Obituaries for March 16, 2023

Alice S. Benallie

TOHATCHI, N.M. — Funeral services for Alice S. Benallie, 102, of Tohatchi, New Mexico, were held March 13 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tohatchi, with Father Dale Jamison officiating. Interment followed at the Tohatchi cemetery.

Alice was born Aug. 12, 1920, in Tohatchi, into the Tsin sikaadnii (Clamp Tree Clan), born for ‘Áshįįhí (Salt People Clan). She passed away March 9, 2023, in Farmington.

Alice attended Fort Wingate High School, worked for ONEO-District 14, Fort Wingate Army Depot, and St. Mary’s Hospital, and was a secretary at Tohatchi Chapter.

Alice was a Gold Star mother who loved weaving rugs, ranching, silversmithing, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Alice is survived by her sons, David Benallie, Ickes Benallie, Dennis Benallie, and Angelo Benallie; daughters, Mildred Morris, Doris Benallie, JoAnn Crosby, and Valentina Benallie; brother, Willie Sandoval; and 22 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

Alice is preceded in death by her husband, a World War II veteran, Ike Benallie; sons, Ambrose Sandoval and Gary Benallie; sister, Louise Etsitty; brothers, Leo Sandoval and Thomas Sandoval; and grandson, Dwayne Morris.

Pallbearers were Ryon Morris, Korby Benallie, DJ Benallie, Augustus Benallie, Marlon Sandoval, and Bryan Lucero.

Honorary pallbearers were David Benallie, Ickes Benallie, Dennis Benallie, Angelo Benallie, Shannon Benallie, Ambrose Sandoval Jr., Calvin Ike Benallie, Galen Sandoval, Virgil Sandoval, Marvin Sandoval, Kordell Curley, Darrell Curley, and Anthony Sandoval.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Tawni L. Crowe

GALLUP — The funeral service for Tawni Lynn Crowe, 57, of Gamerco, New Mexico, was held March 11 at the Methodist Church in Gallup, with Pastor Christopher Kellogg officiating.

Tawni was born March 2, 1960, in Denver, Colorado. She passed away March 10, 2023, in Gamerco.

Tawni graduated from Tohatchi High School and earned a bachelor’s in education from the University of New Mexico-Gallup. She worked for Tohatchi Middle School as a library aide and for Kennedy Middle School as a secretary and teacher.

Tawni enjoyed puzzles, crafts, and attending concerts with her children.

Tawni is survived by her son, Adam Etsitty; daughter, Kayleigh Crowe; parents, Beverly and Dale Crowe; brother, Kurt Crowe; sister, Kimber Crowe; and two grandchildren.

Kurt Crowe, Brent Crowe, Adam Etsitty, Tydus Charley, Marcus Etsitty, and Dale Crowe were pallbearers.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Henry C. Begay

FARMINGTON — Funeral services for Henry Cudeii Begay, 91, of Shiprock, were held March 15 at the RiverStone Church in Farmington. Interment followed at the Kirtland/Fruitland cemetery in Kirtland, New Mexico.

Henry was born Dec. 24, 1931, in Gadii’ahi/To’Koi, New Mexico, into the ‘Oozéí Táchii’nii (Red Running Into the Water People Clan), born for ‘Áshįįhí (Salt People Clan). He passed away March 8, 2023, in Shiprock.

Henry became a Window Rock Methodist Church pastor in 1980, retiring in 1996. He enjoyed playing the guitar and piano and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Henry is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Mary Begay; children, Nelson C. Begay, Franklin G. (Nora) Ellison, Herman C. Begaye, Diana J. Cudeii (Craig Bruce), Lois J. Westbrook, Norman C. (Linda) Bennett-Begaye, Velala J.C. (Matthew) White, Tommy C. (Stacey) Begay, Jethro C. Begay (Dinah Lewis), and Verlena J. (John) Livingston; sister, RoseAnn Nelson; and 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Henry is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Nelson; father, Clarence C. Begay; brother, John C. Begay; and daughter, Carrie Begay.

Levon Ellison, Harlen Begaye, Jared Baca, Isaac Westbrook, Mathias Navarro, and Santiago Ortiz were pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers were Tamara/Nick Begaye, Erica Ellison, Jaime Hazelton, Josiah Westbrook, Naanibaa’ Westbrook, Nicholas Begaye, Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Taylor Bennett-Begaye, Johnnie Nez, Thomas Begay, Nichol Navarro, Stephanie Gee, Kirsten Ortiz, Chelsea Thompson, Cameron Begay, Jordania Livingston, Nyah Livingston, and Jade Livingston.

Cope Memorial Chapel oversaw arrangements.

Herman J. Tabaha

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Funeral services for Herman James Tabaha, 65, of Crystal, New Mexico, will be held today, March 16, at 10 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in St. Michaels, Arizona, with Bishop Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Fort Defiance.
Herman was born July 6, 1956, in Blythe, California, into the Hashk’ąą hadzohí (Yucca Fruit-Strung-Out-In-A-Line Clan), born for Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan). He passed away March 11, 2023, in Wildcat, New Mexico.

Herman graduated from Wingate High School and attended Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Diné College, and the University of New Mexico-Gallup. He was an accountant technician with the Navajo Nation and Navajo Housing Authority.

Herman’s interests and hobbies included martial arts, horsemanship skills, and sponsoring basketball tournaments. He was also a bull rider in the Indian rodeo circuit.

Herman is survived by his children, Kris Tabaha, Jamie Tabaha, Dallas Tabaha, Christine Tabaha, and Shirleen Tabaha; siblings, Lynda Tabaha-Yazzie, Flavian Tabaha Jr., LaVerne Johnson, Priscilla Francisco, and Victoria Selestewa; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Herman is preceded in death by Shirley Francisco, Flavian Tabaha Sr., and Leslie Francisco.

Pallbearers will be Jamie Tabaha, Barren Yazzie and Reuben Selestewa.

Following services, a reception will occur at The Family Church Assembly of God in Fort Defiance.

Margaret M. Gorman

FORT DEFIANCE — Memorial service for Margaret M. Gorman of Window Rock will be held Saturday, March 18, at noon, at the Presbyterian Church in Fort Defiance.

Margaret was born May 7, 1936, in Klagetoh, Arizona, to Joseph Elwood Lee and Anna Tracy Lee, into the Deeshchii’nii (Start of the Red Streak People Clan), born for the Honágháahnii (One-walks-around Clan). She passed away March 1, 2023.

Margaret grew up in Cornfields, Arizona, and attended Ganado Mission School. She graduated in 1958 and attended nursing school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from nursing school, she worked briefly at the Los Angeles Medical Center and Lovelace Hospital in Albuquerque.

Margaret married Howard Thomas Gorman in 1962 and continued her work as a school nurse in Chinle in the late 1960s. In 1973, she began work at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital, where she gained experience working in different areas of nursing — inpatient ward, surgical, nursing administration, emergency room, and patient advocate until her retirement in 2006.

After retirement, Margaret led a quiet life at home. She enjoyed reading, doing word puzzles, watching old Western movies and television shows (Gunsmoke was a favorite program), shopping, and spending time with her family and dogs.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Lenora Gorman; sisters, Evelyn McCabe and Phoebe Lynch; brother, Henry Lee; granddaughters, Rachel Gorman and Morgan Littleman; and seven great-grandchildren and 22 nieces and nephews.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, Tom Gorman, who passed in 1990, and son, Curtis Gorman, who passed in 2017.

Margaret wished to be cremated and buried with her husband, Tom, in Ganado, Arizona.

A reception will take place at the Presbyterian Church following the service.

Edith M. Gleason

NEWCOMB, N.M. — Graveside service for Edith M. Gleason, 78, of Mexican Springs, New Mexico, will be held Saturday, March 18, at 10 a.m., at the Gleason family plot in Newcomb, New Mexico, with Harry Plummer officiating.

Edith was born May 16, 1944, in Gallup, into the Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan), born for ‘Áshįįhí (Salt People Clan). She passed away March 10, 2023, in Gallup.

Edith attended Gallup High School and earned a certificate in auto mechanics. She worked for McKinley County Income Support Division and retired from General Dynamics in Fort Defiance.

Edith enjoyed quilting NFL teams and area high schools, cooking, beadwork, word search, and weaving Navajo rugs and sash belts. She was a rancher who always smiled and loved helping her grandchildren with math and helping others.

Edith is survived by her sons, VcRay (Caroline) of Phoenix, Zolton (Yvette) of Mesa, Arizona, and Zach of Tohatchi, New Mexico; daughters, Berdie (Virgil Sam) of Mexican Springs and Elvira Gleason-Hubbard of Mexican Springs; brothers, Lyman Kinsel and Paul Kinsel Jr., both of Tohatchi; sister, Clara Kinsel of Tohatchi; and 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Edith is preceded in death by her husband, Tsosie R. Gleason; son, Ronnie Gleason; sister, Sissy Miller; grandson, Jeremy Gleason; parents, Mary and Paul Kinsel; and grandparents, Marie and Dewy Etsitty.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lyman Kinsel, Paul Kinsel Jr., Zach Gleason, Zolton Gleason, VcRray Gleason, Herman Gleason, Homer Gleason Jr., and Jeremiah Gleason.

A reception will take place at the Newcomb Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church following the service.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

Zaylynn E. Peterson

GALLUP — Funeral services for Zaylynn Eugene Peterson, infant of Gallup, were held March 13 at Rollie Mortuary in Gallup, with Jonathan Graham officiating. Interment followed in Rehoboth, New Mexico.

Zaylynn was born Sept. 17, 2022, in Gallup, into the Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan), born for Tsénjíkiní (Honey Combed Rock People Clan). He passed away March 5, 2023, in Gallup.

Zaylynn is survived by his parents, Sandra Begay and Richie Peterson; brothers, Aiden Peterson, Taytum Peterson, and Zyrin Peterson; maternal grandparents, Samalita Begay and Roger Nakai; and paternal grandmother, Linda Peterson.

Zaylynn is preceded in death by his nalí, Richard Peterson; and uncles, Leonard Peterson and Zachery L. Begay.

Richie Peterson, Sandra Begay, Eugena Begay, and Melvin Peterson were pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers were Ricki, Richlinda, Nicholas, Precious, Shania Ray, Samaya Ray, Rayshawn, Michail, and Tenyoma.

Rollie Mortuary oversaw arrangements.

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