Obituaries for June 14, 2018

Samuel T. Holiday

MONUMENT VALLEY, Utah — Funeral services for Samuel T. Holiday, 94, will be held Friday, June 15, at 11 a.m. in Monument Valley, Utah (exact location to be announced at a later time).

Burial will follow at the Kayenta Community Veterans Cemetery. Viewing will take place today, June 14, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hughes Mortuary (1037 E. 700 South) in St. George, Utah.

Samuel will be escorted by various veteran honor riders from St. George to Monument Valley, leaving at 6 a.m. from Hughes Mortuary in St. George.

Samuel was born June 2, 1924. He drew his last breath June 11, 2018.

Samuel was born and raised in Monument Valley, Utah, to Billy Holiday and Betsy Yellow.

After attending boarding school in Tuba City, Samuel went on to enlist in the U.S. Marines where he served in the 4th Marine Division, 25th regiment H and S Company. It was here where he became a Navajo Code Talker in World War II.

Samuel is survived by his children, H. Helena Begaii, Herman H. Holiday, Carol Todecheene, Lupita “Baysha” Holiday, Corina S. Holiday-Boxton, and Samantha “Serta” Holiday; and 35 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Samuel is preceded in death by his loving wife, Lupita Mae Holiday; children, Mabel B. Austin and L. Lisa Miller; and grandchildren, Rhayannon and Rhaylynn Redhouse.
A reception will immediately follow at the Monument Valley High School cafeteria in Kayenta.

Donations may be directed to Hughes Mortuary and reference “Samuel T. Holiday Memorial Fund” through Wells Fargo bank. This is the family’s official and only account.

Junior Nez

BIRDSPRINGS, Ariz. — Funeral services for Junior Nez, 85, of Birdsprings, Arizona, were held June 9 at the Birdsprings Full Gospel Church with Melvin Tsosie officiating. Interment followed at the Birdsprings Full Gospel Church family plot.

Junior was born Sept. 9, 1932, in Leupp, Arizona, into the Áshííhí (Salt People Clan), born for Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan). He died June 4, 2018, in Payson, Arizona.

Junior served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1931 to 1954. He worked at a sawmill in Payson, Winslow, and McNerry, Arizona, in construction building homes.

Junior enjoyed fishing, rodeos, bull riding, bronc riding, traveling, and silversmith work.

Junior is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Nez; sons, Julius Nez and Tony Nez; adopted sons, Micheal Manygoats, Aruther Manygoats, Peter Manygoats, Joe Manygoats, and Randy Thompson; daughter, Judy Nez; adopted daughters, Lenora Brown, SueAnn Long, and Marcella Proctor; brothers, Dennis Nez and Kenneth Nez; and 31 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Junior is preceded in death by his mother, Carrie Curley; father, Julius Nez; daughter, Shirley Jensen; and grandson, Christopher Gonzalez.

Pallbearers were Christopher Lee, Themes Cody, Jarvis Begay, Harrison Schultz, Pierson Nez, and Darryl Nezzie.

Honorary pallbearers were Evander Lee, Jefferson Lee, and Julius Nez.

Silver Creek Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Mamie L. Murphy

GALLUP — Funeral services for Mamie L. Murphy, 86, were held June 7 at the St. Francis Church in Gallup. Interment followed at the Rehoboth cemetery in Rehoboth, New Mexico.

Mamie was born Jan. 21, 1932, in Mexican Water, Arizona, into the Táchii’nii (Red Running Into the Water People Clan), born for Tótsohnii (Big Water Clan). She died June 4, 2018, in Gallup.

Mamie was a dedicated wife, mother, and teacher who enjoyed nature, walks, and loved her family and animals. She lived life to the fullest and was a blessed Catholic all her adult life.

Mamie is survived by her daughter, Alfreda Chischilly; and sons, Vernon Murphy and Aaron Murphy.

Mamie is preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Murphy; parents, Whitehair and Mary Ann Begay; and brothers, Timmie Begay, Jimmie Begay, and Bennie Begay.

Pallbearers were Darryl Begay, Leander Begay, Jeremiah Barber, Michael Begay, Steve Dressler, and Arthur Dressler.

Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Edward Chato-Seaton

KAYENTA — Funeral services for Edward Chato-Seaton, 28, were held June 8 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Kayenta, with Rev. John Jung officiating. Interment followed at the Kayenta community cemetery.

Edward was born March 1, 1990, in Durango, Colorado, into the Tábaahá (Water’s Edge Clan), born for the Tódích’ii’nii (Bitter Water Clan). He died June 4, 2018, in Kayenta.

Edward graduated from Monument Valley High School and was a Manuelito Scholarship recipient. He attended the University of Arizona and Pima Community College in Tucson.

Edward was one of six finalists for the 2017 Innovation Challenge for his internet startup business, rezlist.org. He loved cooking East Indian cuisine, his longboard, guitars, pets, his family, and community.

Edward is survived by his parents, Genevieve Chato and Edward Seaton of Kayenta; brothers, David Kasch of Flagstaff, and Shondee Seaton of Seattle, Washington; and sisters, Julie Curley of Mesa, Arizona, Shannon Seaton of Bloomfield, New Mexico, and Bianca Seaton of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Edward is preceded in death by his grandparents, Edgar and Mary R. Chato, and Eddie and June Seaton.

Pallbearers were Luis Chato, Jeremy Chato, William Fong, Hunter Wilson, Charles LaRue, and Collin Lawson Billie.

The family received relatives and friends after services at the Kayenta Township Commission Hall.

In remembrance of Henry Bainbridge

My uncle, Mr. Henry Bainbridge, passed away a little over a year ago in October 2016. His clans were Kinlichíi’nii nilí, Táchii’nii, éí yáshchíín, Hashnt’ishnii éí dabicheii, dóó Ma’ii deeshgiizhinii éí dabinálí nít’éé’.

He was born and raised in Toadlena, New Mexico. He had two brothers and three sisters. Mr. Bainbridge had several children: three daughters in Red Mesa, Arizona, a son and daughter in Black Mesa, Arizona; and two daughters in Shiprock.

Mr. Bainbridge was a veteran through the Peace Corps in 1950, 1956, and 1957. He was drafted and did his training in Camp Pendleton, California, and was discharged from Louisiana.

Mr. Bainbridge was a Diné warrior, an honorable, a great and courageous Diné with pride as he served for his family, people, and country. He sacrificed his value systems, his language, and made self-determinations to be our wing and shield. He was our unique role model as a fearless person. A tower of strength and great courage to stand for his family, people, and country. Mr. Bainbridge was a lifeline of protection with his wings and shield.

Mr. Bainbridge had many talents: a roadman, medicine man and healer. He had his heart opened to many wonderful people that needed healing. He had a very kind heart, had a special pride, self-dignity, especially with his eagle staff and a bible that he always carried with him. He did not ask for much when it came to helping people and loved to help others. His prayers, his songs, they all echo where he left his imprints and where all the holy grounds are and left peacefully. Uncle Bainbridge was very well known through many Native American tribes within the states of Alaska, Nevada, Texas, Canada, North and South Dakota.

The beauty of nature, divine beings, spiritual beings, and the holy beings had given him this amazing gift. He was bestowed with the ability to read people’s illnesses through visions of seeing through hot charcoal, removing foreign objects that affect the well-being of patience and was foreseen as a traditional healing doctor.

Uncle Bainbridge grew up under poor living conditions and in domestic violence homestead. He also went through many hardships in his lifetime but managed to remain a stable, humble, and kind gentleman. He exemplifies the saying, “T’ááhwí ájit’éego and bigiizhgó níídááskáagó (living a life of hardship in between).” My uncle was a noble and honorable man.

In the end, his soul and body was cremated. All his creations, kinship, and essence in nature, the universe, heaven, stars, Mother Nature, divine beings, spiritual beings, and holy beings have been pushed aside. The cremation of his soul and body that was scattered now lives his spiritual existence. The holy winds have planted him into the earth and when the rain falls, they nourish the beautiful colored flowers, tall green grass, trees, and flowing rivers and streams that reach into the highest peaks.

Dear Uncle, may you rest in peace as we see your spiritual existence where the waters run, in the beautiful rainbow, sunbeam, sunlight, beautiful holy winds and in all of nature’s beauty.

Della Redhouse Lee
Rock Point, Ariz.

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