Obituaries

Major General Donald L. Owens, 82, died peacefully on May 2, 2012, in the company of family and friends. General Owens had a brief illness following heart surgery. Don Owens was born April 13, 1930, in Phoenix. He attended St. Francis Xavier Elementary School and graduated from Grossmont High School in San Diego, returning home to attend Phoenix College. In...

56, of Phoenix passed away peacefully on May 2, 2012. Michael was born on October 14, 1955. An eighth generation Phoenician, he was a graduate of West High School. His life’s work was running and helping to expand the family restaurant, Los Compadres. In recent years, he was a great comfort to his family after his mother’s passing. A voracious...

George Louis Meza passed on to heaven to be reunited with his beloved parents, Henry R. and Connie R. Meza, leaving behind his most devoted wife of 51 years, Katie Leon Meza. Born on February 5, 1935, George attended St. Mary’s Elementary and High School, Phoenix College, and excelled as a football player. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and...

George Lincoln Curran was born February 12, 1923 in Oakland, CA and at the age of 89, passed from this world April 28th, 2012 due to a brief, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Dad, you had a very exciting life and just like you wanted, you never had to retire from being a mail carrier for the past 45 years...

56, of Town of Paradise Valley died May 1, 2012. Survived by husband Michael, two daughters Veronica and Danielle one son Matthew, four sisters and five brothers. Terri loved gardening, art, stain glass ceramics, painting.Visitation will be from 4-7pm with a Scripture Service at 7pm, Friday, May 4, 2012 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road....

89, went peacefully with the Lord April 26, 2012. She was born in St. Cloud, MN and moved to AZ with husband, Don,in 1950. She is predeceased by him after 66 years of marriage. She is survived by her son, Michael and his wife, Julie, 3 granddaughters, Alishia, Nicole, Megan and 1 great grandson, Denton. Graveside Service will be Friday,...

Lyn Blakley Grant, a fashion executive, entrepreneuse, interior designer and style-setter died at her home in Phoenix, supported by family and friends, on the evening of April 26, 2012.The cause was metastatic colon cancer. She received this incurable diagnosis 16 months ago – according to her husband, Jolyon Grant. He states they decided to salute life while treating her disease....

77, passed away on April 27th, 2012 in Scottsdale, AZ. Born October 8th, 1934 in Phoenix toE. Alson and Anne Ward. Gene is survived by his wife Bernice, son John (Anita), daughter Anne (Rick), granddaughters Kira Anne and Emma Anne, brother Dr. John A. Ward (Jeanette) and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School and...

77, passed away on April 24, 2012.Born in Phoenix on March 1, 1935. A graduate of St. Mary’s High School and was an active member at St. Mary’s Basilica. She is survived by her husband George Gram, son Steve and wife Julie, daughter Lori and husband John, and sister Margaret Hruz (Young). Visitation will be from 6-8pm with a Rosary...

Betty A. Valdivia, beloved mother, daughter, sister, former wife, aunt, artist, dancer, teacher and friend has passed away at age 64 on April 18, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. Betty was born in Phoenix, Arizona on April 26, 1947 to Louis Valdivia and Alice Ferra Valdivia. She is survived by her mother Alice Valdivia, brother Louis Valdivia, sister Sharon Guajardo, son...

81, of Phoenix, AZ died April 21, 2012. Survived by her brother Thomas Phelan of Sun Lakes, AZ and sister Barbara Niles of New York. Funeral Mass will be held at 10am, Friday, May 11, 2012 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Inurnment will take place back home in Chicago, IL. In lieu of flowers donations...

Evelyn “Babe” Nappa passed peacefully on April 18, 2012 surrounded by her family and friends at daughter Roslyn Duffy’s home in Seattle, WA. She was born Evelyn Cortese in June 1919 in Ashtabula, Ohio,youngest of four daughters, to James & Rose Cortese. She married the love of her life, Emanuelle G upon his return from the war in Europe in...

Barbara P. Magill (Bobbie) passed away on April 4th 2012 with loving family at her side. Barbara was born October 9, 1920 in Newburgh, New York, the daughter of Harry F. Parrott and Hortense Reinholdt Parrott. Barbara grew up in New York City and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy and Virginia Intermont College. Barbara was married to the late Stephen...

Nona F. Kasper, 76 of Pittsburgh, PA died with her family by her side in Scottsdale, AZ on April 16, 2012 after her courageous battle with heart disease. Nona, a caring and loving mother, was also a Caregiver as her profession for many years. She was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. Born in Troy, NY...

Esther N. Cruz, 67, of Phoenix, passed away April 11, 2012. She was born in Phoenix, Arizona on April 29, 1944. Esther is survived by her brothers; Roy and Ray, sisters; Jennie, Elsie and Rosie, sons; Arnold and William, daughter; Cecilia, 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Visitation will be Friday, April 20, 2012 beginning at 9:00 A.M. with Funeral...

Vitale, Marie C. “Mimi” aged 95, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2012 surrounded by her family, and is re-united with her loving husband James who passed in 2007. Marie had a loving heart and was an adoring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Happiness to her was big family gatherings, dinners, and enjoying her grandchildren. Marie was born in Sandusky,...

Americo “Mac” Paul Gouveia, 87, died April 13, 2012 at home surrounded by his loving children. Mac was born September 4, 1924 in Milford, MA. He lived in Portugal for many years before he moved to Arizona in 1951. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and in 1987 he was ordained a Deacon. He was...

Dee Murphy, 75, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home on April 16, 2012. Dee was born May 4, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest daughter of Ester Schmeling and George Cline.Dee was an active member of the community. She was a member of the Sodality of St. Thomas, Knights and Ladies of the Holy...

Owen “Big O” Childress died early on Saturday, April 14th, 2012 at the Gardiner Hospice Home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 15, 1930, to Thelma and Owen Maris Childress. His family moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1941 where he attended Phoenix Union High School, graduating in 1948. While attending Phoenix College he...

January 18, 1929 – April 14, 2012Born in Wilkes Barre, PA to Glen and Dorothy Ridgeway, their only child. Married over 50 years to her loving husband Louis C. (Bud) Savale, who preceded her in going home to be with Christ, May 28, 1998. Alice was a very caring, devoted, and loving wife and mother. She loved to cook and...