Obituaries for Aug. 17, 2017

Michael E. Shirley

FORT DEFIANCE — Funeral services for Michael E. Shirley, 34, of Navajo, N.M., will be held Friday, Aug. 18, at 10:30 a.m. at the Potter’s House in Fort Defiance, with Pastor Haven officiating. Burial will follow in Deersprings, Ariz.

Michael was born July 13, 1983, in Fort Defiance, into the Naaneesht’ézhi Táchii’nii (Charcoal Streaked Division of the Red Running Into the Water Clan), born for Ma’ii deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass-Jemez Clan). He died Aug. 9, 2017, in Gallup.

Michael attended Window Rock High School and was employed with Sunny Day in Gallup. He was also employed as a chef, pastry chef and did security work. He enjoyed cooking, grilling, baking, fishing, hiking and helping family and friends.

Michael is survived by his wife, Tima Plainfeather; son, Matthew Shirley; daughter, Sharnell Zoey Shirley; mother, Virgilynn Shirley; brothers, Alonzo Begay and Angelo Begay Jr.; sisters, Krystle Headley, Nicole Begay and Rosangela Begay; grandfather, Zander R. Shirley Sr.; and nali, Betty Franklin.

Michael is preceded in death by his father, Angelo Begay; brother, Rolando Shirley; and grandmother, Minnie Shirley.

Pallbearers will be Patrick Headley, Lorenzo Shirley, Alonzo Begay, Matt Rangel, Lorenzo Smith and Waylon Tsosie.

Honorary pallbearers will be Matthew Shirley, DeMetrius Shirley, Elvis Shirley, Cordell Hubbard, Vernon Shirley and Randy Bitsue.

A reception will take place a the Sawmill Catholic Church Hall in Sawmill, Ariz., following services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Danielle ‘Dani’ Jamie Madison Duran

STAMFORD, Texas — A celebration of life for Danielle “Dani” Jamie Madison Duran, 11, will be held today, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. in the Stamford High School auditorium (507 S. Orient) in Stamford, Texas, with Bobby Acosta officiating and Wes Horn assisting.

Cremation will follow at a later date.

Danielle, the youngest daughter of Matthew and Joan (Vasquez) Duran, was born Aug. 19, 2005, in Fort Defiance. She slipped quietly to heaven Aug. 12, 2017.

Danielle will be remembered for her wonderful smile, sweet spirit, quiet manner, and goofy sense of humor. She was always busy talking on the phone, riding her bike, playing ball with her brothers and sisters in the front yard, doing crafts, or trying to figure out how to do new stuff. She enjoyed drawing, was a talented writer, and loved to cook. She adored her two puppies, Benji and Luke, and made them special homemade dog biscuits.

Danielle moved to Stamford with her family in 2011 and would have been in the seventh grade at Stamford Middle School. Her favorite sport was softball, but she also played basketball, ran track, and played the clarinet.

In addition to her parents, Danielle is survived by her sisters, Mariah and Whitney; brothers, Zach and Christian; paternal grandfather, Pat Duran, of Holbrook; and maternal grandparents, Joe and Desbah Vasquez of Tuba City; grandparents, Louis and Sandy Jumper of Mancos, Colo.; uncles, Mark Duran and wife Tracy of Tucson, and Casey Ellsworth and wife Kim of Pinetop, Ariz.; aunts, Nicole Avant and husband Neil of Gilbert, Ariz., Tiffany Ellsworth-Watson and husband, Jimmy of Show Low, Ariz., Keri Duran Talley of Wasilla, Alaska, Debbie Martinez and husband Felipe, Elizabeth Skacy and husband Stanford, and Sharon Vasquez and husband Leo Bonnie of Tuba City; and many cousins and friends.

Danielle is preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Mary Ann Anderson; great-grandparents, Roy and Hazel Anderson, and Raymond and Concha Vasquez; great-great grandmother, Hilda Begay; and aunt, Cindy Vasquez Yazzie.

Pallbearers will be Riley Acosta, Mark Duran, Casey Ellsworth, Gabriel Hernandez, Noel Macias and Bryan Patterson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jameson Bell, Kayla Cantu, Emily Patterson, Madi Guzman, Madi Woolf, Cara London, Brylee Strand, Emily Muehlstein, and Danielle’s softball teammates.

After the service, family and friends are invited to Orient Street Church of Christ (510 S. Orient) for lunch, to visit, and to share remembrances.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the family’s name at First Bank Texas, Attention: Melodie Acosta, 610 Columbia, Stamford, Texas 79553.

Services are under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford.

Online condolences may be made at www.tankersleyfuneralhome.com.

Mary Ann McClellan

CAMERON, Ariz. — Funeral services for Mary Ann McClellan, 73, of Cameron, Ariz., will be held Friday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. at the Cameron Nazarene Church. Burial will follow at the Citizens Cemetery (1300 S. San Francisco St.) in Flagstaff.

Mary Ann was born July 5, 1944, in Gray Mountain, Ariz., to Daisy and Joe Jensen. She passed away Aug. 13, 2017, in Flagstaff.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Carl McClellan; mother, Daisy Jensen; daughters, Charlene Thomas, Charlotte Alvarez, Carolene Ford and Carletta McClellan; son, Chris McClellan; sisters, Marie Colorado, Helen Begay, Rosie Jensen, Shirley Jensen, Sarah Jensen, Judy Bedonie and Verna Jensen; brothers, Fred Jensen and Joe Jensen Jr.; and 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her father, Joe Jensen; brother, James Jensen; and sisters, Mae Pete and Bernita Jensen.

Arrangements are by Lozano’s Flagstaff Mortuary.

Gertrude Alys LaFollette

ALBUQUERQUE — A memorial service for Gertrude Alys LaFollette (formerly Ms. Mulcahy), 97.5, is scheduled Monday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m. at the Daniels Family Funeral Services Wyoming Chapel (7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE) in Albuquerque. Burial will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, at 3 p.m.

Alys was born Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1919, in New Haven, Conn. She passed away July 23, 2017, in Albuquerque.

Alys will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her dearly. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was always the gracious hostess and gave unconditional love to all who touched her heart. She loved jazz music and any kind of dance. She had a dancing school in the Philippines, and was formerly married to Robert Martin Haar, who was killed after World War II.

Alys was very proud of her Miss Democracy Award she received in 1935. She was an active member of NARFE for over 37 years in New Mexico, as well as Alaska Yukon Pioneers all her life, USO, American Legion, and Elks.

While Alys lived on the Papago and Navajo reservations for over 25-plus years, which she was active in the Window Rock High School Band Boosters, Window Rock Homemakers, and various groups.

Professionally, Alys worked at GE, Pentagon, NASA and Air Force financial services.

Alys is survived by her husband of 65 years, Seward Mark LaFollette; children, Barbara Senne of Livonia, Mich., and Suzanne “Suzy LaFollette-Black of Wilmington, N.C.; nephew, Robert Mulcahy of Connecticut; nieces, Bonnie and Mary-Anne; and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Alys is preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and William F. Mulcahy of Anchorage, Alaska; and brothers, David Mulcahy and Joseph Mulcahy. Her father and uncle worked for the Alaska railroad and her father was the first baseball commissioner of Alaska.

A reception will follow services at the Wyoming Sun Room Reception Center.

A special thank you and love to dear friends, Linda and Jack, Sherrie and Reggie, Dean and Jan, as well as her caregivers and hospice: Donna, Erica, Annabelle, Mark, Theresa, Matt, Sacha, Debbie, Alfreda, Mary Lou, Martha and Karen.

Memorial gifts may be made to the following:

Alaska Yukon Pioneers, 3163 Wheeling Ln., Bonita, CA 91902.

Alliance Home Health and Hospice, 5981 Jefferson Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

American Legion Post No. 99, 540 Louisiana NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.

NARFE Chapter No. 80, P.O. Box 21984, Albuquerque, NM 87154-1984.

Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels Family Funeral Services.

To view information or leave a condolence, visit www.danielsfuneral.com.

Vernold Livingston

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Funeral services for Vernold Livingston, 64, of Window Rock, were held July 21 at the LDS Church in St. Michaels, Ariz., with Romero Brown officiating. Interment followed at the Damon Cemetery in Fort Defiance.

Vernold was born Aug. 12, 1952, in Rehoboth, N.M., into the Kiyaa’aanii (Towering House Clan), born for Haltsooi (Meadow People Clan). He died July 13, 2017, in Albuquerque.

Vernold attended Gallup High School and majored in architectural and civil engineering at Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque.

Vernold was employed as assistant director of production at Navajo Housing Authority and project planning director and project manager in the construction industry. He founded and owned Livingston Construction Company.

Vernold had a passion for ranching and raised cattle as he was taught growing up. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and was a great father, friend, brother, uncle, and grandfather.

Vernold is survived by his wife, Judith Livingston; sons, Jason Livingston of Dilkon, Ariz., Vernon Livingston of Window Rock, Brent Livingston of Albuquerque, and Brandon Livingston of Provo, Utah; daughters, Jamie Livingston and Shalynn Livingston, both of Window Rock; sisters, Janice Becenti, Julia Alonzo, Sadie Esparza, and Erline Begay, all of Iyanbito, N.M.; and eight grandchildren.

Vernold is preceded in death by his parents, John and Wilhelmina Livingston; sisters, Ernestine Arviso, Grace Livingston, Adah Livingston, Irene Livingston, Linda Livingston, Velma Livingston, and Emma Carviso; brothers, Larry Livingston and Harold Livingston; and granddaughter, Morgan Hope Livingston.

Pallbearers were Pete Acevedo, Ty Arviso, Michaelson Yazzie, Warren Damon, Robert Dixon Jr., Matthew Carviso, and William Martin.

Honorary pallbearers were family and friends.

Silver Creek Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

 

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