Deaths

• Anslem Bia Sr.
• Nelson Chaco
• Anna Forkner
• Margaret Foster
• Crystalyn Johnson
• Irene McDonald
• Richard Medlin
• Jimmy Peters
• Delores Thompson
  

Anslem Bia Sr.

SAWMILL — Funeral services for Anslem B. Bia Sr., 79, will be 10 a.m., July 2, at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Fort Defiance. The Rev. Gilbert Schneider, OFM will officiate. Burial will be in family plot, Sawmill. Visitation will be 9 a.m., July 2, at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.

Bia was born Dec. 10, 1931, in Chinle, into the Cliff Dwellers People Clan for the Red Bottom People Clan.

Bia retired from NFPI Lumber Grader, Navajo. He was a long time NAC member and was a certified lumber grader. He enjoyed horsemanship, beadwork, landscaping, carpentry, teacher of strong traditional valves for family unity.

Survivors include his wife, Laura R. Bia; sons, Dennison, Anslem Jr., Gary, Virgil, Talbert Bia, Phillison Brown; daughters, Rita Bia, Regina Tabaha, Virginia Yazzie, Ava Yazzie; parents, Hast ii l ts’ ósí and Ethel Tallwood; 21 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.
Bia was preceded in death by Timothy Bia, Hosteen Tallwood, Keith Tallwood, James Tallwood, Stella Lilly, Rose Tsosie, Mary Lou Kaskaski.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Francis Catholic Hall, Sawmill, following services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nelson Chaco

THOREAU — Services for Nelson Chaco, 83, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 2, at First Baptist Church, Thoreau. Burial will be in Chaco home, RA 109, State Highway 371, one mile noth of the Rainbow Trading Post, Thoreau

Chaco died June 28, 2011, in Gallup. He was born Oct. 28, 1927, in Smith Lake, into the Towering House People Clan for the Two Came to Water People Clan.

Chaco was a retired railroad worker and an experienced silversmith. He enjoyed attending church services and revivals. At home he would always be doing outside work such as chopping wood and attending to livestock.

Survivors include his sons, Paulson Chaco, Dennison Chacho, both of Thoreau; daughters, Joleen Chaco of Gallup, Dora Rebeles of Edgewood; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Chaco was preceded in death by his parents, Tom Chaco, Fannie Largo Chaco; brother, James Chaco; sisters, Flora Chaco, Martha House, Grace Chaco.

Pallbearers will be Sebastian Chaco, Lawson Vaivai, Alexander Williams, Matthew Williams, Justine Chaco-Vaivai, Marquitta Chaco.

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

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Anna Forkner

GALLUP — Memorial services for Anna Marie Forkner, 85, will be Saturday, July 2, at St. Francis, Gallup. The Rev. Larry Bernard will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, Gallup. A rosary will be recited 9:30 a.m., Saturday, July 2, at St. Francis.

Forkner died June 26, 2011, in Gallup. She was born April 2, 1926, in Gallup.

Forkner graduated from Gallup Cathedral High School. She was a life residence of Gallup. She enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and doing her puzzle books.

Survivors include her husband, Harold Forkner; sons, Billy Forkner of Gallup, Abel Forkner of Prewitt; sister, Theresa Mendoza of Gallup; four grandchildren.

Forkner was preceded in death by her parents, Abel Martinez Sr., Tomasita Martinez; brothers, Abel Martinez Jr., Zeke Giron; sister, Jennie Vega.

Pallbearers will be Alex Forkner, Nicole Forkner, Patrick Forkner, Derrick Forkner, Jake Darby, Randy Haskins.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Foster

GANADO — Funeral services for Margaret Foster, 90, will be 1 p.m., today, July 1, at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament. The Rev. Gilbert Schneider will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Visitation was 9 a.m., June 30, at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament.
Foster died June 28, in Albuquerque. She was born April 15, 1921, in Ganado.

Survivors include her sons, Eugene Oree Foster, Harold Church Foster Jr., Larry P. Foster, Leonard P. Foster; daughter, Marilyn Keedah; sisters, Mary B. Smith, Esther Jumbo, Sadie Robbins.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Fort Defiance Chapter House, following services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Crystalyn Johnson

GALLUP — Services for Crystalyn Ann Johnson, 27, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 2, at Cope Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Bobby Boyd will officiate. Burial will be in Rehoboth Cemetery.
Johnson died June 26, 2011, in Gallup. She was born Jan. 11, 1984, in Gallup, into the Folded Arms People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Johnson attended Churchrock Elementary, JFK Middle School, Gallup Jr. High, graduated in 2002 from Gallup High School and attended Apollo College to become a medical assistant, graduating in 2003. She worked at SED Medical Laboratory in Albuquerque and RMCH
Survivors include her parents, Frederick Johnson Sr., Judy Sam of Churchrock; brothers, Frederick Johnson Jr. Johnathon Johnson, Elias Johnson, all of Churchrock; grandparents, Julian Sam, Julia Sam of Counselor, Jimmy Johnson of Churchrock.
Johnson was preceded in death by her grandmother, Grace Johnson; great-grandparents, Juan and Agnes Yazzie, George Antonio, Julia Pinto.

Pallbearers will be Paul D. Lee Jr., Harrington Lee, Raymond Pablito, Paulsen Lee, Jerry Sam, Julian Sam Jr.

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

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Irene McDonald

SEDONA, Ariz. — Services for Irene McDonald, 102, will be 10 a.m., Thursday, July 7, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 415 E. Green, Gallup. The Very Rev. Lawrence J. O’Keefe will officiate.

McDonald died Wednesday, June 22, 2011. She was born April 10, 1909, in Little Chute, Wis.
She graduated as a registered nurse from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Oshkosh, Wis., with an associate degree from the Milwaukee Children's Hospital. Much of her career was spent in United Verde Hospital in Jerome, Ariz., and as a school nurse which she loved both in the Flagstaff Elementary Schools and in the Northern Arizona University Health Department. She was a member of the NAU Retirees, the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup and P.E.O. Chapter C in Gallup. McDonald enjoyed writing poetry, reading, sewing, gardening, and walking as a physical activity. She will be remembered for her positive and friendly attitude.

Survivors include her daughters, Janet Kauzlaric, Martha Mackler; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

McDonald was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis J. McDonald.

Go to www.westcottfuneralhome.com to sign online guestbook.

Richard Medlin

QUEMADO — Services for Richard Lee Medlin, 84, will be 2 p.m., today, July 1, at Quemado First Baptist Church, Quemado. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery, Quemado.

Medlin died June 22, 2011, in Albuquerque. He was born April 23, 1927, in Chickasha, Okla.
Medlin was a retired Pastor of the Gospel and a Carpenter. He was veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Hogg Medlin of Quemado; daughter, Yvonne Armstrong of Quemado; foster children, Natalia Mora, Tony Perez, Juan Perez, Andy Perez, Roberto Perez; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many fost grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Medlin was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin E. Medlin, Ada Mabel Medlin; sisters; brother, Lynn Paul Medlin; foster daughters, Gloria Perez, Jennie Perez.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Armstrong, Robert Perez, Juan Perez, Larry Armstrong, Kendal Armstrong, James Reid.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Jimmy Peters

SHEEPSPRINGS — Funeral services for Jimmy J. Peters, 79, will be 11 a.m., Saturday, July 2, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, Sheepsprings. Brother Bill Young will officiate.

Burial will be in Sheepsprings Community Cemetery. Visitation will be 10-10:45 a.m., July 2.
Peters died Monday, July 27, 2011, in Sheepsprings. He was born May 20, 1932, in Toadlena.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth J. Woody; sister, Selina Matchers.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Sheepsprings Community Cemetery, following services.

Delores Thompson

STANDING ROCK — Funeral services for Delores Dawes Thompson, 65, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 2, at Rollie Mortuary, Gallup. Brother Gardener will officiate. Burial will be in Red Water Pond.

Thompson died June 26, 2011, in Albuquerque. She was born May 31, 1946, in Crownpoint, into the Zuni People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Thompson attended Intermountain Boarding School. She was a homemaker, rug weaver and did bead work. She was part of NAC. She enjoyed being around her grandchildren. Her hobbies included watching the Denver Broncos and Denver Nuggets, doing puzzles and listening to George Strait songs.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Thompson; sons, Gerold Thompson of Manuelito, Harold Thompson of Little Water, Harry D. Thompson of Gallup, Jerome D. Thompson of Standing Rock; daughters, Charlene D. Thompson of Nahodishgish, Michelle D. Thompson of Standing Rock; brothers, Arthur Dawes, Johnny Tsosie, Wallace Paul, Nelson Rodger, Edison Dawes, Kenneth Dawes; sisters, Annie Dawes, Anita Dawes, Barbara Navajo, Mary Williams, Louies Dawes, Wilhelmina Marshall, Linda Dawes, Victoria Dawes; 16 grandchildren.

Thompson was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Eleanor H. Dawes; son, Arnold Jim.
Pallbearers will be Gerald Thompson, Harold Thompson, Harry O. Thompson, LeArthur Wilson, Alfred Henry, Jemison James, Michael Montague.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Nahodishgish Chapter House, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.