Obituaries

MARY ANN ROSS Nov. 4, 1943 – Aug. 7, 2021

Mary Ann Ross, beloved mom, grandma, sister, cousin, and friend died on Aug 7, 2021.

She lived life on her own terms with humor, independence, and tenacity. While her last year of life was difficult after the death of her husband, John Ross, the love and support of family and friends made it possible for her to stay in her beloved home to the end.

Mary Ann was born in her mema’s house in Chambersville, Arkansas, on November 4, 1943. She was raised in Arkansas and attended several schools as her Daddy was a school superintendent. After attending Arkansas State Teacher’s Read More

FRANCIS JOSEPH FITZGIBBON, JR. April 6, 1948 – Aug. 17, 2021

Francis Joseph Fitzgibbon Jr. of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Santa Fe of complications from recent surgery.

Joe was born April 6, 1948, in El Paso, Texas as the eldest son of Nancy Scott and Francis Joseph Fitzgibbon, Sr. Joe spent his childhood in Los Alamos, graduating from Los Alamos High School. He went on to college at the University of New Mexico graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree.

After many years of working for private contractors serving the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Joe went to Read More

MARY JO MCGRATH-HOFFMAN Feb. 7, 1951 – July 21, 2021

Mary Jo McGrath-Hoffman (70) of El Paso, Texas passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

Mary Jo was the first of ten children born to William J. McGrath and Dorothy H. Cusack McGrath.

She was born February 7, 1951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and spent her early years growing up in Southern Michigan. The family moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1967 where Mary Jo completed her formal education and graduated Mayfield High School in 1969.

Shortly after graduation she began working for the University of California – Los Alamos Read More

SANDRA KAY FLETCHER May 20, 1952 – July 13, 2021

Sandra Kay Fletcher died July 13, 2021, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Santa Fe after a long illness.

She was born May 20, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Henry A. “Hank” and Myrtle Heerssen “Kitty” Nowotnik. 

In July of 1981, she and Michael A. Fletcher were married at their home in White Rock, New Mexico, where they resided throughout the forty years of their marriage.

While juggling work and family, she was able to earn her BA in Business Administration from the College of Santa Fe and continued her lifelong love of learning by taking online courses Read More

PHIL (L.P.) REINIG July 31, 2021
BEVERLY REINIG Oct. 20, 1926 – Aug. 10, 2021

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Phil and Beverly, our loving and devoted parents, friends and to all whose lives they touched.

Phil (L.P.) Reinig, business entrepreneur, fly fisherman, avid downhill skier, magnificent dancer, patriot, accomplished traveler, voracious reader, devoted husband and father died on Saturday, July 31, 2021. Beverly Reinig devoted wife, mother, artist, animal lover and gifted gardener died Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

The women in Bev and Phil’s lives were special and cherished. Read More

CANDICE BONE March 24, 1945 – Aug. 9, 2021

As the sun rose on Monday, August 9, Candy rose to glory with her savior.

She was born to Maurice and Joyce Manes on March 24, 1945 in Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Tyler Bone, father to her son, Gerald Bone, and brother, Tracy Manes.

Candy spent most of her life in Los Alamos and retired after a career as a Pharmacist. Candy had many, many friends. She was incredibly kind, patient, and generous. She was athletic: hiking, running, skiing, and horseback riding. She cared for a beautiful flower garden in her front yard for neighbors to Read More

MERRELL NELSON July 7, 1945 – July 18, 2021

Merrell Nelson passed away on July 18, 2021 at the age of 76, while surrounded by her loving family.

Merrell and her twin sister Marion Kolsby were born in Columbus, Georgia, on July 7, 1945 to Otis Dewitt and Sarah Charlotte Smith. Merrell met her husband, Ronald Nelson, while studying mathematics at Florida State University; their friends, in keeping with university tradition, tossed them in the Westcott Fountain for luck. The couple enjoyed the next 54 years together.

Merrell gave of her heart and home without reserve, helping to raise Marion’s two Read More

MARILYN RUTH HIBBEN March 30, 1930 – Aug. 7, 2021

Marilyn Ruth Hibben, 91, passed away Saturday night, Aug. 7, 2021. She was surrounded with family in her passing, in Powell, Wyoming.

Marilyn was born March 30, 1930, in Denver, Colorado to Evelyn P. (Morris) Stone and Claude Stone. Shortly after Marilyn’s birth she was adopted by Frank G. Townsend. She graduated from Arvada High School and attended college classes at University of New Mexico.

In 1948, she married Donald Eugene Perkins and had three children, Lois, Shari and Norm. In 1955 Marilyn married Marshall Rapier and had one child, Ruth. Read More

LYNNDA THOMPSON TIANO March 29, 1939 – July 18, 2021

Lynnda Thompson Tiano, 82, of Picayune, MS and longtime resident of Los Alamos, peacefully passed away Sunday, July 18 after a long but gracious battle with Alzheimer’s.

Lynnda was born March 29, 1939, to Marilynn and Tommy Landon in Henderson, TX. Henderson is where she learned to love to dance, especially with the “Church Hill Boys”. After graduating from Henderson High School in 1957, she enrolled at the Texas Women’s College and majored in dance. 

She managed to stay there a whole semester before she decided college would be a lot more fun Read More

MADGE KEEPIN 1927 – Sept. 29, 2019

Madge Keepin, longtime resident of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed on, at the age of 92, peacefully in Seattle, Washington Sept. 29, 2019 at the Columbia Lutheran Home. She was buried with her deceased husband, George Robert Keepin, Jr. “Bob”, in a private ceremony Oct. 21, 2019 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Born in 1927 as the middle child to Hilda and Jeremiah Twomey, Madge grew up in Andover, Massachusetts with two siblings, Gerard Twomey and Mavis Twomey Cox, both of whom she outlived. She graduated from Andover’s Abbot Academy and went on to complete nearly four Read More