Obituaries for Nov. 28, 2003

Friday, Nov. 28, 2003 | 8:56 a.m.

Linda Joyce Bland

Linda Joyce Bland, 51, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born July 2, 1952, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, she was a kitchen worker at the Nevada Test Site for Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Company.

She is survived by one son, Demario J. Bland, and three sisters, Shirley Davis, Sharon Gibson and Kathy Terry, all of Las Vegas.

Visitation will continue until 8 p.m. today in American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Vegas View Church of God in Christ, 1906 Glider St., North Las Vegas. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Hazel Boutell

Hazel Boutell, 83, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born Feb. 23, 1920, in California. A resident for 58 years, she was a homemaker, a member of the original Mothers Club of Las Vegas, Union Pacific Challengers Club and the Old Timers Club.

She is survived by her husband, Francis Wayne; two daughters, Pat Hunt and Charlotte Wohlers, both of Las Vegas; three sisters, Madelyn Whittington of Las Vegas, Winnifred Metzger of Chino, Calif., and Edith Hohberg of Ontario, Calif.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be 1 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

Nazzie Bea Brown

Nazzie Bea Brown, 64, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 2, 1939, in Newellton, La. A resident for 36 years, she was a hotel porter.

She is survived by five daughters, Dr. Martha B. Harris of New Orleans and Michelle Brown, Shelia Brown, Roslyn Brown and Arica Brown-Boyd, all of Las Vegas; five sons, Vincent Brown, Dewayne Brown, Larry Brown, Ronald Brown and Ramon Brown, all of Las Vegas; three sisters, Virgie Council of Las Vegas and Rosie Williams and Beatrice Brown, both of Newellton, La.; and 23 grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 2-8 p.m. today in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in True Love Missionary Baptist Church, 1941 N. H St. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane, is handling arrangements.

James W. Clow

James W. Clow, 84, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. He was born Sept. 29, 1919, in LaCrosse, Wis. A resident for two years, he retired as a mail carrier from the U.S. Postal Service after 35 years of service, was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a member of the Scottish Rite, 32nd Degree Mason and Al Malaikah Temple.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline S.; one daughter, the Rev. Cynthia Clair of Las Vegas; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 4 p.m. until a 6 p.m. service Monday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

The family suggests donations to the Center a Model for Positive Living, 1008 Granger Farm Way, Las Vegas, NV 89145.

Bernice J. Coleman

Bernice J. Coleman, 85, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born March 6, 1918, in Cameron, Texas. A resident for 13 years, she was a retired school bus driver and a member of Sun City Quilters.

She is survived by her husband, Stewart E.; two daughters, Deanna L. McCourtney of Chino Hills, Calif., and Lorraine A. Schaefer of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; one son, George M. Rawson of Draper, Utah; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

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

Refugio Duenas-Santoyo

Refugio Duenas-Santoyo, 81, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Mexico. A resident for three months, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one daughter, Maria Dolores Santoyo of Las Vegas; four sons, Francisco Santoyo of North Las Vegas, Filiberto Santoyo and Salvador Santoyo, both of Oxnard, Calif., and Luis Santoyo of Mexico; 48 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. until a 7 p.m. service Saturday in Nevada Funeral Service-Nevada Cremation or Burial Society, 2983 Fremont St.

Joe Herbert Easterwood

Joe Herbert Easterwood, 71, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born June 14, 1932, in Eden, Texas. A resident for 33 years, he was a retired Air Force staff sergeant and Korean War and Vietnam War veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters, Barbara Huff of Klondyke, Ariz., and Beverly Boyce of Petersburg, Tenn.; one son, Paul R. Easterwood of Las Vegas; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., handled arrangements.

Thomas P. Higley Sr.

Thomas P. Higley Sr., 51, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. He was born Jan. 17, 1952, in Port Clinton, Ohio. A resident for 7 1/2 years, he was a retired Marine and Vietnam War and Iranian rescue mission veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl A.S.; two sons, Thomas P. Higley Jr. and Timothy P. Higley, and two daughters, Erin T. Higley and Meghan R. Higley, all of Las Vegas; his father, Russell M. Higley, and one brother, Jeff, both of Ohio; and five sisters, Nancy, Laura, Julie and Valerie, all of Ohio, and Sue of North Carolina.

Visitation is scheduled 4-7 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Palm Chapel, Jones. Graveside services will follow at 1:20 p.m. Monday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Thomas J. Johnson Jr.

Thomas J. Johnson Jr., 78, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born April 30, 1925, in Indianapolis. A resident for 20 years, he was a retired maintenance mechanic.

He is survived by his wife, Florence; one son, Randal Johnson of Glendale, Ariz.; two daughters, Theresa Alam of Peoria, Ariz., and Wendy Wabli of Glendale; one brother, Larry Johnson, and one sister, Oqua Long, both of Phoenix; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

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

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

June J. Keller

June J. Keller, 77, of Henderson died Sunday in a local hospice. She was born March 5, 1926, in Massillon, Ohio. A resident for 10 years, she was a retired postmaster.

She is survived by her husband, Edward A.; two sons, John Keller of Hesston, Kan., and Paul Keller of Hammond, Ind.; four daughters, Jean Plahetka of Las Vegas, Janet Dilorenzo of Sarasota, Fla., and Patricia Kresel and Joan Gallloway, both of Westville, Ind.; one sister, Maryann Schriber of Massilon, Ohio; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled noon-7 p.m. Monday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 130 N. Pecos Road, Henderson. Graveside services will follow at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Bernice L. King

Bernice L. King, 97, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local care center. She was born Feb. 26, 1906, in Upshur County, W.Va. A resident for 16 years, she was a retired department store clerk.

She is survived by one son, Charles C. King of Cincinnati; one daughter, Joan Hayes of Las Vegas; one sister, Agnes Bryan-Medearis of Murrieta, Calif.; six grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services and burial will be in Ohio. Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling private arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the Down Syndrome Organization of Greater Cincinnati.

Helen Kwiecien

Helen Kwiecien, 82, of North Las Vegas died Tuesday in North Las Vegas. She was born Jan. 23, 1921, in Chicago. A resident for 10 years, she was a retired lead electronics tester, a member of Catholic Daughters and the women's auxiliary of St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church.

She is survived by one daughter, Celeste Villegas of Las Vegas; two sons, Jeff Kwiecien of Riverside, Calif. and John Kwiecien of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled 3-7 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday in St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, 1111 Michael Way.

Roberto Leon

Roberto Leon, 67, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born June 8, 1936, in Cuba. A resident for five years, he was a farmer.

He is survived by his wife, Marie; three sons, Jose Leon, Leonel Leon and Maykiel Leon, and one sister, Francisca Isaguirre, all of Las Vegas.

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

Mario J. 'Marty' Martino

Mario J. "Marty" Martino, 80, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born April 30, 1923, in Utica, N.Y. A resident for four years, he was a retired owner-operator of a construction company, a World War II Marine Corps veteran and a member of the Red Rock Moose Lodge.

He is survived by his wife, Norma; three sons, Edward Martino and Marty Martino, both of California, and Patrick Martino of Las Vegas; one sister, Mary Woodbury of Utica; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be in California. Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Emily D. Miller

Emily D. Miller, 89, of Las Vegas died Nov. 21 in a local care center. She was born Jan. 14, 1914, in Yazoo City, Miss. A resident for 15 years, she was a social worker for a health service and founder of St. Martain House.

She is survived by four daughters, Karen Felton of Las Vegas, Anna Boyd and Verna Miller, both of Madison, Wis., and Barbara Dean of Denver; one son, Tommy Moncrief of Madison; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will continue until 8 p.m. today in American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Tried Stone Baptist Church, 621 W. Carey Ave., North Las Vegas. A private burial will follow.

Maria Christina G. Palacio

Maria Christina G. Palacio, 27, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 7, 1976, in Washington, D.C. A resident for one year, she was an editorial assistant at Farrar, Strauss and Giroux Book Publishing and majored in economics and French.

She is survived by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Sonia G. Palacio of Las Vegas; two sisters, Patricia G. Palacio of Burbank, Calif., and Rebecca G. Palacio of Phoenix; one brother, Brandon G. Palacio of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Visitation is scheduled 1-6 p.m. Sunday with a 5 p.m. vigil in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Monday in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive.

Ronald J. Pretasky Sr.

Ronald J. Pretasky Sr., 66, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born April 14, 1937, in LaCrosse, Wis. A resident for 46 years, he was a tractor-trailer driver for the U.S. Postal Service and an Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Kay; one son, Ronald Pretasky Jr.; two daughters, Candice McDonah and Deborah K. Johnson; one brother, Robert Pretasky; one sister, Patricia Tabbert; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Graveside services will be noon Wednesday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Edward C. Richter

Edward C. Richter, 62, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Sept. 21, 1941, in Fond du Lac, Wis. A resident for 41 years, he was a retired automotive business owner.

He is survived by his wife, Claudia; two daughters, Tammy L. Perkins and Stephanie A. Richter, one son, Timothy E. Richter, and one brother, Douglas A. Richter, all of Las Vegas; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 1 p.m. until a 4 p.m. service Saturday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

The family suggests donations to Make A Wish Foundation, "In memory of Brandon Klapperick," 3111 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102.

Cora Marie Smith

Cora Marie Smith, 68, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was born May 30, 1935, in Arkansas. A resident for 16 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; two daughters, Patricia Briggs of Las Vegas and Annette Smith of Los Angeles; four sons, Alford Johnson, Bobby Smith and Lewis Smith, all of Chicago, and Terence Smith of Las Vegas; two brothers, Allen Brown of Chicago and Johnny Brown of Milwaukee; two sisters, Helen Hunter of Gillette, Wis., and Laura Moore of South Holland, Ill.; 23 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled noon-8 p.m. Sunday in American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in American Burial. Burial will follow in Paradise Memorial Gardens, 6200 S. Eastern Ave.

Allan W. Thomas

Allan W. Thomas, 59, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. He was born March 24, 1944, in Illinois. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired plumber.

He is survived by one daughter, Jodie Porras of Dallas; one son, Mark Thomas, and one sister, Wilma Divies, both of Las Vegas; and three grandchildren.

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

Tanisha Monique Turner

Visitation for Tanisha Monique Turner, 13, will be Sunday at Valley Funeral Home, 3919 Raymert Drive. Call 257-2826 for directions. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Greater Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, 1915 Lexington St.

The family suggests donations to Account No. 74-76681767 at Wells Fargo Bank.