Local Obituaries for Families in Safford, Arizona
Hermila Villalba
May 8, 2017
Hermila M. Villalba, 71, of Safford, passed away May 8, 2017. She was born on September 30, 1945 in Gila, New Mexico to Tereso & Josefina Medina. She was the 11th of 14 children. In 1950, her family moved to Safford where she would spend the remainder of her life. She met Pablo Villalba in 1967 and they quickly fell...
Donna Cope
May 7, 2017
Donna Jean Cope, 71 of Thatcher, passed away May 7, 2017 in Safford. She was born December 15, 1945 in Witchita Falls, Texas to John Franklin & Norma Jean Ellis. When Donna was one year old her parents divorced and her mother married William Carl Craufurd who adopted her as his own. They then moved to Apache Grove, where she...
Robert Duncan
May 7, 2017
Robert Duncan, 77, of Bylas, quietly passed away May 7, 2017 at his home with his loving family near his side. He was born December 30, 1939 in San Carlos, Arizona to Wilson & Mary Duncan. He was a laborer by trade, working for the tribal authorities. He loved his family very much and was always happiest when he could...
Ascencion Rios
May 6, 2017
Ascencion P. Rios Jr., passed away on May 6, 2017 in Safford, Arizona. Ascencion was born January 6, 1927 in Globe, Arizona to Mariana and Ascencion Sr, the second oldest of eight children, he attended Solomon Elementary and Morenci schools and was a member of the high school football team. Ascencion served in the US Army during and after World...
Rachel Mendez
May 5, 2017
Rachel Marie Mendez, 44, of Bylas, passed away May 5, 2017 in Safford. She was born January 29, 1973 in Shurz, Nevada to Dwight & Evelyn Bennett. Rachel went to the Sherman Indian High School and after graduating from there she spent two years at Central Arizona College in Araviapa. She worked for Tribal Gaming as an inspector and became...
Sybil Hardesty
Apr 30, 2017
Sybil "Sam" Hardesty, 71, if Virden, New Mexico, passed away April 30, 2017. She was born December 21, 1945 in Artesia, New Mexico to Clifford D. & Arrie Lee Denney. Nor services are planned at this time.
Robert Porter
Apr 29, 2017
Robert Porter, 66, of Pima, passed away April 29, 2017, in Tucson with his wife, Joyce, by his side. Robert was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on March 22, 1951 to Grover and Gladys Porter. He was the youngest of five children. Robert grew up and attended schools in Roscoe, Illinois. Robert and Joyce performed together in a high school play...
Patricia Kramer
Apr 28, 2017
Patricia Ann Kramer, 53, of Pima, passed away April 28, 2017. She was born October 26, 1963 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. No services are planned at this time.
Jared Garcia
Apr 26, 2017
Jared Michael Garcia, 35, of Safford, passed away April 26, 2017. He was born January 30, 1982 in Safford to Robert Steven Garcia & Charlotte Yvonne Hansen. Jared began a career in construction and was given the opportunity through work to travel to some beautiful places. During a very difficult time in his life, Jared obtained his GED, which was...
Tracy Tobler
Apr 24, 2017
Tracy Lee Tobler, 54, of Franklin, New Mexico, passed away April 24, 2017. He was born February 27, 1963 in Orange County, California to Alvin & Romelda Tobler. Tracy and his family moved from Orange County, CA to Duncan in 1977 when he was 14 years old. He attended school in Duncan and after graduating, he continued working with his...
Betty Cluff
Apr 23, 2017
Betty Jewell Cluff, 87, of Safford, entered into eternal rest on April 23, 2017. Betty was born November 14, 1929 in Safford to H. "Skeet" & Jewell Bowman. She was the oldest of six children. Some of her fondest memories of her younger years were spent growing up on her father's Hidden Haven Ranch with her younger sisters. When the...
Eldon Griffin
Apr 22, 2017
Eldon Griffin, 78, formerly of the Gila Valley, passed away on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at his home in Laveen, AZ with his loving family at his side. Eldon was born on September 1, 1938 in Pima to Alonzo and Olive Kerby Griffin. Eldon had a great love for horses, enjoying rodeo events and spending time with family. He will...
David Tracy
Apr 20, 2017
David Eugene Tracy passed away on Thursday April 20th, 2017 in Morenci, AZ at the age of 68. David was born August 28th, 1948 in Montfort, Wisconsin to Frank and Mamie Tracy. His family moved to Clifton in the late 1950's. He attended Clifton Public Schools. David was a man of many talents. Learning the skill from his father, he...
Gene Vinson
Apr 18, 2017
Gene L. Vinson, of Thatcher, passed away April 18, 2017. He was born August 8, 1930 in Athens, Alabama to William Louis and Eddie Johnson Vinson. In 1933, he and the family moved to Duncan, Arizona, where his dad worked as a farmer. In 1941, they then moved to Morenci where Gene finished his schooling and graduated from Morenci High...
Gladys Hinton
Apr 18, 2017
Gladys Longstreet Hinton, 85, of Bylas, passed away April 18, 2017. She was born February 27, 1932 in Safford to Jeff & Mary Bond Longstreet. A wake will be held on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at the Hinton residence with the funeral service on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ernest Stanley Memorial Hall....
Lydia Martinez
Apr 18, 2017
Our beloved Lydia R. Martinez, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to all that had the privilege of knowing her, passed away Tuesday, April 18th, 2017. Lydia Martinez was born in Morenci, AZ on December 26, 1926. She married Jesus Martinez in 1945. They had a son Robert Martinez. Unfortunately, Jesus died in a mine accident in 1948. In 1950, Lydia...
Eddie Lackner
Apr 17, 2017
Edward "Eddie" George Lackner, 82, of Klondyke passed away on April 17, 2017 on his ranch with his loving family by his side. Eddie was born May 7, 1934 in Klondyke to Harold and Kirrilla Lackner. Eddie grew up and attended school in Klondyke from 1st to 8th grade and then attended Thatcher schools from 9th to 12th grade. After...
Ruby Green
Apr 16, 2017
Ruby Mae Green Ruby Mae Green, 95, of Thatcher, AZ passed away on Easter morning, April 16, 2017. Ruby was born February 3, 1922 to Harvey and Della Phillips and was the oldest of 12 children. Ruby lived in Oklahoma until 1936 when they were driven from there by the Dust Bowl. Her family eventually made their way to the...
Edna Smith
Apr 15, 2017
Edna Ann Smith, 84, of San Jose, peacefully passed away at her home on April 15, 2017. She was born December 3, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas to Charles & Alice Fawcett. Edna graduated from Mitchell College in Statesville, North Carolina in June of 1952. She later met Joseph Lloyd Smith and they soon fell in love and were married on...
Miami Dungan
Apr 14, 2017
Miami G. Dungan, 86, of Pima, AZ, entered into eternal rest on April 14, 2017 after struggling with many health issues. She was born February 6, 1931 in Ardmore, OK to H. Hobson & Rytha Barker Sewell. Miami had a heart of gold and loved everyone. She was very proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ...
