Obituaries

95, of Phoenix, passed away December 25. Born May 5, 1916 in San Francisco, CA and brought to Phoenix at the age of 5 when her parents purchased a farm on the outskirts of Phoenix on 44th Street near Roosevelt Road. Josephine was in the first graduating class of St. Mary High School. She was preceded in death by her...

Norma Blanche (Butler) Stafford was born October 1st in 1926 to James Richard Butler and Agnes Blanch Crane Butler in Hartford, Connecticut. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Howard Ernest Stafford, and two daughters, Sr. Terri Stafford and Eileen Stafford Frazier, son-in-law, Patrick Frazier, grandchildren Jenna Frazier and Brendan Frazier. She is also survived by her sister...

Alyce Grace Burns, 81, of Scottsdale, died December 3, 2011 at her home with family by her side. Though she struggled with rheumatoid arthritis for over fifty years, she died of natural causes.Mrs. Burns was born December 27, 1929, in Del Rapids, South Dakota, to Dennis and Ellen Loretta Flanagan. She was the fourth of four children. Alyce, her mother...

age 50, passed away on December 5, 2011 in Roswell, GA after his second long battle with cancer. Mark was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. Mark married his soul mate Debra Montagnari-Stephens in 2001 and together they raised a son and a daughter from Mark’s previous marriage. A graduate of Arizona State University, Mark spent 14 years in the...

Margaret K. Ritter of Phoenix died December 13, 2011. Our dear Margaret was born in Berlin, Germany and, at the age of 2, came to this country with her parents and sister Eleanor Rossi (deceased) to live in Buffalo, NY. When she married John Ritter in 1943, they made their home at Schenectady, NY. After WWII, when John had a...

Maureen Lynne Beck-Wells, 54, passed away on Dec. 12, 2011 after a long battle with cancer. A dedicated Catholic, Maureen has joined our Lord in heaven but will continue to be with us as a guardian angel that watches over her amazing children, extensive family and many, many friends. Maureen loved her children, Michael and Sarah above all else and...

Blanche E. Duggan, 91, born July 31, 1920 in Fullerton, Nebraska, went to be with Our Heavenly Father on December 8, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom of 58 years and will be greatly missed by sister Bessie Rudman and children Joan (Fred) Felkins, Jean (Paul) Boyce, Kay Duggan, Mike (Darlene) Duggan, Patty (Tom) Lynch, grandchildren,...

Longtime Phoenix attorney and community leaderRaymond M. Hunter: A Man of Great Accomplishment; A Model of CourageBy Greg O’BrienTo say that Raymond M. Hunter was a loving husband and father and a man of resolute courage is to say the sun rises in the morning by chance. The understatement is lost in the greatness of the man and the moment.Ray,...

Gustavo Facundo Costales, 46, passed away on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. He is survived by his loving and adoring wife, Martina, his daughter, Lucia, and his son, Julian. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gustavo and Martina moved to Arizona in 1997 to further their education and careers. He is a 1998 graduate of Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale,...

Sister Esther Ann Reyes IBVM, member of the Loreto Sisters’ Religious Community at Ss. Simon and Jude Convent, Phoenix, Arizona died peacefully on Monday, December 5th. Sister Esther will be greatly missed by her Religious Sisters and friends, and, especially, by her immediate family: her sister, Frances Holguin, her sister, Gloria Viramontes, her brother, Frank L. Reyes, and her brother,...

Ramon A. Sanchez, 92, born in Superior, AZ. was a native of Arizona. SSgt. U.S. Army WW II Veteran. left peacefully on Dec. 6, 2011. He is survived by 2 sons, 2 daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, his former wife, 1 sister, many friends and living angels who took care of him and his caregiver. Funeral Mass will...

Margaret “Maggie” Miranda Montoya, 79, went to be with Jesus on November 30, 2011. She gives joy through her cherished stories, her precious smile, and her happy laughter. Margaret continues to be loved by her oldest daughter, Terry, and her Mike. Her Margie and her Eddie. Her Linda and her Compa. Her son, Nito, and her Candy. Her baby, Janet,...

Dr. Richard A. (“Rick”) Mickle died Friday, December 2, 2011, following a tragic motor vehicle accident. Rick was the second of four children born to William W. and Mary Alice Mickle, of Shenandoah, Iowa. Following high school, Rick attended the University of Arizona in Tucson and Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree...

Evan David Fischer, 21, of Scottsdale, AZ passed away on November 24, 2011. Evan, the beloved son of Anne and Matthew Fischer was born on December 10, 1989 in Berkeley, CA. He was a cherished little brother to his sister, Claire Fischer. Evan loved his family and friends, movies, music and paintball. His inquisitive mind was always learning. Evan was...

Alice Salazar 76, was born in Florence Arizona on January 20, 1935 to Ophelia and Raymond Bonillas. On November 27, 2011 surrounded by her family, she entered into our Heavenly Father’s arms. She handled her illness as she did her life with strength, dignity, and grace. She was the eldest of seven children, Erma Bonillas, Raymond Bonillas, Arnold Bonillas, Eleanor...

Rhea Linsenmeyer peacefully passed away at age 92 on November 26, 2011. A third generation Phoenician, Rhea witnessed Phoenix grow from a small town to the sixth largest city in the U.S. As a child, she lived in a house that her father built. As an adult, she worked as a secretary for Phoenix’s only movie theater, the Orpheum, and...

Jack L. Crawford, 90, of Chandler AZ passed away peacefully on November 23, 2011. Jack was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will always be remembered for his quick wit and clever sense of humor. He was born in LaPorte City, Iowa on November 17, 1921, the son of Clarence and Jesse Ochs Crawford. Jack graduated from Jesup High...

Louise was born February 2, 1921 a native Phoenician, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2011. She attended Phoenix Union High School graduating in 1939.She was the widow of Pearl Harbor Veteran Harold F. Stickle. She was an active member at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.Louise is survived by daughter Ellen Womack (Bob) granddaughter Desiree Womack; son Robert Stickle (Lonnie).A Memorial...

George Nickas passed away at home on November 22, 2011. George was born on April 20, 1933 in Chicago to Mike and Bessie Nickas. He attended school in Maywood, IL, graduating from Proviso High School in 1951. At that time, he was the recipient of a Rector Scholarship to DePauw University. Upon graduating from DePauw, George was initiated into Phi...

Father Charles E. Shaw passed away on Friday, November 18th, in Phoenix, AZ. His life’s journey was a remarkable one and he left a lasting impression on all whose lives he touched. He died, as he lived, at peace with God and himself. Fr. Shaw was born in Bridgeport, CT on July 16, 1926, to the late Ernest and Helen...