Obituaries

THOMAS SPICKERMANN Jan. 29, 1963 – March 11, 2016

The Celebration of Life for Thomas Spickermann will take place on Friday, April 1^st at the Hernandez Community Center from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please come reminisce and celebrate Tom’s life with his family, friends, and co-workers. 19418 US HWY 84, Hernandez. This is a potluck event.

Thomas, 53, died in a plane crash near Ohkay Owingeh airport on March 11, 2016. Also in the plane was Karen Young of Los Alamos. Karen had rented the Remos GX in Santa Fe. Tom was the co-pilot. No official word has yet been released on the cause of the crash.

Tom was employed Read More

MARK ANTHONY CHAVEZ Feb. 13, 1962 – March 6, 2016

Mark Anthony Chavez, born February 13, 1962 of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away from liver failure after a two year courageous fight. He went into the arms of the Lord peacefully on March 6, 2016.

Mark was a graduate of Los Alamos High School, class of 1980, and obtained a Certificate of Barbering in 2013 from Northern New Mexico Community College.

He was preceded in death by his oldest brother Mitchell Paul Chavez, older brother Nicholas Thomas Chavez, his oldest nephew Jason A. Smith, and brother in-law Joe E. Chavez.

He is survived by his Read More

JEWELL N. ROBERTS Dec. 8, 1918 – March 14, 2016

With the passing of Jewell Naomi Roberts in Albuquerque on March 14, 2016, the world lost a woman known among her friends and family for her indomitable will and incredible inner strength. 

Born on Dec. 8, 1918, in Van Town, Mo., to Homer L. and Cordie M. Montgomery, Jewell was the third of eight children. She was preceded in death by her parents; her four brothers, Charles, Francis, Floyd and Ralph Montgomery; and one sister, Ruth Ketchum, who had also lived in Los Alamos. She is survived by her husband, Don Roberts of Albuquerque, and her Read More

CINDY JO (TECH) WEGNER May 15, 1962 – Jan. 29, 2016

Cindy Jo (Tech) Wegner of Copperas Cove, Texas passed away on January 29, 2016 at her home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service and inurnment will be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Columbarium in Los Alamos, New Mexico the end of May.

Cindy was born in Vermillion, South Dakota May 15, 1962. She was confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1976 and attended elementary and high school in Los Alamos, New Mexico graduating in 1980. She then went on to New Mexico State University to further her education.

Cindy was Read More

KAREN ANN YOUNG March 11, 2016

Funeral services for Karen Ann Young, 46, who died in the crash of a single engine aircraft she was flying, will be Friday, March 18, at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos. Burial will be in Gauje Pines Cemetery followed by a reception at the church’s Karen McLaughlin Parish Hall.

Young was a native of Los Alamos. She graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1987. She earned the B. S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and the Master’s and Ph.D Degrees in Materials Science, all from the University of California, Davis Campus.

She was employed Read More

NEAL ‘SCOTT’ MILLS Dec. 8, 1964 – March 14, 2016

Ouray Police Sergeant Neal “Scott” Mills, age 51, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on Monday, March 14, 2016.

Funeral services are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, March 22, 2016, a police motorcade from Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors, 155 Merchant Drive, Montrose, Colo., to Grace Community Church, 16731 Woodgate Road, Montrose beginning at 9:00 A.M.

A public funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. at Grace Community Church.  Interment will immediately follow the funeral service at Grand View Cemetery, Read More

ALEX LEE SMITH March 10, 2015

Alex Lee Smith, 89, of Albuquerque, went to God on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

He is survived by his daughter, Sydney Smith; son, Stanley Smith; his grandsons, Ryan and Ashley; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Conner, Jackson, Landon and Savannah. He was preceded in death by his wife, Adeline Smith in 2015.

Alex spent his career working at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Later he resided in Cochiti Lake and Albuquerque. Alex was an avid wood carver as well as a hunter and fisherman.

Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Mass on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 11:00 Read More

LUIS G. SANCHEZ March 6, 2016

Luis G. Sanchez, 98, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2016 following a lengthy illness surrounded by his loving family.

He was preceded in death by his sons, Leroy Sanchez and Luis H. Sanchez; parents, Abel and Francesquita Sanchez; sister, Orlecia Archuleta and Filomena Rivera; brother, Delfino Sanchez and grandson, Daniel Sanchez.

Luis grew up on a farm on Ojo Caliente, where he met his beautiful wife Rachel in Los Alamos during WWII. Together they raised seven children. He worked as a machinist and retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Read More

GERARD DUDLEY KENDALL Nov. 9, 1949 – March 5, 2016

Gerard Dudley Kendall, 66, passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2016, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He was born on November 9, 1949, in Houston, Texas, the son of William T. Kendall and Loretta M. DuBois. 

He is survived by his wife, two sons and daughter-in-law, a daughter and son-in-law, seven grandchildren, and four siblings.

Services will be held in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Houston, Texas. In Los Alamos, a Rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 3700 Canyon Road on Friday, March 11, Read More

SUE GRAVES 1923 – March 2, 2016

Susan Finkbine Graves of Los Alamos passed away peacefully at her home Wednesday March 2nd at the age of 92. She died gracefully and quietly in the company of her husband and sons.

Known as Sue to her family and friends, she led a long and full life. Born in Storm Lake, Iowa, in 1923, Sue was the eldest daughter of Frank Mills Finkbine and Mae Reents Finkbine. Her earliest years were spent in Storm Lake along with her sister, Sally, and she was widely known in that town.

As a young woman she enjoyed roller- and ice- skating on the lake in winters, and she made it look so easy that Read More

JOHN E. DOUGHERTY, SR. Feb. 2, 1922 – Feb. 29, 2016

John E. Dougherty, Sr. died on February 29th, 2016 at the age of ninety four. John was preceded in death by his parents, Jeanette Pauline Cary and Malcolm Stuart Dougherty; wives, Elizabeth (Betty) Culpepper Dougherty and Jean Highfill Dougherty; brothers, Malcolm, Cary, Worden, and sister, Frances.

John was born on February 2, 1922, at the Linwood Plantation in Zachary, Louisiana. He graduated from Louisiana State University and went on to earn his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Michigan.

John and Betty married in 1942, came Read More

JAMES F. ANDREW Feb. 27, 2016

James (Jim) Fletcher Andrew passed away peacefully from heart failure at his home in Los Alamos on Saturday, February 27, 2016. 

He was born in a small town in northwest North Carolina in 1925, and would soon have been 91 years old. He grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended Guilford College in Greensboro for his undergraduate degree in Physics. He went on to earn an M.S. from North Carolina State (1951) and a Ph.D. (1962) from the University of Buffalo, both in Experimental Physics.

He met the love of his life, Marie Orvis while at Guilford College and Read More

KIMBERLY SMITH-NILSSON May 22, 1957 – Feb. 23, 2016

In a life filled with love and service, the Rev. Kimberly Smith-Nilsson always said her greatest joy was the family she created with her high school sweetheart, Alan Nilsson.

The couple married on July 27, 1980 at the United Church in Los Alamos, NM, where Kim would later be ordained into the United Church of Christ. She received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and taught special education for two years. After graduating from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, in 1984, she began a career in ministry. Read More

JOSEPH B. WEBER Feb. 23, 2016

Joseph B. Weber, 67, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Juanita Weber; sister, Deborah Scroggins and nephew, Trent Johnson.

Joseph lived his life in a reserved manner. He enjoyed time spent with his family and enjoyed outdoor activities such as, fishing, camping, riding his motorcycle and taking care of his vehicles. He will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.

Mr. Weber is survived by his daughter, Sherri Harner and husband Renvue; grandchildren, Triston and Logan Eng Read More

DONALD RAY GIBBONS Feb. 19, 2016

Donald Ray Gibbons, 86, of Los Alamos passed away on February 19, 2016. 

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He worked for Standard Oil Company, Nevada Test Site, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

He is preceded in death by his wife, LaRue Bleak Gibbons, parents, Jesse and Eleanor Gibbons, sister, Jessie Jane Gibbons-Brandenburg and brother, Norm and Lee Gibbons. 

He is survived by his children, LaDawn Bushnell and husband Cleve, Larry Brent Gibbons, Jesse Scott Gibbons, Dennis Read More

MARTHA ANN HOOD BROWN Feb. 13, 1922 – Feb. 22, 2016

Martha Ann Hood Brown, 94, beloved wife of the late Edward A. Brown, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 22, 2016, born in Knoxville, TN, on February 13, 1922 to Amy and Karl Kedzie Hood and was the middle of three brothers and two sisters.

An Alumnus of University of New Mexico where she received her BS in Education and Journalism. Married Edward A. Brown, three children, Phillip Brown, Amy Olcott, and the late Richard Rand Brown; four grandchildren, Shea LeBrun, Monty Brown, Brandon, Olcott, Kristen Olcott, five great-grandchildren, Read More

JUAN FRANCISCO BORREGO Feb.17, 2016

Juan Francisco Borrego, 95, a resident of Pojoaque, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, after a short illness. 

Juan was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Teresa Bustos, daughter Carmen Seitz, parents Juan C. Borrego and Lucia Montoya; brother Gilbert Borrego; sisters Trinidad Espinoza, Ascension Barth and Christina Valerio. Juan was born in Santa Cruz, New Mexico in 1920. He graduated from Holy Cross Catholic School (K-12) where he was Center on the basketball team. 

In 1942, Juan enlisted in the Army/Air Force and was stationed Read More

TERESA ANTONIA GORDON May 8, 1939 – Feb. 14, 2016

Teresa Antonia Gordon, 76, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Brewster Place. She was born May 8, 1939 in Kansas City, KS, the daughter of Merritt and Teresa (Rieke) Ross.

Teresa graduated from Eudora High School and earned a Master’s Degree in Physics from the University of Kansas where she met her husband of 52 years, James Gordon. They resided in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1967 through 1974 and then in Los Alamos, New Mexico from 1974 until 1998. They later resided in Baldwin City, Kansas prior to moving to Topeka. Read More

BARBARA HONEY Nov. 11, 1933 – Feb. 14, 2016

Barbara Honey, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 14, 2016. Her children and family members were at her side. 

Barbara was born in Manhattan, KS on November 11, 1933. The youngest of three children of Orville and Lovey Hunt, she graduated from Manhattan High School in 1951 and then attended Kansas State University. During her first semester, she met her future husband Francis Honey, whose Engineering academic advisor happened to be Barbara’s father, Professor OD Hunt! Both were advised to take Algebra and the rest is history!

They were Read More

NEIL ZACK April 26, 1947 – Feb. 10, 2016

Neil Zack, 68, passed away February 10, 2016. He was born April 26, 1947 in Canton, Ohio to Joseph and Frances Zack.

Neil is survived by one brother, Philip Zack, his wife Susan, and sister in law, Shirley Zack, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and one brother, Duane Zack.

Neil had a very productive career after receiving a Ph.D. in chemistry working at INEL In Idaho Falls, ID and LANL in Los Alamos, NM. He moved to Rio Rancho after retiring from LANL in 2002 and was very active in a local Gold Wing motorcycle club Read More

SALLY FEISE Feb. 10, 1939 – Feb. 5, 2016

Sally Feise, age 76, resident of Espanola, NM passed away on Friday, February 5, 2016 after a long illness. She was surrounded by her loving children.

Sally was born February 10, 1939 in Walton, West Virginia to Wallace G. and Elizabeth Evans. Sally was preceded in death by her brother Timothy Evans, Jack Reynolds, Jack Feise, mother M. Elizabeth Evans, and father Wallace G. Evans. 

Sally grew up in Walton, West Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio where she met and married Jack Reynolds. Sally worked many years as an administrative secretary in Las Cruces Read More

MELVIN LEWIS PRUEITT Oct. 16, 1932 – Jan. 30, 2016

Melvin Lewis Prueitt, 83, died January 30, 2016 with his family at his side in Los Alamos New Mexico. He was born October 16, 1932 in Wickes, Arkansas to Ernest and Bessie Prueitt. He worked as a physicist for 31 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory where he pioneered the field of computer graphics and worked in theoretical physics. His later years were spent developing clean energy and water technologies.

At an early age he knew he would be a scientist and eventually earned a Master’s Degree at the University of Arizona, followed by a doctorate Read More

MARY MARTHA BLUM May 26, 1924 – Jan. 26, 2016

Mary Martha (Lusk) Blum, affectionately known as “Mott” by her parents and relatives passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, in Los Alamos, NM.

She was born May 26, 1924 to Raymond and Martha Lusk in Columbus Grove, Ohio. At the age of 19, she and her husband Dr. William A. Blum moved to California where he practiced Optometry for 54 years. Dr. Blum sold his practice and returned with Mary to Lima, Ohio in 1999. Her husband preceded her in death as well as her daughter Judy Jeanine Blum-Fernandez and grandson Christopher Thomas Blum. Read More

STEVEN RAY MARSHALL Jan. 11, 2016

Steven Ray Marshall, age 40, a resident of White Rock, NM, passed away on January 11, 2016.

He is survived by his parents Fredie and Rita Marshall, sister Shela Marshall, nieces Cheriece and Aries Margiotta and nephew Vincent Margiotta.

Steven was a graduate of the class of 1993 at Los Alamos High School. He loved to watch his favorite teams, the San Francisco 49er’s and the Boston Red Sox.

There is a Memorial Fund set up at Los Alamos National Bank in the name of The Steven Marshall Memorial Fund. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

A Memorial Service will Read More

JEAN R. RIEGLE June 22, 1940 – Jan. 18, 2016

Jean R. Riegle, born June 22, 1940 in Dayton, Ohio, passed away Monday, January 18, 2016 at 6 p.m. Preceded by William, whom she married in 1960; parents, Walter & Henrietta Reiniger; and family friend, Kevin Haber. 

Jean attended Miami U. in Oxford where she met Bill. After sending daughters off to school, Jean worked at WSU then Sinclair. Jean kept at her education, earning her BA from UD and Masters from Antioch. 

When Jean retired in 2012, she was working as an advisor at Sinclair. Jean’s caring, funny and sweet personality touched people Read More

FIDENCIA “FEDE” CORDOVA de BARELA Jan. 23, 2016

Fidencia “Fede” Cordova de Barela, 92, a longtime resident of Truchas, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, Isidoro and Leonardita Barela; sister, Hope Lopez; brother, Gilbert Barela; beloved daughters and grandchildren.

Fede had a compassionate, loving and open heart and kept God next to her side in her everyday life. Her love was genuine and she was sure to show that. Fede enjoyed spending quality time with her sister, Susie, as well as each one of her children and their families and friends. Her welcoming Read More

DIANE PETERSEN PETERS Sept. 2, 1942 – Jan. 23, 2016

Diane Peters, 73, left this world on January 23, 2016 to meet her heavenly maker.

Diane Petersen Peters was born in California on September 2, 1942 to Leonidas and Beverly Petersen. She attended the University of California at Berkeley where she earned a degree in Chemistry and met the love of her life. Richard and Diane moved to Los Alamos, NM in the fall of 1972 where Diane quickly became an active volunteer in the community.

Diane had a gift for serving and comforting those who were overlooked or struggling. She led Girl Scout troops from 1972-1994, Read More

BARBARA LOIS GILBERT STORMS March 24, 1927 – Jan. 13, 2016

Barbara Lois Gilbert Storms, age 88, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of January 13^th, 2016 in her apartment at Aspen Ridge in Los Alamos, NM.

She began her lifetime adventure in Inglewood, California, on March 24, 1927, born to Philip and Lois Gilbert. Most of her youth was spent in the Coos Bay, Oregon area where she graduated from North Bend High School just after her 17^th birthday. She then started her college career at Stanford University studying Chemistry, but after the first semester she decided to change her major to journalism Read More

NORMA DALTON ADAMS Feb. 19, 1929 – Jan. 19, 2016

Norma Dalton Adams, 86, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 at home with family and loved ones.

Born Feb. 19, 1929 in Rockville, Utah to Leonard and Edna Angell Dalton, the fifth child of six. During the depression she learned frugality, practicality and service. At age 12, she was sent alone to Leeds, UTah to help care for her aging Grandma Beckie Angell. Those six years with Gma Beckie were special.

At 17, she moved to Reno, Nev. to help with her expectant oldest sister’s children. In Reno she met the love of her life, Warren Howard Adams. They were married Read More

DAVID LEE CRANE Jan. 18, 2016

David Lee Crane, 52, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2016. He was preceded in death by his father, John Franklin Crane; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Gudgel and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Crane; father-in-law, Jesse Felux.

Mr. Crane is survived by his wife, Nadine Crane; daughter, Alison Crane both of Los Alamos; mother, Patricia Crane; sisters, Dianna Crane and Denice Crane Leader; mother-in-law, Patricia Felux all of San Antonio, Texas; as well as, brothers-in-law, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends. Read More

JOSEPH C. KING Dec. 26, 2015

Joseph C. King, 65, recently retired City Manager of Danville, Va., passed away Dec. 26, 2015 from complications stemming from chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with which he was diagnosed in 2010. Typically, CLL is a fairly indolent disease, but Joe was not so lucky, and the cancer took over in the end.

Joe is survived by Kathy, his wife of 42 years, and by four sons and their families: Adam, Cristin, Maya and Emmett of Elgin, Texas; Noah, Rowie and Freyja of Fairfield, Iowa; Jesse and Kara of Bali, Indonesia; and Jacob and Molly of Austin, Texas. His family was together prior Read More

JOHNNY M. MONTOYA July 16, 1956 – Jan. 9, 2016

Johnny M. Montoya, 59, a resident of La Mesilla died peacefully of complications related to ALS, on January 9, 2016 at Casa de Rosa Assisted Living Center in Albuquerque, NM, where he was lovingly cared for. 

He was born to Johnny and Polly Montoya on July 16, 1956, and was preceded in death by his grandparents, Manuel and Ramoncita Montoya of La Mesilla and Apolonio and Justa Rodriguez of Santa Fe, his son Michael Ray Montoya and his grandsons Adrian and Diego. 

Johnny was a courageous faith-filled man who will be remembered and missed Read More