Obituaries for June 6, 2019

Nancy Brown Williams

HOLBROOK, Ariz. — Funeral services for Nancy Brown Williams, 76, of White Cone, Arizona, were held June 4 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Holbrook, Arizona. Interment followed at the Holbrook City Cemetery.

Nancy was born July 14, 1942, in White Cone, to Slim and Nora Brown, into the Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People Clan), born for Táchii’nii (Red Running Into the Water People Clan). She passed away May 31, 2019, in Flagstaff. Nancy’s first years of education were from Toyei Boarding School.

She graduated from Phoenix Indian School and earned an associate degree as a certified nursing assistant along with her high school diploma. She worked at the Shiprock Hospital, Dilcon Boarding School, Toyei Nursing Home and Keams Canyon IHS Hospital. Nancy enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, watching basketball, football and rodeos, going to casinos, and playing Navajo card games with friends.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Louis Willard Williams Sr. of White Cone; son, Louis “OJ” W. (Andrea) Williams Jr. of White Cone; daughters, Dorothea Brown of Mesa, Arizona, Dora J. Tso of Fontana, California, Doris (Eddie) Cowboy of Flagstaff, Bertina A. (Ernie) Williams of Flagstaff, and Kristin R. (Wayne Jr.) White of Tuba City; sisters, Mamie Begay and Mary Brown, both of White Cone, and Rita Thomas of Naa’dee Canyon, Arizona; and 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Slim and Nora Brown; brothers, Paul and Lester Brown; sisters, Nellie Hoover and Marilyn Browning; and children, Genevieve Williams and Marvin Williams. Pallbearers were Eddie Cowboy, Edmund Cowboy, Eric Cowboy, E’Ryan Cowboy, Trace Yazzie, Wayne White Jr., Ernie Tamasyo, O.J. Williams, Bryan Dickson and Ervin Begay. Owens Livingston Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Tyrone Josiah Nez Jr.

FORT DEFIANCE — Funeral services for Tyrone Josiah Nez Jr., 19, of Fort Defiance, were held May 31 at The Family Church Assembly of God in Fort Defiance, with Pastor Kenneth Delaney officiating. Interment followed at the Rainbow Ridge in Fort Defiance.

Tyrone was born Oct. 18, 1999, in Phoenix, into the Bit’ahnii (Folded Arms Clan), born for Áshiihí (Salt People Clan). He passed away May 27, 2019, in Albuquerque. Tyrone attended Window Rock High School. Summit Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Navajo Code Talker William Tully Brown Sr.

Navajo Code Talker William Tully Brown Sr., 97, was born Oct. 30, 1922, to the late Ason Chee Brown (Asdzaa Chii II) and John Diaz of Black Mountain, into the Tó’aheedlíinii (Water Flow Together—Nakai Diné), born for Tl’ááshchí’í (Red Bottom People Clan). His maternal grandfather is Hastiin Litso Atikai of Nóóda’í dine’é Táchii’nii and his paternal grandfather is John Brown of the Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water). He died June 3, 2019.

William was married to Sarah Francis (deceased) and had six children: Romero Brown, William Jr. (deceased), Gary (deceased), Vee F. Browne-Yellowhair, Julie Browne and Alvin Brown (deceased). His sisters are Betty Brown and Tullie Brown-Francis. He had 44 grandchildren with two great-great-grandchildren. William enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 4, 1944, at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California.

He was active in the Headquarters Battalion Second Marine Division in the field Fleet Marine Force; Navajo Communication-Code Talker Specialty 642. Boot Camp taught many disciplines like swimming in the ocean, rifle training and physical fitness. William was assigned his own guard with limited restriction areas.

They couldn’t speak to other enlistees. The Navajo Code Talkers learned the Navajo language in code, how to send messages in seconds transmitting with 300 radios, decipher the code and learned the Japanese language. It was all about mapping, foxholes, opponent’s airplane, and the artillery. William and the other code talkers worked on the ship with Navajo translation and communication. He quickly became familiar with recon, ambush, infiltration, and demolition.

On July 9, 1945, the battalion departed San Diego and arrived at Pearl Harbor on July 15 with Cmdr. Richard H. Germain. On Sept. 18, 1945, the fleet sailed from Saipan, Marianas Islands, on board USS Cambria (APA-36). On Sept. 23, they arrived at Nagasaki, Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan with Lt. Cleary.

The war ended. William helped burn the Japanese rifles, planes, mortar, some war supplies and artillery. He completed his mission in the Pacific Operation during World War II. William received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps and was honored with a Silver Medal by former U.S. President Bush, and is a national and Navajo Nation hero.

Other awards include the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy Occupation SVC Medal with Asia Clasp, World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button. William worked in the bakery industry in San Francisco after World War II. He became a laborer with the Union Pacific Railroad in Nevada-Barstow, California; Carp, Nevada, BIA Road Construction-Chinle, a steward to the Cottonwood Chapter House in 1955 as the first treasurer/secretary.

During his community stewardship he worked on a project to construct Cottonwood Day School in 1960-1966 with two other chapter officials. William has many relatives in California, Colorado, New Mexico and Montana, according to his Ancestry DNA test results. These relatives’ grandparents were sold in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during 1700-1860, during and before the Long Walk era and the Pueblo Revolt.

Manuel Roy Yazzie

TOHATCHI, N.M. — Funeral services for Manuel Roy Yazzie, 56, were held May 31 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tohatchi, New Mexico. Interment followed at the Tohatchi cemetery.

Manuel was born July 5, 1962, in Gallup, into the Kiyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan), born for Naakai dine’é (Mexican Clan). He passed away May 28, 2019, in Albuquerque. Manuel graduated from Tohatchi High School in 1982 and was employed with Navajo Nation Facilities Maintenance and Navajo Housing Services.

He loved being around his family and grandchildren, enjoyed rodeos and watching his favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Manuel is survived by his mother, Lilly M. Yazzie, and Alberda Avery; children, Chops Yazzie, Kylene Yazzie, LaRhae Yazzie and Lambert Yazzie; brother, Michael Yazzie; and sisters, Victoria Pablo, Virginia Begay, Michaelene Jones and Bobbie Ann Succo. Manuel is preceded in death by his father, Bob Yazzie.

Pallbearers were Chops Yazzie, Lambert Yazzie, Ty Pablo, Roy Begay, Justin Bob Succo, Glen Avery Jr., Delton Begay and Olsen Smith. Honorary pallbearers were Michael Yazzie, Bobby Pablo, Hank Begay, JW Jones, Wayne Franklin, Lyman Succo, Johnny Johnson and Spud Jones.

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