Obituaries for June 20, 2001

Wednesday, June 20, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

George A. Adams

George A. Adams, 65, of Henderson died Tuesday in Henderson. He was born April 22, 1936, in Ohio. A resident for many years, he was an iron worker.

He is survived by his wife, Joan M.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Emma Armstrong

Emma Armstrong, 86, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born Oct. 2, 1914. A resident for seven years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by two daughters, Patricia Morales and Dorrene Maser; one sister, Vera Dalson; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is arranging private family services.

Vito A. Avena

Vito A. Avena, 74, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born June 15, 1927, in Italy. A resident for 41 years, he was a casino manager at the Horseshoe and an Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen; two sons, Jeff Avena of Connecticut and Steve Avena of Las Vegas; one sister, Frances Colangelo of New York; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 6 p.m. Thursday in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Burial will be private.

James Russell Biggs

James Russell Biggs, 39, of Henderson died Sunday in Henderson. He was born June 26, 1961, in Euclid, Ohio. A longtime resident, he was a printer.

He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Biggs and Tabatha Biggs, and his mother, Gail Witlicki, all of Henderson; his father, James R. Biggs Sr. of Las Vegas; one brother, Al Biggs, and three sisters, Dezy Biggs, Allie Biggs and Alexa Biggs, all of Tennessee.

Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Jane Ann Cottonwood

Jane Ann Cottonwood, 67, of Beatty died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born Aug. 30, 1933, in Indiana, Pa. A resident for 52 years, she owned Janda Ribbons in Beatty.

She is survived by her husband, Ted "Bombo"; and two daughters, Bunny Allen and Penny Schmidhofer, both of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled noon until 2 p.m. services Saturday in Beatty Community Center. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Saturday in Beatty Cemetery. Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the American Heart Association, 6370 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103, or the American Lung Association, 3375 Glen Ave., No. 7, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

Margaret K. Crump

Margaret K. Crump, 74, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Aug. 28, 1926, in Torrance, Calif. A resident for 23 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one daughter, Melissa M. Bell and K.C. Smith, both of Las Vegas; two brothers, Keith Secord of Torrance and Jack Secord of Lakeport, Calif.; and three grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Cheryl Ann Eidsvik

Cheryl Ann Eidsvik, 41, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born Aug. 3, 1959, in Detroit. A resident for 24 years, she was a laborer in the construction industry.

She is survived by her husband, Eric; and one son, Michael Eidsvik of Las Vegas.

Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling private arrangements.

Sherry Ellingson

Sherry Ellingson, 53, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Aug. 7, 1947, in Cedar City, Utah. A resident for 34 years, she was a retired court clerk.

She is survived by one son, Jason Ellingson, and two sisters, Marlene MacLeod and Connie Jones, all of Las Vegas; and one brother, L.J. Benson of St. George, Utah.

Visitation is scheduled 4-7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Palm Chapel, Cheyenne. Burial will be in Utah. Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Joan Marie Finngran

Joan Marie Finngran, 75, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 26, 1925, in Ohio. A resident for 27 years, she was an artist and a member of the Nevada Poetry Society.

She is survived by her husband, Ted; two sons, Timothy and Kevin; three daughters, Denise, Sheila and Colleen; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is arranging private family services.

John Wayne Foust

John Wayne Foust, 59, of Henderson died June 9 in Henderson. He was born April 28, 1942, in Indiana. A resident for 10 years, he was an equipment operator in the construction industry.

He is survived by one daughter, Rachel of Apple Valley, Calif.; and three grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, has arranged private family services.

Grace Gutzait

Grace Gutzait, 85, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born Oct. 28, 1915, in Hudson, W.Va. A resident for more than 40 years, she was a retired nurse.

She is survived by one son, Daniel J. Rudasill of Las Vegas; two sisters, Louella Hartman of Reno and Doris Eadar of Seattle; one brother, Nobel Galloway of Bruceton Mills, W.Va.; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will continue until 7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday in Palm Chapel, Main. Graveside services will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

Lucille A. Hansen

Lucille A. Hansen, 85, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. She was born April 23, 1916, in Berkeley, Calif. A resident for 14 years, she worked in the Metro Police records department for 13 years.

She is survived by one nephew, Ronald Neimann of Las Vegas.

Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association, 2785 E. Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

Ricky Floyd Housewright

Ricky Floyd Housewright, 53, of Henderson died Sunday in Henderson. He was born Jan. 4, 1948, in Texas. A resident for nine months, he was a truck driver for a produce company.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda.

No local services are scheduled. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Lee Jefferson

Lee Jefferson, 73, of Sandy Valley died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born June 17, 1928, in Benton Harbor, Mich. A resident for seven years, he was a retired truck driver.

He is survived by his wife, Jeneva; six sons, Dewayne Jefferson of Chicago, Fernandes Sandlain of Emporia, Va., William Jefferson of Tacoma, Wash., Lee Jefferson Jr. of Lacey, Wash., Dennis Jefferson of Sandy Valley and Stephen Jefferson of Las Vegas; two daughters, Jeanette Lynch of Chicago and Denise Jefferson of Las Vegas; three sisters; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Additional visitation is scheduled 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. services Friday in Palm Chapel, Eastern.

Bernard Kulifay Sr.

Bernard Kulifay Sr., 68, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Dec. 4, 1932, in Emmaus, Pa. A resident for 35 years, he was a retired Air Force master sergeant and Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1753, Air Force Sergeants Association and Nevada Highway Patrol Association.

He is survived by his wife, Bev; three sons, Col. Bernard E. Kulifay Jr. of Augusta, Ga., Maj. Stephen Kulifay of Albuquerque, N.M., and Lt. Col. John Kulifay of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; one daughter, Myra Harts of Las Vegas; three sisters, Mary Marx of Allentown, Pa., and Catherine Milano and Frances Schlaner, both of Emmaus; and eight grandchildren.

Graveside services will be noon Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Craig Alan Lacey

Craig Alan Lacey, 45, of Henderson died Sunday in Henderson. He was born Aug. 21, 1955, in Henderson. A lifelong resident, he was a painter in the construction industry.

He is survived by one son, Jesse Lacey of St. Louis; two daughters, Sara Lacey of St. Louis and Tina Terranova of Las Vegas; his father, Blake Lacey of Henderson; his mother, Jody Church of Las Vegas; one sister, Debbie Lacey of Ketchikan, Alaska; and two brothers, Steve Lacey and Scott Lacey, both of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday with services following at 11 a.m. in Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson. Burial will follow in Boulder City Cemetery.

Evelyn Mannion

Evelyn Mannion, 85, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Aug. 3, 1915, in Montreal. A resident for 38 years, she was a retired restaurant cashier at the Landmark hotel for 11 years, a retired member of the Culinary Union and past president and member of the board of the Las Vegas Town Club.

Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society, 2250 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 19, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Kenneth Vincent Martin

Kenneth Vincent Martin, 88, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local health care center. He was born May 28, 1913, in Cotton County, Okla. A resident for six years, he was a retired sheet metal worker for an aircraft manufacturer and a World War II Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Earlma; two sisters, Maurine Baggs and Lois Cox; and two brothers, Francis Martin and Leonard Martin.

Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Pasquale Pico

Pasquale Pico, 78, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 9, 1922, in Youngstown, Ohio. A resident for 12 years, he was a retired purchasing agent for the Department of Defense.

He is survived by his wife, Georgina; one son, Robert Pico of Los Angeles; one daughter, Suzanne Chouinard of Palm Springs, Calif.; two brothers, Sammy Pico and Joey Pico, both of Lake Milton, Ohio; two sisters, Connie Gould of Florida and Dorothy Dilullo of Pennsylvania; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Green Valley Christian Church, 711 Valle Verde Court, Henderson. Burial will be private. Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

George William Polera

George William Polera, 82, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 25, 1918, in New York. A resident for 20 years, he was self-employed.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; one son, George Polera of Las Vegas; one sister, Mary Lucchese of Connecticut; and two grandchildren.

Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

C. Rex Reed

C. Rex Reed, 77, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. He was born May 15, 1924, in Jefferson City, Mo. A resident for 37 years, he was a retired hotel operating engineer, a World War II Navy veteran, a member of Operating Engineers Local 501, the Elks and the American Legion.

He is survived by one son, Clarence "Bud" Reed Jr., and his mother, Irene Taylor, both of Las Vegas; two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 4 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society, 1325 E. Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Wilma Gordon Reno

Wilma Gordon Reno, 83, of Henderson died Sunday in Henderson. She was born Feb. 23, 1918, in Daniels, Utah. She was a resident for 70 years.

She is survived by one daughter, Frances Harper of Henderson; four sons, Gary Harper and Tommy Reno, both of Henderson, Gordon Reno of Provo, Utah, and Willie Reno of Citrus Heights, Calif.; two brothers, Don Richardson of Heber, Utah, and Ferrell Gordon of Park City, Utah; 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson. Additional visitation is scheduled one hour prior to an 8:30 a.m. service Friday in the Cholla Street LDS Chapel. Burial will be in Palm Memorial Park, Henderson.

Roberta A. (DiCiaccio) Settje

Roberta A. (DiCiaccio) Settje, 65, of Pahrump died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Rochester, N.Y. A resident for 42 years, she was retired, was a homemaker and a member of the Eagles Auxiliary.

She is survived by her husband, Myron; four daughters, Suzanne DiCiaccio, Esther Woolford and Dianne DiCiaccio, all of Henderson, and Kathleen Tarragano of Pahrump; one son, Anthony DiCiaccio of Bakersfield, Calif.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday in St. Peter's Catholic Church, 204 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson. A second memorial service will be noon Friday in the Eagles Hall, 210 Pacific Ave., Henderson. Burial will be private. Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association, 2785 E. Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121, or the American Heart Association, 6370 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103.

Daniel Sheldon

Daniel Sheldon, 51, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Dec. 20, 1949, in Illinois. A resident for seven years, he was an H2o company technician and a Marine Corps veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; one son, Patrick; two daughters, Christine and Stephanie; one sister, Louellen; and three grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling private services.

Sam Topple

Sam Topple, 79, of Las Vegas died Friday in Mongaup Valley, N.Y. He was born July 6, 1921, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for 10 years, he worked in real estate.

He is survived by one son, Raymond Topple of Las Vegas; one daughter, Linda Leibson of Staten Island, N.Y.; and three grandchildren.

Graveside services were scheduled at 1:30 p.m. today in Paradise Memorial Gardens. Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., handled arrangements.

Clayton Arnold Valenta

Clayton Arnold Valenta, 58, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born June 21, 1942, in Minneapolis. A resident for eight years, he was a restaurant manager for 23 years and a Navy veteran.

He is survived by two sons, Anthony Robert Valenta and Christopher Clayton Valenta, both of Las Vegas; one brother, Sonny, and one sister, Gail, both of Minnesota.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in Church of Las Vegas, 3388 S. Decatur Blvd. Valley Memorial Crematory, 4855 W. Desert Inn Road, is handling arrangements.

Clifford Wells Sr.

Clifford Wells Sr., 86, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local care center. He was born Feb. 7, 1915, in Hersey, Wis. A resident for 18 years, he was a retired carpenter and a World War II Army Air Corps veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three sons, Cliff Wells Jr. of Henderson, Greg Wells of Eagan, Minn., and Scott Wells of Cottage Grove, Minn.; one daughter, Sharon Johnson of St. Paul, Minn.; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Graveside services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Joanne K. Williams

Joanne K. Williams, 47, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 1, 1953, in Minnesota. A resident for many years, she was a display coordinator for the Las Vegas Convention Center.

She is survived by one daughter, Lalita N. Williams of Knob Noster, Mo.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Warrensburg, Mo. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

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