Henderson deaths

By The Home News

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | 5:21 p.m.

Geraldine Crawford

Geraldine Clara Crawford, 84, died April 9 in Las Vegas.

The Henderson resident was born Sept. 12, 1924, in Michigan. She was a homemaker.

She is survived by sons Gene Crawford Jr. of Henderson and William Crawford of California, daughter Sandra Roger of Idaho and sister Bernice Arnold of California.

Services were private.

Hites Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Emily Guenther

Emily Marie Guenther, 79, died April 10 in Henderson.

The Henderson resident of 58 years was born Dec. 6, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the owner/operator of the Desert Sands Motel for more than 15 years.

She is survived by niece Debra (West) Walker of Henderson, nephew Lorence Hart of Las Vegas, great nephew Michael John Walker of Henderson, great nephew Jonathan Hart of Las Vegas and great niece Caroline Hart of Las Vegas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Guenther, and her sister, Dorothy Hart.

Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. April 16 and 2-3 p.m. April 17 at Palm Mortuary-Henderson. Services will be 3 p.m. April 17 at Palm Mortuary-Henderson.

Arrangements were handled by Palm Mortuary-Henderson.

Clifford Kehoe

Longtime educator Cliff Kehoe, 63, died April 12 in Henderson.

Born April 7, 1946, he began his career teaching third grade at Latin School in Chicago in 1968, then moved to the Anshe Emet Day School where he spent 10 years teaching third grade. While in Chicago, Cliff started a catering business, "The Butler Did It," and his client list included Ann Landers, Marshall Field, and Oprah Winfrey. In those years, Cliff was active in the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and on the Board of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The library at the Anshe Emet lower school was named in his honor.

In 1991, Cliff moved to Las Vegas and began teaching third grade at Gordon McCaw Elementary School, where he was active in the development of the McCaw School of Mines and helped raise funds to purchase instruments to start the first and largest steel drum band at any elementary school in Nevada. After a short time teaching fourth grade at Robert Taylor Elementary, Cliff became the behavior specialist at Edna Hinman Elementary School.

Friends said he had a "larger than life" persona and gift for gab, and he used those welcoming visitors to Las Vegas as a part-time customer services representative for Fun Jet and America Trans Air.

In Southern Nevada, he was active in the support of Channel 10, the McCaw School of Mines, Opportunity Village, St. Therese Center, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Susan G. Komen For the Cure, and the Nathan Adelson Hospice.

He is survived by Ron Zaio, whom he called his "dearest friend in the world" for the last 35 years, and Ron's son Jeff; brother John, nephew Robert, cousins Julie and Randy Smith, a host of former students, and cherished friends.

A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. April 17 at the LDS Chapel at 410 N. Valley Verde Drive, Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Nathan Adelson Hospice 4141 Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119, or the Henderson Animal Shelter 390 Athens Ave., Henderson, NV 89015.

Desert Cremation handled the arrangements.

Wesley Oldham

Wesley Wade Oldham, 67, died April 12 at a Henderson health facility.

A Boulder City resident for 25 years, he was born April 1, 1942, in Alameda, Calif. He was a dealer.

He is survived by his sister Barbara Ermocida of Henderson.

The family requests donations in his memory go to the Nevada State Veterans Home, 100 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005.

No services were scheduled.

Palm Mortuary-Henderson handled the arrangements.

Jerald Paiz

Jerald W. Paiz, 47, died April 8 at his home in Henderson.

The lifetime Southern Nevada resident was born Feb. 5, 1962, in Las Vegas and was a security guard.

He is survived by wife, Mollie, of Henderson; children Sara, Joseph and Michael Paiz of Henderson; mother Anna Paiz-Hughes and stepfather Robert Hughes of Goldendale, Wash.; sisters Racie Paiz of Washington, D.C., Teddie Paiz-Hughes of California and Raquel Mirza-Hughes of Goldendale, Wash.; and brothers David Paiz of Bolivia and Ted Paiz of Las Vegas.

Services were held April 14 at Palm Mortuary-Henderson.

Palm Mortuary-Henderson handled the arrangements.