Obituaries

THEODORE ALLAN FRITZ June 25, 1939 – May 15, 2020

Theodore Allan Fritz of Santa Fe, NM and Newton, MA, Professor Emeritus of Boston University, passed away peacefully at home from an extended illness May 15, 2020.

He was born in Kingsport, Tennessee June 25, 1939 to Bernice (Powers) and Theodore C. Fritz.

He graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. degree in Physics and went on to earn both a Master’s Degree and PhD in Space Physics at the University of Iowa. His professional career started with a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Research Council of Canada and NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Read More

ALOMA MARIE NAIVAR April 27, 1942 – May 10, 2020

Aloma Marie Naivar, after a 25 year battle with cancer, died Mother’s Day, May 10, 2020.

She was born prematurely April 27, 1942. She always said being a three-pound premie got her plenty of attention that way. She came home from Taylor, Texas hospital where she was born to the family farm in Coupland, Texas in a shoebox and slept in a dresser drawer until better sleeping arrangements could be made.

Aloma is an uncommon name. Her mother’s name was Anne and she didn’t want her daughter to have a common name like hers. While watching the 1941 romantic adventure Read More

TIMOTHY JOHNSON April 28, 2020

Timothy Johnson, taken too soon from all those who loved him, passed away at the age of 65 shortly after learning that he had developed metastatic lung cancer.

Timothy was born the son of Charles and Fannie Johnson in Atlanta, GA. The second of six children, Tim was always the leader. The other children in the neighborhood followed as he led them in games such as jumping over fences or competing in races. Tim was a child whose personality and drive made people want to help him to succeed. Any opportunity that was offered to him, he took to heart and strove to excel.

Following Read More

ARTHUR L. LAVY Nov. 12, 1938 – May 10, 2020

Arthur L. Lavy, 81, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2020 at his Santa Fe home following his courageous battle with cancer.

He was born November 12, 1938 in Concordia, Kansas, the son of Opal and Lawrence Lavy. He and Sharon Blake were married on March 18, 1961 in Eureka, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Opal and Lawrence Lavy; two brothers, Carl and Larry Lavy; and his sister, Elda Wolf.

Arthur served with the U.S. Army during the late 50’s and later worked for Los Alamos County from June 20, 1966 retiring as the electrical superintendent on December Read More

LAVERNE J. HARBERT June 17, 1925 – April 27, 2020

Laverne J. Harbert, beloved mother, grandma or G-ma, and great-grandma, passed away peacefully at her home with her daughter by her side on April 27, 2020. I’m sure Dad welcomed her home.

Laverne was born on June 17, 1925. She was preceded in death by her parents Irma and Rocky Capps and George Wittich. She was also preceded in death by her high-school sweetheart and loving husband of 64 1/2 years, Tom Harbert in November 2009.

She is survived by her 3 children: Jim, Bob (Vicky) and Sue Harbert. She also leaves behind 4 grandchildren: Kari (Rob), Read More

JUAN (JOJO) JOSE AMADEO MAESTAS May 24, 1922 – Feb. 16, 2020

Juan (JoJo) Jose Amadeo Maestas passed away February 16, 2020 at the age of 97 years old, 3 months short of his 98th birthday.

Jojo was born May 24, 1922 to Navor Maestas and Maria Juana Gallegos in Coyote and grew up in Ohkay Owingeh.

Juan was preceded in death by his parents, Navor Maestas and Maria Juana Gallegos; infant daughter, Victoria; 3 brothers; 2 sisters, Celina and Trinidad.

Juan is survived by his sons, Patrick Maestas Wrigley (Theresa) of Palmdale, CA and Jose Maestas of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Bradley Wrigley (Sydney); Read More

BOBBY JOE PHILLIPS

March 26, 1929 – April 19, 2020

Bobby Joe passed away peacefully of natural causes Sunday, April 19, 2020, with his family by his side. 

Bobby Joe was born three days after the great flood of the Emory River in Oakdale, Tennessee, to the late Artas Phillips.

He was raised in Oakdale, Tennessee by his loving grandmother, Mary Belle Phillips. 

Bobby Joe was preceded in death by his wife Lodean (Shankle) Phillips, his half-brothers Walter and John Headden, and his son Bobby Butler. 

He is survived by his half-brother L. G. Headden (Mildred) of Wartburg, TN; sister-in-law Sarah Kee Read More

CLARINDA LEEP April 23, 2020

Clarinda Leep, 92, passed away on April 23, 2020, finally getting relief from pain after a long struggle with spinal stenosis.

She was born in McMinnville, Oregon and spent her childhood on the north Oregon coast. While living in Pacific City in 1942, a newcomer from Idaho came to town. She was smitten with his adventurous spirit, often going along on his many hikes and explorations. Clarinda married that boy, Richard Leep, in 1946 and they began sixty years of life together.

In 1947, after the birth of their son, they moved to Bozeman where Dick attended Montana State Read More

EILEEN M. (KEARNEY) HORTON Feb. 11, 1930 – April 23, 2020

On April 23, 2020, Eileen M. (Kearney) Horton passed away in Kirkland, Washington.

Eileen Kearney was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 11, 1930. (Ironically, she shared the same birthday with her grandson, Tim Horton). 

Her parents were Maurice (Joe) and Helen Kearney. She had one older brother, Robert (Bob) Kearney and one older sister, Kathleen (Kay) Higgins.

In 1933 her family move to Port Orchard, Washington so her father could go to work at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Eileen attended her early school years in Port Orchard and, Read More

DAVID W. BECK July 29, 1941 – April 16, 2020

David Beck of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away after a lengthy illness on April 16, 2020, at the age of 78.

Dave was born on July 29, 1941, to Maida and Joseph Beck in Walla Walla, WA. He grew up in Richland, WA where he graduated from Columbia High School. In 1961 he joined the Navy and served on the USS Yorktown.

Upon completion of his naval service he began his career in electronics technology, which spanned more than 50 years. After working for several years in the aerospace industry in southern California, Dave moved to Boulder, CO where he joined Ball Aerospace. Read More