Obituaries for Aug. 16, 2018

Karen Wauneka Brown

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Funeral services for Karen Wauneka Brown, 62, will be held Saturday, Aug. 18, at 1 p.m. at the Cedar West Stake Center (725 South, 1100 West) in Cedar City, Utah. A private family viewing will be held prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial will follow at the Cedar City Cemetery. Karen was born in Ganado, Arizona, to Carolyn J. Wauneka and Stenson Wauneka Sr.

She passed away Aug. 8, 2018, in St. George, Utah. Karen has always recognized and honored her Hopi and Navajo heritage as Badger, born for Tábaahá (Water’s Edge Clan). Her chei is Nát’oh dine’e (Tobacco People Clan); nali is Táchii’nii (Red Running Into the Water People). Karen married David White Brown and was raised in Fort Defiance and Tuba City. She is a graduate of the Navajo Methodist Mission School in Farmington.

After graduation, she attended Fort Lewis College, Abilene University, Southern Utah University (bachelor’s degree in psychology), and the University of Utah (master’s degree in social work). Karen was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served an LDS mission for the church in the Rapid City, South Dakota, Mission.

She has had many callings in the church being a gospel doctrine teacher and Relief Society president. Karen was employed by the Paiute Tribe of Utah, the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the Yavapai-Apache Nation. She enjoyed crafting Native American beadwork. Karen leaves behind her best friend and husband, her mother, brothers (Stenson Wauneka Jr. and Patrick Wauneka), siblings (Beverly, Judith, Elfina, and Garrett Wauneka), and several nieces and nephews. Karen is preceded in death by her father. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Karen Wauneka Brown Memorial Native American Scholarship at www.suu.edu/giving. Arrangements are under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.

Hazel D. Foster

FORT DEFIANCE — Funeral services for Hazel D. Foster, 85, were held Aug. 14 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Fort Defiance. Interment followed at a private disposition.

Hazel was born May 14, 1933, in Rehoboth, New Mexico, into the Táchii’nii (Red Running Into the Water People Clan), born for Irish (Bilagáána). Her nali is Irish (Bilagáána); chei is Tsénjíkiní (Honey Combed Rock People Clan). She died Aug. 9, 2018, in Fort Defiance. Hazel attended Fort Defiance Day School, Albuquerque Indian School and Gallup High School.

She was employed with Fort Defiance IHS as a food service worker for 46 years and a teaching assistant/kitchen cook at Little Miss Muffet Day Care in Fort Defiance, for over 10 years. After retirement she became self-employed, making/selling breakfast burritos in the local area up until three years ago. Hazel was a loving mother, aunt, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and loved being with family. She enjoyed watching western movies, doing crossword puzzles and word search, reading the newspaper, traveling, and listening to music.

Hazel is survived by her daughters, Katherine J. Arviso, Carol A. Slinkey, and Mary L. Tom; sons, Larry M. Foster, Melvin Foster, David Foster, and Harold Shirley; brother, Leo Shirley of San Francisco; and 29 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, Helen D. Chee and William Day; sisters, Laura Bryant and Shirley Laughlin; brothers, Irving Shirley and Tom Shirley; and grandson, Laurence M. Foster. Pallbearers were Alvin D. Bryant Sr., Jeremiah Foster, Benjamin Harris, Steve Slinkey, Keith Slinkey, and Jesse R. Yazzie. Honorary pallbearers were Larry M. Foster, David Foster, Melvin Foster Sr., Irvin Foster, Irwin Foster, Larry Anderson Sr., Melvin Foster Jr., Dale Foster, Herman Tom, Ashley H. Arviso, Monica K.F. Yazzie, Charles Coleman, Albern Bryant, Leo Shirley, and Johnny Laughlin Jr.

James Harold Clark

CHINLE — Funeral services for James Harold Clark, 57, were held Aug. 14 at the Chinle Potter’s House. Interment followed at the Del Muerto community cemetery in Del Muerto, Arizona. James was born July 10, 1961, in Canyon De Chelly, Arizona, into the Ma’ii Deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass Clan), born for Tó’aheedlíinii (Water Flow Together Clan). His nali is Honágháahnii (One-walks-around); chei is Tó’áhaní (Near the Water). He died Aug. 8, 2018, in Flagstaff.

James attended Tuba City High School, graduating from Many Farms High School. He attended Diné College and graduated from North American College in Tempe, Arizona, for building equipment service technician. James worked for Bo Bowman and Sons Inc., NFPI, Four Mountains Construction and Plumbing, Roma Tile Company in Phoenix, Fowler Construction, Rowling Construction in Phoenix, Navajo Housing Services of Tuba City, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, and Navajo Nation Public Safety Security. James also worked as a guard for Fire Star Security, roofer for Navajo Housing Authority, and was a wildland firefighter. James met and married the former Laura Sands of Coppermine, Arizona, and they had been together for 35 years.

They had two children, Tasheena and Stetson. James enjoyed reading, watching wrestling, spending time with his family, and loved the outdoors. James is survived by his wife, Laura Clark; daughter, Tasheena Clark; son, Stetson Clark; and three brothers and four sisters. James is preceded in death by his parents, Zonnie and Herman Clark; and five brothers and two sisters. Pallbearers were family members. Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Sally Marie Benally

CHINLE — Funeral services for Sally Marie Benally, 75, of Many Farms, Arizona, were held Aug. 10 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church in Chinle, with Florecito “PJey” Pabatao Jr. officiating. Interment followed at the Chinle community cemetery. Sally was born April 6, 1943, in Chinle, into the Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan), born for Áshiihí (Salt People Clan).

She died Aug. 4, 2018, in Flagstaff.

Sally completed the 8th grade at Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon. She enjoyed song-and-dances, singing traditional song-and-dance songs, arts and crafts, and farming.

Sally is survived by her daughters, Sally Ann Benally, Sandra Sam, and Charlotte Benally; brothers, Nelson Bia, Joe Bia, Harrison Bia, and Ralph D. Bia Jr.; sisters, Elaine Corbaci, Sadie Jumbo, Elise Bia, and Eleanor Bia; and 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Sally is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Benally Sr.; son, Roy Benally Jr.; parents, Sarah and Ralph D. Bia Sr.; brother, Harry Bia Sr.; and grandparents, Billy and Ason D. Yazzie.

Pallbearers were Dewayne Benally, Charles Yazzie, JR Benally, Cantrail Whitesheep, Emerson Jumbo, and Myreon Mitchell. Honorary pallbearers were Nelson Bia, Joe Bia, Harrison Bia, Ralph Bia Jr., David Corbaci, and Chee Begay.

Tse Bonito Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

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