Obituaries for March 10, 2022

Linda A. Thomas

REHOBOTH, N.M. — Funeral services for Linda A. Thomas, 71, of Thoreau, New Mexico, will be held Friday, March 11, at 11 a.m., at the Rehoboth Christian Reform Church in Rehoboth, New Mexico, with Larry Peshlakai officiating. Burial will follow in Rehoboth.

Linda was born Jan. 3, 1951, in Smith Lake, New Mexico, into the Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan), born for Kiyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan). She passed away March 3, 2022, in Albuquerque.

Linda graduated from Gallup High School in 1969 and attended the University of New Mexico-Gallup. She started work in 1970 as a teacher aide at Mariano Lake Community School, retiring in 1993. She was currently employed at Home Care Option as a caseworker from 2003-2022.

Linda enjoyed cooking, stringing beads, sewing, traveling, and bike runs.

Linda is survived by her sons, Gabriel K. Thomas and Daniel K. Thomas Jr.; daughter, Ina K. Thomas; mother, Emma B. Anderson; brother, Wilbert Anderson; sisters, Alberta Reeder and Mary J. Anderson; and 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Linda is preceded in death by her husband, Daniel K. Thomas Sr.; son, Cornelius Thomas; daughter, Chrisencia Thomas; father, Tex R. Anderson; and brother, Rydell Anderson Sr.

Pallbearers will be Cordell K. Thomas, Gabriel K. Thomas, Danny Jeff Jr., Ryan Jeff, Jerry Fekete, and Rentzel Simpson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Daniel K. Thomas Jr., Andrew Hunter Montoya, Tyren R.J. Martinez, Danielle Thomas, and Gabrielle Thomas.

A reception will take place at the Gallup Community Center, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Valerie S. Dodge

HOUCK, Ariz. — Funeral services for Valerie S. Dodge, 42, of Houck, Arizona, were held March 5 at the Bethel Navajo Assembly of God Church in Houck. Interment followed at the Houck community cemetery.

Valerie was born Oct. 19, 1979, in Gallup, into the Kiyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan), born for Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People Clan). Her nalí is Bit’ahnii (Under His Cover); cheii is Honágháahnii (One-walks-around). She passed away Feb. 16, 2022, in Tucson.

Valerie received her GED and was a homemaker. She loved traveling cross-country and counseling and motivating her peers and the younger generations.

Valerie is survived by her sons, Antonio Begay, Matthew Begay and Jacob Begay; daughter, Felisha Begay; father, Paul Dodge; brothers, Everett Skeet and Leander Skeet; sister, Pauletta Dodge; and one grandchild.

Valerie is preceded in death by her mother, Veronica Harrison.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers were family members.

Bunker Family Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Charley Davidson

GALLUP — Funeral services for Charley Davidson, 92, of Purdy Rock, New Mexico, will be held today, March 10, at 10 a.m., at the Light House Church in Gallup, with Evangelist Francis L. Begay officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Gallup.

Charley was born Oct. 1, 1929, in Purdy Rock, into the Haltsooí (Meadow People Clan), born for Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People Clan). He passed away Feb. 25, 2022, in Purdy Rock.

Charley worked in carpentry and for the Santa Fe Railroad. He enjoyed building things, spending time with his children and grandchildren, watching Western movies and his favorite movie Rambo.

Charley is survived by his sons, Harold Davidson, Milton Davidson and Ernest Chee; daughters, Sarah Lee, Lucy Hunch, Darlene Benally, Marlene Thompson, Shirleen Apachito, and Lorinda Davidson; brother, Billy Tsosie; sister, Mary D. Nez; and 79 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Charley is preceded in death by his first wife, Annie Lee Davidson; second wife, Nellie Yazzie Davidson; mother, Mary Davidson; father, John Davidson; brother, Larry Jim Davidson; son, Arthur Davidson Jr.; and stepson, Raymond Allan Lee.

Pallbearers will be Randolph Apachito, Frolando Benally, Derrick Benally, Harold Davidson, Cody Sutton, and Eric Sutton.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ernest Chee and Orlando Benally.

A reception will take place at Darlene Benally’s residence in Purdy Rock, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Jimmie Peterson Jr.

FORT DEFIANCE — Funeral services for Jimmie Peterson Jr., 57, were held March 8 at the Fort Defiance Veterans Cemetery with Sundance Chief officiating.

Jimmie was born April 23,1964, in Fort Defiance, into the ‘Áshįįhí (Salt People Clan), born for Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan). He passed away Jan. 15, 2020.

Jimmie graduated from Window Rock High School Fighting Scouts Class of 1983 and worked 34 years as a journeyman electrician. He received state of Arizona apprenticeship in the trade of journeyman transformer and instrument repairman in April 1981.

Jimmie also worked for NTUA for nine years from 1986-1994; Cabinets Southwest, Inc. from 1999-2000; Delta Diversified Enterprises from 2000-01/2004-05/2006-07; EAG Electric in 2001; Navajo Nation Facility Maintenance from 2002-03/2008-09; Moore Brothers Electric from 2003-04; Bergelectric Corporation from 2005-06; Tradestar/Indigicom Electric in 2007; Navajo Nation Employee Housing from 2007-08; NHA from 2011-12; Intown Suites from 2012-13; DKD Electric LLC from 2014-15; Specialty Electric, Inc. from 2016-18; Northridge Electric from 2017-18; and Affordable Solar, Inc. in 2019.

Jimmie was a member of the Black Gourd Society and participated in sweatlodge and Sun Dance ceremonies. He was an active Window Rock Fighting Scouts Football Booster Club member and president from 2007-11.

Jimmie was an active coach for the Fort Defiance community in the sports of football, basketball and baseball for 17 years, working with various age groups and Navajo Nation youth programs and the public. He coached the following youth sports teams: Fort Defiance Hornets, Fort Defiance Heat, Fort Defiance Cowboys, and Pigeon Springs White Sox.

Jimmie was active in his sons’ lives, education, extracurricular sports activities, and spending time with his grandchildren. He played in numerous men’s 40-and-over basketball tournaments and his favorite sports teams were the Washington Redskins and Chicago Cubs.

Jimmie enjoyed camping, fishing, cooking, collecting sports memorabilia, making and sell Diné jewelry, watching Western classic movies and WWE Wrestling, and renovating homes.

Jimmie is survived by his sons, Jeremy S. Peterson, Steven R. Peterson, Kendall E. Peterson, Lamar A. (Mariah) Peterson; father, Jimmie Peterson Sr. of Yah-Ta-Hey, New Mexico; wife, Teena Peterson of Albuquerque; brothers, Larry Anderson Sr., Merle Anderson Sr. and Melvin Anderson; sisters, Roselinda Anderson, Melinda West, Cindy Anderson, and Chantelle Peterson; and cousins, Brenda Notah, Connie Ashley and Nathaniel Notah.

Jimmie is preceded in death by his mother, Maggie G. Peterson; brothers, Augustine Anderson Jr. and Michael Anderson; sisters, Bernie Ann Francisco and Matilda Anderson; and aunt, Jean G. Notah.

Pallbearers were Jeremy Peterson, Steven Peterson, Kendall Peterson, Lamar Peterson, Travis Lee, Michael Warren, Augustine Anderson III, and Allen West.

Honorary pallbearers were Dewayne Anderson and Kyle Anderson.

Summit Funeral Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

John F. Claw

TOHATCHI, N.M. — Funeral services for John Fitzgerald Claw, 58, of Tohatchi, New Mexico, were held March 7 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tohatchi, with Father Dale Jamison officiating. Interment followed in Tohatchi.

John was born Jan. 8, 1964, in Fort Defiance. He passed away Feb. 26, 2022, in Tohatchi.

John attended Tohatchi High School and worked as a laborer with various job sites. He enjoyed being a No. 1 fan at his grandchildren’s sports events, spending time with family, building various things, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers.

John is survived by his sons, Fernando Claw and Malakai Claw; daughters, Latonya Claw, Latoya Claw, LeTisha Claw, Tyra Claw, Shanelle Claw, and Kylendrea Henry; mother, Flora A. Claw; brother, Gabriel Claw; sister, Florgina Claw; grandparents, Tillie Dennison and Pierce Allison; and 18 grandchildren.

John is preceded in death by his brother, Eugene Claw Jr.; and father, Eugene Claw Sr.

Pallbearers were Fernando Claw, Joshua Claw, Eliah Claw, Shawn Martin, and Jesus Olivas-Prieto.

Honorary pallbearers were Gabriel D. Claw, Johnathan Calvin, Rory Begay, and Aaron Claw.

Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Tyrone W. Becenti

GALLUP — Funeral services for Tyrone Willeto Becenti, 41, of Becenti, New Mexico, will be held Monday, March 14, at 10 a.m., at the Rollie Mortuary Chapel in Gallup. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Gallup.

Tyrone was born into the Kiyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan), born for Naakai dine’é (Mexican Clan). He passed away March 4, 2022, in Crownpoint.

Tyrone attended Crownpoint High School and was a lifetime rancher.

Tyrone is survived by his son, Tristan Becenti; daughters, Tymarus Becenti and Tyandra Becenti; mother, Delores Becenti; brothers, Seth Morgan and Cody Morgan; sister, Tamara Yazzie; and grandmother, Dorothy Becenti.

Tyrone is preceded in death by his grandfather, Tom Bill Becenti.

Pallbearers will be Seth Morgan, Cody Morgan, Terry Becenti, Donovan Becenti, LaFondo Becenti, and Nathaniel Calabaza.

Honorary pallbearers will be Arnold Becenti, Aldon Calabaza Jr. and Trevon Calabaza.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

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