Obituaries for Jan. 30, 2003

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

Claire R. Aikens

Claire R. Aikens, 81, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Quebec. A resident for 24 years, she retired as a seamstress after 45 years.

She is survived by her husband, Edward J.; one daughter, Claire Collinson of Ocean Township, N.J.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Private graveside services will be in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Nevada Funeral Service-Nevada Cremation or Burial Society, 2983 Fremont St., is handling arrangements.

Elaine Axelrod

Elaine Axelrod, 69, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Jan. 6, 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for 17 years, she was a homemaker and a member of B'nai B'rith.

She is survived by her husband, Arnold; one son, Stuart Axelrod of Las Vegas; one daughter, Jaclyn Feinberg of Los Angeles; one brother, Carl Goldberg of San Diego; and one grandchild.

Graveside services were scheduled at 1 p.m. today at King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery, 2697 Eldorado Lane.

R.H. 'Dick' Bayless

R.H. "Dick" Bayless, 82, of North Las Vegas died Monday in North Las Vegas. He was born April 26, 1920, in Hampton, Iowa. A resident for 23 years, he was a retired contract auditor for the federal government, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a member of the Southern Nevada Stamp Club and Las Vegas Gem Club.

He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Denton of Benicia, Calif., and Pamela Bradford of Bakersfield, Calif., six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

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

The family suggests donations to the American Heart Association, 6370 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103.

Wayman Lee Benge

Wayman Lee Benge, 71, of Henderson died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born Dec. 23, 1931, in Tucumcari, N.M. A resident for five years, he owned and operated a barber shop.

He is survived by two brothers, John Benge of Lovington, N.M., and Wilbur Benge of Las Cruces, N.M.; and two sisters, Lonetta Pickett of Henderson and Elsie Beck of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to a 1 p.m. service Friday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Burial will follow in Paradise Memorial Gardens.

The family suggests donations to Green Valley Methodist Church Youth Fund.

Earl F. Butler Jr.

Earl F. Butler Jr., 77, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born April 10, 1925, in Cambridge City, Ind. A resident for 26 years, he was a retired property manager and an Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Eugenia Butler of Las Vegas.

Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Betty L. Childre

Betty L. Childre, 74, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Sept. 3, 1928, in Clinton, Ind. A resident for 18 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one son, Clifton Childre of Las Vegas.

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

Charlene A. Clemente

Charlene A. Clemente, 79, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born May 7, 1923, in Wynne, Ark. A resident for 13 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by two daughters, Jacqueline A. Clemente of Las Vegas and Lesa E. Clemente of the Bronx, N.Y.; one son, Daniel M. Clemente of Franklin, Tenn.; one brother, Thomas W. Jones of Stockton, Calif.; four sisters, Irene Shepard of Stockton, Eugenia Anderson of Seattle, Iva M. Kuetz of Brentwood, Calif., and Sophie Rush of Valley Springs, Calif.; and two grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Patricio Cruz

Patricio Cruz, 82, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local care center. He was born March 17, 1920, in Bulacan, Philippines. A resident for one year, he was a retired lawyer.

He is survived by five daughters, Debbie Cruz, Annie Cruz and Patrice Cruz, all of Las Vegas, and Antoinette Terranova and Jessica Cruz, both of Fremont, Calif.; one sister, Guadalupe Usudan of the Philippines; and three grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling arrangements.

Cynthia Edwards

Cynthia Edwards, 38, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born March 2, 1964, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, she was a saleswoman in the telemarketing industry.

She is survived by one son, Nicholas Edwards, one daughter, Nicole R. Edwards-Shuff, her fiance, Marcus Falls, and two sisters, Catherine Wilcox and Cindi Paine, all of Las Vegas.

Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Stephen Michael Fiasco Jr.

Stephen Michael Fiasco Jr., 23, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 15, 1980, in Camp Springs, Md. A resident for 20 years, he was an audio-visual technician at the MGM Grand and a Bishop Gorman High School graduate.

He is survived by his companion, Dena Dunivent, and his mother, Rosemary Fiasco, both of Las Vegas; his father and stepmother, Stephen and Mia Fiasco, one brother, Ross Fiasco, and two stepsisters, Brittini and Brandy, all of Indian Springs; and his grandmother, Annabelle Fiasco of Waldorf, Md.

Mass was scheduled at 10 a.m. today in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive. Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, handled arrangements.

Francis Joseph 'Sonny' Frost

Francis Joseph "Sonny" Frost, 80, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Illinois. He was born Sept. 26, 1922, in Chicago. A resident for 10 years, he was an employee at Middleby Marshall Oven Co. for 52 years and a retired Army Air Corps first lieutenant and World War II veteran who flew 64 combat missions in a B26 over Europe.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 23 years, Lorraine, and his second wife of 28 years, Jacqueline; and one sister, Delores.

He is survived by one stepson, William "Billy" Pichler; and five step-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Oehler Funeral Home, Des Plaines, Ill., is handling arrangements.

Raymond W. Gauthier

Raymond W. Gauthier, 85, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospice. He was born Jan. 26 in Pawtucket, R.I. A resident for 49 years, he was a casino floor supervisor and an Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Norma; one son, Robert, and two daughters, Robin Gauthier and Angela Hill, all of Las Vegas; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Sunrise Cremation & Burial Society, 745 W. Sunset Road, No. 5, Henderson, is handling private arrangements.

Gary Hopkins

Gary Hopkins, 31, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. He was born June 4, 1971, in Las Vegas. A resident for 30 years, he was a McCarran International Airport security officer.

He is survived by his mother, Annie Lee Hopkins, three sisters, Annie Henry, Elizabeth Henry and Linda Jackson, and three brothers, Jeffery Hopkins, Eddie Hopkins and Alan Hopkins, all of Las Vegas; and his grandparents, Eddie and Pearlie Lewis of Lake Providence, La.

Visitation is scheduled 2-7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Palm Chapel, Main. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

Tracey Johnson

Tracey Johnson, 42, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 4, 1960, in California. A resident for 20 years, he was a retired office manager for a retail flooring company.

She is survived by her husband, Brent; two daughters, Mandy Egloff and Jeannie Johnson, and her mother, Eva Matthews, all of Las Vegas; her father, Tom Chainey of Ventura, Calif.; two sisters, Ursala Vandeventer of California and Joey McKittrick of Las Vegas.

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

Phyllis Jean King

Phyllis Jean King, 57, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born April 25, 1945, in Cincinnati. A resident for 32 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Robert L.; one son, Gary King, one daughter, Deborah Martinez, and one sister, Eva Marts, all of Las Vegas; one brother, Donald Skidmore of Harlan, Ky.; and seven grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Burial will be in Kentucky.

Joseph LaPorte

Joseph LaPorte, 89, of Henderson died Wednesday in a local hospital. He was born May 8, 1913, in Chicago. A resident for 22 years, he was a retired machinist for a printing company, an employee of Albertson's where he started at 80 years old and retired at 86, a village trustee in Lyons, Ill., and an usher and past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus at Holy Family Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Genevieve Susan; one daughter, Patricia Ann LaPorte-Castagnino, and one son, Joseph James LaPorte, both of Henderson; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 2-7 p.m. Friday with a 6:30 p.m. rosary in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Holy Family Catholic Church, 4490 Mountain Vista St. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

The family suggests donations to St. Jude's Ranch for Children Inc., 100 St. Jude, Boulder City, NV 89005, or St. Rose Dominican Hospital, 102 E. Lake Mead Drive, Henderson, NV 89015.

Esther Lusiani

Esther Lusiani, 94, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local convalescent hospital. She was born Nov. 25, 1908, in Superior, Wyo. A resident for 29 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one son, Richard Lusiani of Las Vegas; one sister, Fannie Corra of Stockton, Calif.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to an 11 a.m. service Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

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

Charles Daniel Magee

Charles Daniel Magee, 87, of Henderson died Monday in Henderson. He was born Sept. 10, 1915, in Topeka, Kan. A resident for two years, he was a retired funeral director and a retired Army 1st sergeant, 35th infantry division and World War II veteran.

He is survived by two sons, Dennis Magee of New Carrolton, Md., and Larry Magee of West Jordan, Utah; one brother, Martin V. Magee of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be 4 p.m. Friday at Calvary Chapel, Water and Atlantic streets, Henderson. Burial will be in California. Sunrise Cremation & Burial Society, 745 W. Sunset Road, No. 5, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Mary V. 'Ginger' McGeary

Mary V. "Ginger" McGeary, 75, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born June 20, 1927, in Snyder, Texas. A resident for 44 years, she was a homemaker and a retired Culinary Union member.

She is survived by one daughter, Sherrie Breen of Las Vegas; one sister, Thelma Geurin of Hot Springs, Ark.; one brother, Dan Smedley of Lewisville, Texas; one grandchild; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in Palm Chapel, Main. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

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

Billy B. Morris

Billy B. Morris, 74, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born Feb. 18, 1928, in Ventura, Calif. A resident for 32 years, he was a retired heavy equipment operating engineer and an Army veteran.

He is survived by three daughters, Vicki Morris, Terri Totman and Juli Hagel, all of Las Vegas; two sons, Michael Royal of Utah and Pete Morris of Vernal, Utah; one sister, Emily of Texas; one brother, James Morris of Miners Oak, Calif.; 19 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to an 11 a.m. service Friday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

Antonio C. Pancake Jr.

Antonio C. Pancake Jr., 38, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Sept. 5, 1964, in Phoenix. A resident for 20 years, he was an aviation parts manager.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; his father, Antonino Pancake Sr. of Yarnell, Ariz.; his mother, Mary Ann Boyer, one brother, James Tunnell, and one sister, Cheryl Taylor, all of Las Vegas; and his grandfather, James Hazelhurst of Yarnell.

Visitation was scheduled one hour prior to a 3 p.m. service today at Lone Mountain Aviation, 2830 N. Rancho Drive, Suite A. Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Andrew Profant

Andrew Profant, 85, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. A postal worker, he was born Nov. 4, 1917, in Wisconsin.

He is survived by one son, Reginald Profant.

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

Devon Riley Sr.

Devon Riley Sr., 51, of Henderson died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 12, 1951, in Chicago. A resident for 18 years, he was a boxing promoter and a member of Top Rank.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two daughters, Sabrina Smith-Riley and and Sarina Riley, and one son, Devon Riley Jr., all of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled 2-7 p.m. today in Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Friday in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Betty Sardo

Betty Sardo, 79, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. A secretary, she was born Sept. 26, 1923, in Oklahoma.

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

Gladys 'Ga-Ga' M. Skinner

Gladys "Ga-Ga" M. Skinner, 91, of Henderson died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Aug. 22, 1911, in Lockport, N.Y. A resident for four years, she was a retired department store buyer.

She is survived by one daughter, Donna J. Lewis of Henderson; one sister, Marjorie Allen of Mashpee, Mass.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

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

Curtis T. (Fox) Stallsworth

Curtis T. (Fox) Stallsworth, 57, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospice. A kitchen worker and an Army veteran, he was born March 10, 1945, in Tallulah, La.

He is survived by his lifelong companion, Myrtle Whipp, two sons, D'Ante Brown and Dant'e D. Brown, one daughter, Merlisa (Little Fox) Brown, and four sisters, Deloris Prentiss, Linda Lyons Patricia Stallsworth and Regina Rayford, all of Las Vegas; and two brothers, Lee Arthur Robinson of Chicago and Marshall Stallsworth of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled noon-7 p.m. Friday in Harrison-Ross Mortuaries, 2071 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Greater New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1100 N. D St. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Gary Laverne Stutz

Gary Laverne Stutz, 53, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born April 3, 1949, in Wooster, Ohio. A resident for 31 years, he was a laborer.

He is survived by one daughter, Amanda Stutz of Stanford, Ky.; his mother, Catherine Stutz, and one sister, Vicki Guillory, both of Las Vegas.

Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, handled arrangements.

Marshall Taylor

Marshall Taylor, 49, of Las Vegas died Jan. 23 in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 12, 1954, in Arkansas. A resident for 31 years, he was a laborer in the construction industry.

He is survived by his wife, Georgina; five brothers, Marcus Taylor, Marshall Taylor, Larry Taylor and Stacy Taylor, all of Las Vegas, and Jason Taylor of California; 11 sisters, Aletta Taylor Banks, Rheletha Simmson, Verlene, Georgia, Artie, Everlene, Althia and Lorice, all of Las Vegas, Floretha Kelly of Michigan, Ocile Mary Pauline Crump of Arkansas and Pauline Britton of Texas; three brothers, George Taylor Jr. of North Carolina, Horace Taylor of Indiana and Donny E. Taylor of Las Vegas; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled today and Friday at Harrison-Ross Mortuaries, 2071 Las Vegas Blvd. North, North Las Vegas. Services will be Friday in Second Baptist Church, 500 W. Madison Ave. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Virginia Taylor

Virginia Taylor, 56, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. An administrator, she was born July 23, 1946, in Utah.

She is survived by two daughters, Amy Schroder of Newport Coast, Calif., and Erin Hyland of Canoga Park, Calif.; one brother, Randall Taylor of California; one sister, Claudia Browning of Massachusetts; and one grandchild.

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

James L. Walters

James L. Walters, 74, of Searchlight died Sunday in Searchlight. He was born Feb. 28, 1928, in Cold Springs, Texas. A resident for eight years, he was an electrical engineer, a World War II and Korean War Marine Corps veteran, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, American Legion and Searchlight Arts and Crafts.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra J.; four sons, James L. Walters Jr. of Yuma, Ariz., Joseph L. Walters of Salina, Kan., Jerald L. Walters of Lake Forest, Calif., and Jeffery L. Walters of Reno; one daughter, Tina M. Walters of Sparks; four brothers, Lonnie V. Walters of Shepard, Texas, G.L. Walters of New Caney, Texas, Vergil Walters Jr. of Houston and Douglas W. Walters of Spring, Texas; one sister, Neoma Wright of Crosby, Texas; and five grandchildren.

Boulder City Family Mortuary, 833 Nevada Way, Suite 1, is handling arrangements.

Harriet Weiss

Harriet Weiss, 60, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Jan. 26, 1943, in Detroit. A resident for 11 years, she was a retired real estate agent.

She is survived by her husband, Leo; one son, Steven Lipshy of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Friday in King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery, 2697 Eldorado Lane.

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

Dorothy Lee White

Dorothy Lee White, 86, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Jan. 12, 1917, in Boley, Okla. A resident for three years, she was a cafeteria cook for 37 years in Boley.

She is survived by one sister, Brilee Taylor of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled 2-8 p.m. today in American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in American Burial and Cremation Services. Burial will be private.

Damon Wicker

Damon Wicker, 50, of North Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born April 13, 1952, in Kansas. A resident for 20 years, he was a shop foreman.

He is survived by three sons, Andrew D. Wicker of Kansas and Damon A. Wicker and Eric J. Wicker, both of Las Vegas; his mother and stepfather, Ilene and Bill Stauder, and his father and stepmother, Max and Marlene Wicker, all of California; three daughters, Jessica E. Wicker, Janice G. Wicker and Kathryn P. Wicker, all of Kansas; one brother, Dana Wicker of Washington state; one sister, Christen P. Tait of California; and two grandchildren.

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

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