. Burial will be in Chinle Community Cemetery.

Begay died May 10, 2011, in Flagstaff. She was born Nov. 10, 1952, in Chinle, into the Towering House People Clan for the Water Edge People Clan.

Begay graduated from Chinle High School and attended Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. She was employed as a cook at the public schools. She enjoyed her family and her friend’s company. She was always willing to lend a hand when her family and friends needed help. Begay had a kind, loving heart.

Survivors include her daughters, Jennifer Hickman of Rio Rancho, Denise Hickman of To’hajiilee; brothers, Dennison “Sonny” Begay, Dennis Jr., Marshall Francis, James Francis, Gary Francis, Michael Francis; sisters, Ramona A. Begay, Margaret A. Begay, Darlene Francis, Carol Francis; one grandchild.

Begay was preceded in death by her brother, Boyd Begay; mother, Louise D. Tso; grandparents, Wooley and Mary Mitchell; great-grandparents, Frank and Rose Mitchell.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Caroline’s residence, following services.
Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Faith Bitsie

TOHATCHI — Funeral services for Faith Jones Bitsie, 70, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at Bethany Christian Reformed Church. The Rev. Stanley Jim will officiate. Burial will be in Tohatchi Community Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., today, May 13, at Cope Memorial Chapel.
Bitsie died May 10, 2011, in Albuquerque. She was born April 12, 1941, in Rehoboth, into the Towering House People Clan for the Tangle People Clan.

Bitsie graduated from Valley High in Albuquerque, attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. and earned her CNA at UNM-Gallup. She was employed as a Navajo Nation Community Health Representative for 27 years in Tsayatoh and Tohatchi. She was a member of the Gallup Indian Medical Center Health Board, Tohatchi Veterans Association and active participant at the Tohatchi Sr. Center. Bitsie educated the community on health issues and organized the Tohatchi Red Ribbon Run, Just Move It and diabetic screenings. Her hobbies included traveling, gardening, donating time and items to community causes, doing word search puzzles and visiting grandchildren.

Survivors include her son, Morris Bitsie of Albuquerque; daughters, LaVerne Bitsie-Baldwin of Manhattan, Kan., Jennifer Ann Bitsie of Albuquerque; mother, Naomi Becenti of Gallup; brothers, Leroy Thompson Sr. of Albuquerque, Francis Becenti, Stewart Jones, both of Gallup, Paul Jones Jr. of Gamerco, Harold Jones of Window Rock; sisters, Priscilla Becenti, Geri Harrison, both of Gallup, Helene Grisby of Tulsa, Okla, Pauline Cardenas of Stevens, Ohio, Cynthia Mendez of Vancouver, Wash., Luella Begay of Albuquerque; three grandchildren.
Bitsie was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Bitsie; father, Paul Jones Jr.; brothers, Ronald Jones, Morris Paul Jones, Ernest Thompson Sr.

Pallbearers will be Ernest Thompson Jr., Fred Thompson, Anthony Thompson, Byron Bitsoie, Leonard (LT) Watson Jr., Zane Harrison.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Tohatchi Chapter House, following services.
Go to www.danielsfuneral.com to send condolences.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Felson Sr.

CHURCHROCK — Funeral services for Robert Felson Sr., 59, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at Rehoboth Christian Reform Church, Rehoboth. The Rev. Bobby Boyd will officiate. Burial will bein Sunset Memorial Park, Gallup.

Felson died May 9, 2011, in Gallup. He was born Feb. 10, 1952, in Rehoboth, into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Zuni People Clan.

Felson attended Churchrock Elementary, Central Junior High, Gallup High and Long Beach Tech. Institute. He worked at Giant Refinery, Walmart and Home Depot. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Gallup Bengals fan. Felson enjoyed being with family and friends. He liked to travel and play guitars. He was a member of Native American Church.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice W. Felson of Churchrock; son, Robert Felson Jr. of Farmington; daughter, Melissa Paul of Sandtan Valley, Ariz.; brother, John Felson Jr. of California; sisters, Laura Felson, Laurel Felson, Pearlene Felson, all of Pinedale; three grandchildren.

Felson was preceded in death by his parents, John Felson Sr., Fannie B. Felson; brothers, Roger Felson, James Felson Sr.; sister, Rosemary Felson.

Pallbearers will be Ray Trephibio, Donovan Felson, James Felson Jr., Byron J. Felson, Leighton J. Felson, Manny Watchman.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Churchrock Chapter House, following services.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Alberta Havens-Lawrence

TOHLAKAI — Memorial service for Alberta Havens-Lawrence, 64, will be 10:30 a.m., May 14, at Bethlehem Christian Reformed Church, Tohlakai. The Rev. Dan Kruis will officiate. Private disposition will be in family plot, Tohlakai.

Havens-Lawrence died May 9, 2011, in Phoenix. She was born July 31, 1946, in Fort Defiance, into the Near the Water People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Havens-Lawrence graduated from Gallup High School and Haskell Indian Jr. College. She attended college in San Diego, Calif. She retired from BIA in Phoenix. Her hobbies included reading, baking, walking, sending greeting cards and watching the Phoenix Suns basketball games with her husband. She was a member of Phoenix Humane Society and had a big compassion of her dogs and cats.

Survivors include her husband, James Lawrence of Phoenix; step-son, David Lawrence of Moorehead, Minn.; daughter, Michele Mikszta of Phoenix; mother, Mary Havens of Tohlakai; brothers, Vernon Havens, Alvin Havens, both of Tohlakai; sister, L. Carole Havens; two grandchildren.
Havens-Lawrence was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Havens; sister, Lori Thompson; brother, Rudolph C. Havens.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Bethlehem Christian Reformed Church, Tohlakai.

Donald Johnson

STEAMBOAT — Funeral services for Donald Frederick Johnson (DJ), 61, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Steamboat. The Rev. Peter Lee Yazzie will officiate. Burial will be in family plot, Steamboat. Visitation will be 9 a.m., May 14, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Johnson died May 10, 2011, in Gallup. He was born Sept. 9, 1949, in Fort Defiance, into the Mexican People Clan for the One Walks Around People Clan.

Johnson graduated from Hillcrest High School, Midvale, Utah in 1968. Two years at BYU, Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was a cross-country runner. He enlisted in 1969 with the US Army, served in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1972. His employment covered the Navajo Nation Housing Services, Navajo Nation Economic Development, Hopi Housing Authority and was self employed as construction inspector. He was an avid basketball player. Johnson loved various music, above all he loved his family and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Johnson of Tohlakai; sons, Matthew Nez of Gallup, Dominic Johnson of Phoenix; daughter, Deane Johnson of Tohlakai; brothers, Chester Johnson of Gallup, Richard Quintana of Steamboat, Leto Quintana of Gallup, Freddie Quintana of Toyei; sister, Carmen Yazzie of Steamboat; eight grandchildren.

Johnson was preceded in death by her mother, Elva Hildreth-Johnson; sister, Rita “Tootsie” White.
Pallbearers will be Shawn Oliver, Dominic Johnson, Geremy Skeet, Freddie Quintana, Chester Johnson, Erwin Brown.

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

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Pat Martinez

BOULDER CITY, Nev. — Funeral Mass for Pat Richard Martinez, 72, will be 10 a.m., Monday, May 16, at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church. The Very Rev. Alberto Avella will officiate. Burial will be in Grants Memorial Park. A Rosary will be recited 7 p.m., Sunday, May 15, at Compassion Mortuary.

Martinez died May 9, 2011, in Henderson, Nev. He was born Aug. 27, 1938.

Martinez worked as a uranium and gold miner until retirement, first in Grants and then in Elko, Nev. They moved to Boulder City in 2000 and he worked at Boulder Oaks RV Park, in which they lived. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, dancing and spending time at the casinos. Martinez had a strong faith in God and was a member of the St. Jude’s Catholic Church. He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Tillie Martinez; daughters, Dell Baker, Patty Bechtel; step-children, Brenda Michael, David Jaramillo; sisters, Isabel Aragon, Helen Trujillo, Lucy Duran, Lea Medina; brothers, Joe Martinez, Ernest Martinez, Pete Martinez, Lolo Martinez; six step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild.
Martinez was preceded in death by his parents, Delfinio and Areclia Martinez; sister, Marge Lucero.

Pallbearers will be Andrew Michael, Lawrence Martinez, David Jaramillo, Lance Martinez, George Baker, Steve Martinez.
Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to sign online guest book.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Connie Pierce

BLOOMFIELD — Graveside services for Connie Gene Pierce, 56, will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 16, at Memory Gardens, 6917 E. Main St., Farmington. Craig Montroy will officiate.

Pierce died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 in Farmington. She was born Jan. 10, 1955, in Lubbock, Texas.
Pierce graduated from Bloomfield High in 1977.

he received her early education in some of the first special education classes ever offered in Gallup. She traveled to Europe and North Africa with her parents and lived on her own in group homes. She worked in several fields in Albuquerque and Farmington, and was one of the few able to safely run table saws and other power tools. In 1987, she retired and came home to her TV shows, casinos and traveling with her parents.
Survivors include her mother, Phyllis Rae Pierce; brother, Jearl R. Pierce; sister, Karla K. Evens.
Pierce was preceded in death by her father, Jearl G. Slim Piece; sister, Cherly Marie; grandparents, Helen Monroe, Chester Monroe, Minnie M. Pierce, James Oscar Pierce.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ARC Thrift Town, Inc., 200 W. Broadway, Farmington, NM, 87401.

Go to www.danielsfuneral.com to send condolences.