Deaths

• Edith Mae Curley-Jones
• Brenda Geneva Lee
• Earl Nelson
• Bernadette Marie Peina
• ‘Tony’ Sanchez
• Benjamin Sells
• Stewart Silentman
• Floyd Toledo

Edith Mae Curley-Jones

STANDING ROCK — Funeral services for Edith Mae Curley-Jones, 72, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Rollie Mortuary Chapel. The Rev Dennis Gardener will officiate. Burial will be in Gallup City Cemetery.

Curley-Jones died Aug. 22, 2011, in Gallup. She was born Oct. 11, 1938, in Rehoboth into the Waters Edge People Clan for the Zuni People Clan.

Curley-Jones went to Sherman Indian School in Riverside, Calif., and Intermountain Indian School in Brigham, Utah. She worked at General Dynamics in Shiprock and at the Navajo Skills Center in Crownpoint.

Survivors include her husband David E. Jones, of Standing Rock; daughters Sharon Ann Curley, of Albuquerque, Leah Marie Coan, of Crownpoint, Carmelita E. Jones, of Standing Rock, and Geraldine Coan, of Crownpoint; 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents George Peters Sr. and Nora Watson; brothers Bruce Peters, Earl Peters, Robert Peters Sr. and George Peters Jr. and sisters Agnes Brown, Ethel Peters.

Pallbearers will be Calvin Manuelito, Marment Austin, Danny Henry Sr., Cyrus J. Coan, Isaiah Coan, and Phillip Coan Jr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Grace Navajo Baptist Curch in Mentmore.

Brenda Geneva Lee

WIDE RUINS, Ariz. — Funeral services for Brenda Geneva Lee, 47, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at the Indian Holinesss Church. Rev. Carl Nogle Jr. will officiate. Burial will be at the Lee Family p

ot.
Lee died Aug. 18, 2011, in Denver. She was born March 27, 1964, in Fort Defiance, Ariz., into the Redhouse People Clan for the Edgewater People Clan.

Lee attended Puerco Elementary School in Sanders, Ariz., Tuba City High School, a boarding school in Santa Ana, Calif., and West High School in Denver. Lee also worked as a construction worker, flagger and housekeeper. She loved to cook, read novels and spend time with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her sons Michael Lee and Antonio Carlos; daughters Anastacia Sanchez; parents Adella B. Sam, Evan Sanchez and Rita Ironshell; brothers Howard, Arthur, Leonard, Melvin and Anslem Lee; sisters Rosita Lee, Rose A. Lee, Eleanor Lee, Elvira Lee, LaVerne Souva, Nevelyn Froese, Rhoda Lee, Cassandra Lee, Barbara Anderson, Louise King, Angie Hayes, Kathleen White and Annie R. Davis; and six grandchildren.

Lee was preceded in death by her father Austin Lee Sr.; grandmother Alice Y. Lee and brothers Emerson Lee and Austin Lee Jr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Austin Lee Sr.’s residence after the burial at Wide Ruins, Ariz.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Earl Nelson

TYLER, Texas — Services for Earl Nelson, 100, will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at Friendly Baptist Church.

Nelson was born Oct. 19, 1910, in Sequoyah County, Okla.

Nelson was the son of a Cherokee Indian, Wesley Nelson, and his Irish wife, Emma. At the age of 14 he went out on his own to Paris, Texas, where he borrowed $35 from the owner of his boarding house to open a hamburger stand. Upon the death of his mother at 21 years old, Earl took in his younger brother Joda. 

When WWII broke out he tried to join the military but moved to Nevada to serve his country by working at an ammunition depot, where he worked until being injured.

Nelson was again in the food business, selling hamburgers at the bowling alley he co-owned. In 1949, he and his new bride, Goldie, left Nevada to places unknown. They settled in Gallup and opened another hamburger stand at the edge of town called ‘Park & Eat.’ It had two booths and six counter stools and was known by all who have traveled Route 66 through Gallup as Earl’s Restaurant.

Nelson’s life revolved around his 16 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren, whom he taught to drive and cook chile. Nelson and his wife showed their family how to serve others during the many years they delivered Meals on Wheels and frequently took grandchildren along.

Earl and Goldie went to Friendly Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where they made lifelong friendships.
Survivors include his daughters, Barbara Hallford, of Whitehouse, and Mary Grace Smith, of Michigan; sons Bill Kyle and David Nelson, of Whitehouse; 16 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Nelson was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Goldie; parents, five brothers; two sisters; sons Bobby Nelson and Bob Kyle and son-in-law Bobby Hallford.

The family will receive visitors at Lloyd James funeral home at 6-8 p.m. Friday Aug. 27, 2011. Memorials can be made to Hospice of East Texas.

Lloyd James Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bernadette Marie Peina

FORT DEFIANCE — Services for Bernadette Marie Peina, 30, will be announced at a later date.
Peina died Aug. 23, 2011, in China Springs. He was born Nov. 1, 1980, in Fort Defiance into the Bitter Water Clan for the Black Sheep Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

‘Tony’ Sanchez

SUNDANCE — Services for Grand-Master “Tony” Sanchez, 63, will be announced at a later date.
Sanchez died Aug. 23, 2011, in Albuquerque. He was born Oct. 18, 1947, in Gallup. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Benjamin Sells

ROUGH ROCK — Graveside services for Benjamin Sells, 62, were at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at the family cemetery in Rough Rock, Ariz.

Sells died Aug. 18, 2011, in Phoenix. He was born Oct. 9. 2011, in Many Farms, Ariz.

Stewart Silentman

FORT DEFIANCE — Funeral services for Stewart James Silentman, 66, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at the Ford Canyon Church of Christ in Gallup. Terry Laurence will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Defiance Cemetery.

Silentman died Aug. 20, 2011, in Fort Defiance. He was born April 5, 1945, in Newcomb into the Many Hogan People Clan for the Red Bottom People Clan.

Silentman served 11 years as a Navajo Nation Police Officer in Tuba City in Shiprock, Crownpoint and Window Rock. He served the ranks from sergeant to captain. Silentman provided his legal services as a Navajo Tribal Advocate for 15 years to the Navajo Reservation and worked at the Pittsburg/Midway Coal Mine for 23 years. He was a loving, giving and compassionate husband, father and grandfather and was happily married to his wife Emma Silentman for 42 years.

Survivors include his wife Emma M. Silentman; sons Tyrone Silentman, Waylon Jesus, and James Silentman II.; daughters Melanie Silentman, Kimberly Silentman-Kanacho; father, James Silentman; brother Henry Silentman; sisters Irena Silentman, Ruby Becenti, Rachel Quintana, Julia Silentman, and Cecelia Carr; nine grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. Silentman was preceded in death by Nettie Silentman.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 1 p.m. at the Fort Defiance Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Floyd Toledo

PHOENIX — Funeral services for Floyd Darrell Toledo, 50, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Rollie Mortuary. Charlie Grey will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery in Gallup.

Toledo was born Jan. 24, 1961, in Fort Defiance into the Towering House People Clan for the Red House People Clan.

Toledo attended Gallup High School and worked at Wendy’s, Cal-mar, Red Rock Beef Jerky, Pronto Fina and Lowe’s in Gallup and Ranch Market in Phoenix. He was a Dallas Cowboys fan.
Survivors include his sons Floyd D. Toledo Jr. and Brandon F. Toledo, both of Phoenix; daughters Pamela D. Toledo, Natasha R. Toledo, Jennifer R. Toledo, Floria R. Toledo II, all of Phoenix; brothers Richard Toledo, of Texas, Eldon Grey, Ernest B. Toledo Jr. Duane E. Toledo, all of Gallup, and Pedro E. Toledo, of Churchrock; sisters Wanda Toledo, of Torreon, Ernestine Toledo, of California, Alana Becenti, of Rehoboth, Gwendolyn F. Toledo, of Gallup, and Ernesta Toledo, of Churchrock; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest B. Toledo Sr. and Floria R. Toledo and sister Floria F. Toledo-Leekity.

Pallbearers will be Floyd D. Toledo Jr. Brandon F. Toledo, Pedro J Toledo, Duane F. Gonzales, Myran Livingston, Russel Manues, Denny Pino and Kirk Cox.

The family will receive relatives at Red Hills Trailer Park Office in Gallup.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.