Obituaries for December 6, 2023

Lauretta Arviso

CROWNPOINT — Funeral services for Lauretta Arviso, 85, of Crownpoint, were held Dec. 6 at the St. Paul Catholic Church in Crownpoint. Interment followed at the Crownpoint community cemetery.

Lauretta was born Sept. 9, 1938, in Crownpoint, into the Tł’ááshchí’í (Red Bottom People Clan), born for Tó’aheedlíinii (Water Flow Together Clan). Her nalí is Táchii’nii/Naakai dine’é (Red Running Into the Water People/Mexican); cheii is ‘Áshįįhí (Salt People). She passed away Nov. 26, 2023, in Albuquerque.

Lauretta earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and retired as a school teacher. She enjoyed weaving, attending sports games, playing bingo, and cattle ranching.

Lauretta is survived by her children, Yvonne A. Hautzinger and Leland K. Martinez; siblings, Robert J. Arviso and Loucinda Arviso; and 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Lauretta is preceded in death by her son, Lionel A. Martinez; parents, Jack and Velma G. Arviso; sisters, Ethelline A. Martinez and Cecelia Arviso; infant sister, Rebecca Arviso; and brothers, Jimmy Arviso, Kenneth Arviso and Emerson L. Arviso.

Cope Memorial oversaw arrangements.

Nancy A. Curtis

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Funeral services for Nancy Ann Curtis, 54, of Fort Defiance, will be held Monday, Dec. 11, at 9 a.m., at the Summit Funeral Home Chapel in St. Michaels, Arizona. Burial will follow at the Kinlichee family plot in Kinlichee, Arizona.

Nancy was born March 13, 1969, in Fort Defiance, into the Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan), born for Honágháahnii (One-walks-around Clan). Her nalí is Tó’aheedlíinii (Water Flow Together); cheii is Deeshchii’nii (Start of the Red Streak People). She passed away Dec. 3, 2023, in Albuquerque.

Nancy attended Window Rock High School, Arizona State University and was employed with Indian Health Service in Fort Defiance. She enjoyed reading, outdoor activities, playing the saxophone, and traveling with family and siblings.

Nancy is survived by her daughters, Summer Dawn Montoya, Rachel A. Montoya and Elysium A. Curtis; father, Johnny Curtis Sr.; brothers, Leroy Curtis and Jefferson Curtis; sister, Barbara Curtis Murphy; and three grandchildren.

Nancy is preceded in death by her mother, Bessie Curtis; brothers, Larry Curtis, Howard Curtis, Johnny Curtis Jr., Lando Curtis, and Carlton Curtis; and grandmother, Molly Yazzie.
Pallbearers will be family members.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jefferson Curtis, Leroy Curtis, Daniel Curtis, Brannon Curtis, and Kevin Curtis.

A reception will take place at the Kin Dah Łichí’í Chapter House following services.

Summit Funeral Home oversaw arrangements.

Freddie J. Nelson

GALLUP — Funeral services for Freddie John Nelson, 81, of Lupton, Arizona, will be held Monday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m., at Rollie Mortuary in Gallup, with Pastor Ronnie Yazzie officiating. Burial will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.

Freddie was born July 3, 1942, in Sheep Springs, New Mexico, into the Honágháahnii (One-walks-around Clan), born for Kinłichíi’nii (Red House People Clan). He passed away Dec. 3, 2023, in Gallup.

Freddie worked in maintenance at Speedy Truck Stop and was Lupton Chapter vice president in 1987, Lupton Chapter grazing officer from 2005 to 2013 and Lupton Chapter vice president from 2013 to 2017. He enjoyed sandpainting, painting pottery and was a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Freddie is survived by his son, Ricky Murphy; daughters, Marlene Vallo, Arlene Yazzie and Patricia Molina; and 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Freddie is preceded in death by his wife, Martha Nelson; sons, Anthony Nelson and Paul V. Begaye Jr.; daughter, Priscilla Nelson-Guerrero; sisters, Irene Tsosie, Marie Nelson, Elosie Tsosie, and Elsie Foster; and brother, Johnny Nelson.

Pallbearers will be Marcus Murphy, Curtis Murphy, Tyson Begaye, Paul Notah Jr., Blandford Foster, and Bradford Foster.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Murphy, Raul Molina Jr., Dale Vallo, Anthony Tsosie, Sam Begay, and Jimmy Tommy.

A reception will take place at the Lupton Valley Community Church following services.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Ernest E. Pahe

GALLUP — Funeral services for Ernest E. Pahe, of Coyote Canyon, New Mexico, will be held Saturday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m., at the Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel in Gallup, with Custer Lowe officiating. Burial will follow in Gallup.

Ernest was born June 23, 1946, in Phoenix, into the Tsénjíkiní (Honey Combed Rock People Clan), born for Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan). He passed away Dec. 4, 2023, in Gallup.

Ernest earned a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and worked for the Navajo Nation as a senior economic development specialist, business regulatory department planner, and Division of Community Development.

Ernest enjoyed hunting, running, golfing, basketball, archery, pool, and softball.

Ernest is survived by his wife, Arlinda John-Pahe; brothers, Charles Pahe of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Rodney Pahe Sr. of Kirtland, New Mexico; and sister,

Erna Pahe of Phoenix.

Ernest is preceded in death by his daughter, Rebekah Brieno; brothers, Melvin Pahe Sr., Orville Pahe and Merlin Pahe; and sister, Delores Begay.

Pallbearers will be Rodney Pahe Sr., Elvis Morgan, Juwan Elsayed, Romeo Livingston, Tuff Livingston, and Derek Livingston.

Honorary pallbearers will be Chavez John, Gilbert Henderson, Bruce Morgan, Vernon Laughlin, Charles Pahe, Ivan John, Alvin Chavez, Gordon Gorman, and James Lee Jr.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Bruce W. Begay

FORT DEFIANCE — Graveside service for Bruce Wayne Begay, 74, of Fort Defiance, were held Dec. 2 at the Fort Defiance Veterans Cemetery with David Mescal Jr. officiating.

Bruce was born April 13, 1949, in Ganado, Arizona, into the Naaneesht’ézhí Táchii’nii (The Charcoal Streaked Division of the Red Running Into the Water Clan), born for Kinłichíi’nii (Red House People Clan). He passed away Nov. 24, 2023, in Phoenix.

Bruce graduated from Intermountain Indian School in Utah in 1968 and attended one year at Utah College. He was employed with Americas Communications and retired from Navajo Nation Telecommunications and Utilities.

Bruce enjoyed golfing and was also a volunteer firefighter, ham radio operator and radio technician.

Bruce is survived by his sons, Loren Begay and Michael Begay; daughters, Cheryl Cromwell, Bonnie Mike, Heidi Begay, Karin Begay, and Delores Worker; brother, Emerson Gorman; sisters, Sally Henry and Faye Gorman; and seven grandchildren and one-great-grandchild.

Bruce is preceded in death by his mother, Alice Clah.

Pallbearers were Loren Begay, Michael Begay, Loren Mike, Fabian Cromwell, Jarom Prows, and Larry Harvey Jr.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Francis A. Largo

GALLUP — Funeral services for Francis A. Largo, 65, of Pinedale, New Mexico, will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 10 a.m., at Rollie Mortuary in Gallup, with Jonah High officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Francis was born March 24, 1958, at the Gallup Indian Medical Center, into the Dziłtł’ahnii (Mountain Cove Clan), born for Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan). He passed away Dec. 1, 2023.
After retirement from carpentry, Francis enjoyed spending time with family and helping relatives.

Francis is survived by his sons, Austin Largo of Crownpoint, and Manison Largo of Pinedale; daughter, Samantha Largo of Pinedale; brothers, Gary Largo, Howard Largo, Jason Largo, Johnnie Largo Jr., and Shaniel Largo; sister, Alice Mattie Largo; and nine grandchildren.

Francis is preceded in death by his wife, Agnes Largo; son, Justin Largo; mother, Annie I. Largo; and father, Johnnie Largo Sr.

Pallbearers will be Henry Hildreth Jr., Preston Chee, Matthew Sandoval, Galvenson “Sonny” Largo, Darren Largo, and Johnnie Largo Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be Austin Largo, Manison Largo, Jason Largo, Gary Largo, Howard Largo, and Shaniel Largo.

A reception will take place at the Pinedale Chapter House following services.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Anselma J. Mitchell

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Anselma Josephine Mitchell, 62, of St. Michaels, Arizona, passed away Nov. 3, 2023, in Denver. She was born Oct. 19, 1961.

Anselma graduated from St. Michael Indian School and attended Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was employed as an intake specialist assisting Native communities at the Denver Indian Center for 20-plus years.

Anselma also worked in street maintenance with the Denver City and County. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Anselma is survived by her son, Brandon Howell; daughter, Kristin Howell; brothers, Donavon Mitchell, Henry Lewis, Garrett Mitchell, Ted Mitchell, and Floyd Mitchell; sisters, Susie Mitchell, Jennifer Mitchell, Geneva Mitchell, and Laureen Mitchell; and four grandchildren.

Anselma is preceded in death by her mother, Susie Mitchell; and father, Anslem Shirley.

Pallbearers were Donavon Mitchell, Henry Lewis, Xavier Scott, Joshua Mitchell, Robert Singer, and Simako Marshall.

Honorary pallbearers were Brandon Howell, Floyd Mitchell, Ted Mitchell, Garret Mitchell, and River Hall.

Peter Earl

GALLUP — Funeral services for Peter Earl, 77, of Church Rock, New Mexico, will be held today, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m., at Rollie Mortuary in Gallup. Burial will follow in Rehoboth, New Mexico.

Peter was born Nov. 20, 1946, in Cornfields, Arizona, into the Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan), born for Dibéłzhíní (Black Sheep Clan). He passed away Nov. 30, 2023, in Flagstaff.

Peter attended Wingate High School and San Francisco Technical Institute for Mechanics. He worked at Gurley Motors Company and RSC.

Peter is survived by his wife, Rose Earl; son, Dustin Earl; daughters, Elaine Chiquito, Eileen Earl, Peterilia Earl, and Patricia Earl; brother, Alfred Earle; and seven grandchildren.

Peter is preceded in death by Zonnie and Tom Earle, Johnny Earle, Howard Earle, Louise Smith, Violet Chee, Dorothy Concho, and Juanita Paul.

Pallbearers will be Damian S. Colton, Maurice Chino, Jason Begay, Tyson Nez, Thomas Chiquito, and Jerry Chiquito.

Honorary pallbearers will be Alfred Earle, John Livingston Jr., Leonard Miller, and Emerick Nez.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

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