Local Obituaries for Families in Safford, Arizona
Tricia Black
Aug 12, 2017
Tricia Kay Black, 39, of Safford, passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2017. She was born September 9, 1977 to Marline Westoven and Ricky Maxwell. Tricia devoted her life to being a mother. Her children and family were everything to her. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in her spare time from...
Archie Yelek
Aug 10, 2017
Archie Lee Yelek, at the age of 82, passed from this level of life on August 10, 2017 at Haven of Safford to join his parents and four sisters who are celebrating his arrival in Heaven. After many years of dealing with a multitude of chronic health issues but being able to live independently, he is enjoying a renewed, quality...
Leanne McElroy
Aug 9, 2017
Eva Leanne McElroy passed away at University Medical Center in Tucson on August 9, 2017 after a sudden cardiac event. Leanne was born in Yuma, Arizona on September 6, 1968 to Louisa Caroline Kuschel and Lawrence L. McDonald, Jr. She grew up in Yuma, graduating from Kofa High School. She was involved in many activities in school and church, including...
Carol Merrell
Aug 8, 2017
Our beloved wife and mother, Carol Kay Blessing Merrell, was born Feb. 15, 1937, in Safford, Ariz., and left this mortal life to join her Heavenly Father, her parents, Flora and Jim Blessing, and her grandson Christopher James Merrell on Aug. 8, 2017. She left behind her eternal sweetheart, L. Ellsworth Merrell to whom she was sealed 60 years ago...
Harvey Ray
Aug 7, 2017
Harvey Leslie Ray, 85, of Thatcher, passed away August 7, 2017 in Safford. He was born October 25, 1931 in Windom, Minnesota to Clifford Weslie & Adeline Wildfever Ray. He went to school in Windom with his grade school years at District 25 and graduated from Windom High School in 1949. He worked for Toro in St. James for 3...
Peggy Sparks
Aug 4, 2017
Peggy Jenice Sparks went home to the Lord on August 4, 2017 at the age of 70. She was born on November 16th, 1946 in Tucson, Arizona to Jack & Barbara Stevens Baxter. Peggy was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed fishing, camping, and spending time with her late husband of 42 years, Russell Val Sparks....
Ophelia Clendon
Aug 2, 2017
Ophelia Lou Clendon, 63, of Bylas, passed away August 2, 2017 at her home with her family near her side. She was born March 3, 1954 in Bylas, Arizona to James & Regina Sippi Clendon. A wake will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017 beginning at 7:00 a.m. at the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church in Bylas with the...
Harry Wiertz
Aug 1, 2017
Harry James Wiertz, 66, of Duncan, quietly slipped into eternal rest on August 1, 2017. He was born June 14, 1951 in Salina, Kansas to Harry Jay & Joanne Lafarie Wiertz. No services are planned at this time.
Kenneth Potter
Jul 31, 2017
Kenneth William Potter, 54, unexpectedly passed away Monday, July 31, 2017 at his home in Apache Junction, AZ. He was born June 13, 1963 in Safford, AZ to Kenneth B. & Nelda Potter. He is the youngest son of four children born to Kenneth and Nelda. The family moved between Safford and Morenci, finally deciding to settle in Safford. Kenneth...
Fritz Gilbert
Jul 29, 2017
Fritz Bob Gilbert, 76, of Bylas, Arizona, passed away July 29, 2017 in Globe, Arizona. He was born February 24, 1941 in Calva, Arizona to Jack & Julia Declay Gilbert. Fritz attended Ft. Thomas schools but his love was in doing Cowboy stuff - calf roping, bareback riding, bull riding and attending rodeos. He won numerous belt buckles for his...
Maria McWilliams
Jul 20, 2017
Maria de la Cruz "Ruth" McWilliams, 75, of Cresco, PA, passed away on Thursday, July 20, 2017. Born May 3, 1942 in Central, Arizona, she was a daughter of the late Jose de Jesus Flores of Mexico and Isabelle (Tapia) Flores of Arizona, and sister of the late Rosaline Reyes, Albert Flores and Daniel Flores. She is survived by her...
Sylvia Carrasco
Jul 20, 2017
Sylvia G. Carrasco, 90, of Safford Arizona passed away on Thursday July 20, 2017 surrounded by family. She was born February 21, 1927 in Metcalf Arizona to Vidal Gomez of Santander Spain and Jessie Grijalva of San Jose, Arizona. Sylvia grew up in Solomonville, AZ. Sylvia graduated from Safford High in 1945. She continued her education by taking business courses...
Benny Godfrey
Jul 17, 2017
Benny Grant Godfrey passed away suddenly at Monday July 17, 2017, at San Carlos Lake, doing what he loved, fishing. Benny was born, the second son on January 31, 1940 to Grant and Clara Godfrey in Claypool, Az. He spent most of his life in the Safford Area, where he had numerous friends and relatives. His favorite pass time was...
Joe Peña-Valdez
Jul 16, 2017
Joe Duran Pena-Valdez passed away July 16, 2017 at his home in Safford, AZ with his wife by his side. He was born July 5, 1941 in Delano, CA to Matilda & Francisco Pena. The family moved to Parker, AZ where Joe became interested in farming, especially the marketing of alfalfa hay. He moved to Mesa, AZ where he met...
Leland Stevens
Jul 16, 2017
Leland W. Stevens, 88, of Thatcher, passed away July 16, 2017. He was born May 3, 1929 in Safford, Arizona to Albert and Jessie O'Howell Stevens. A celebration of life will be from 5-8 pm on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the Common Sense Building at the Graham County Fairgrounds.
Dale Ramirez
Jul 15, 2017
Dale Sandoval Ramirez, 88, of Thatcher, Arizona, passed away July 15, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born February 6, 1929 in Thatcher, Arizona to Julio G. & Elena Pena Ramirez. Dale lived with his family in the Turnbull area, they raised Angolla Goats and moved to Klondyke, and then settled in Winkleman. He graduated from Winkleman High School. After...
Bruce Dixon
Jul 14, 2017
Bruce Alan Dixon, 31, of Safford, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2017. He was born on September 20, 1985 in Tucson to Bruce Norman and Sandra Fitzsimmons Dixon. Bruce and his family moved to Safford when he was young. He grew up and graduated from Safford High in 2004. After graduation in 2005, he decided to join the U.S....
Wheeler Bond
Jul 8, 2017
Wheeler, aka "Boy", was just 38 years old when the Lord took him home on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson. He was born on November 16, 1978 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, AZ to Wheeler Alexander Bond, Sr. and the late Sophie Moses. He has 5 older sisters; the late Pamela Bond Wright, Deloria...
Phillip Cook
Jul 6, 2017
Phillip S. Cook, 70, of Thatcher, passed away on July 6, 2017 in Tucson. He was born on February 25, 1947 in Kentucky to Raymond and Hester Cook. They later moved to Tucson and Phillip attended school there and graduated from Pueblo High School. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army. He was proud of his service to his...
Rosemarie Bruner
Jul 1, 2017
Rosemarie was born September 15, 1920 in Pueblo, CO. She was adopted at birth by Leslie Ethel & George Henry Roberts. Leslie was a homemaker and George was a steelworker. Her father worked for CF&I Steel Corp. for 50 years and retired from there. Rosemarie grew up in Pueblo and attended school there. After school, she enrolled in Cosmetology School...


