Obituaries

DAVID D. SMITH Oct. 9, 1957 – Sept. 18, 2015

David D. Smith, 57, of Los Alamos, NM passed away on September 18, 2015 at his home surrounded by the family that he so dearly loved and treasured.  His death was a result of a very hard battle fought against a sudden illness.

David was born in Oil City, PA on October 9, 1957 to Larry D. Smith and Yvonne E. Toy.  With a brief stop in Garland, TX, David’s family finally ended up in Los Alamos in the early 1960’s.  He said one of his earliest memories of Los Alamos was staying in Fuller Lodge and watching a wedding taking place in the great room below. Read More

DON BRANCATO Feb. 24, 1958 – Sept. 16, 2015

Don Brancato of Rio Rancho, NM passed away September 16, 2015.

He was born in Bayshore, NY on February 24, 1958. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1976 and from NMSU where is was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

While living in Las Vegas, NV he worked in the restaurant business until he retired and moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Don enjoyed sports, gardening and photography. He was famously known for his outstanding sense of humor.

He is survived by his mother Ellie Leavitt; brothers Bob and Tom; sister Laura; nieces Brenda and Liz; and his nephews Read More

PATRICK “PAT” JOSEPH BURNS Aug. 8, 1952 – Sept. 17, 2015

Patrick “Pat” Joseph Burns, songwriter, musician, historian/editor, teacher, father, grandfather, brother and friend to so many, passed away suddenly on the evening of September 17, 2015, in Santa Fe, NM.

He was born in Albuquerque, NM, on August 8, 1952, to Jessica and Raymond Burns. Pat spent his entire life in the Northern New Mexico area. He loved to soak at Ojo Caliente Natural Hot Springs, take pictures of spectacular sunsets and truly appreciated the beauty that surrounded him. His driving passion, however, was always his music. Read More

PATRICIA (PATTI JO) DAUGHARTY Feb. 1, 1957 – Sept. 4, 2015

 

Patti Jo Daugharty passed away peacefully on September 4, 2015 following a several year battle with kidney failure and related health issues.

 

Patti is survived by her husband, John Daugharty, and daughter, Brandi Engeman of Los Alamos; her granddaughter, Romilly; her mother, Jan Anders of Tucson, Arizona; her sister Jonna Adams of Pasco, Washington; her brother Mike Durkin, of Littleton, Colorado; as well as several nieces and nephews.

 

Patti was born in Richland, Washington and traveled extensively throughout Read More

MARGARET “PEGGY” EHRENKRANZ April 3, 1927 – September 19, 2015

Margaret “Peggy” Ehrenkranz, 88, former Los Alamos resident, passed away peacefully in Arlington, Virginia, on September 19, 2015. A graveside service will be held at Guaje Pines Cemetery in Los Alamos at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, September 26, 2015.

Born on April 3, 1927, in Easton, Pennsylvania, Peggy was a graduate of Wilson College, wife of the late Theodore E. Ehrenkranz, and resident of Los Alamos from 1959-2007.

She is survived by her children, Douglas and his wife Sharon Ehrenkranz and Katherine and her husband Paul Armstrong, Read More

CLARICE COLE AMIES Oct. 7, 1927 – Sept. 17, 2015

Clarice Cole Amies, 88, died on Thursday, September 17, 2015, after a long struggle with multiple health complications and associated chronic pain. Born October 7, 1927 in Rochester, New York, Clarice was preceded in death by her parents, Frances Evelyn Youmans Cole and Mason Cole, and her sisters, Lois Hale, Shirley Truex, and Kathleen Broman. 

Clarice graduated from Monroe High School (Rochester, New York) in 1945, and went on to work at Western Union. She was married to Eugene Smith in 1947 in Rochester, New York, and they had one son, Gregory, Read More

WILLIAM A. HUDSON Sept. 11, 2015

 

William A. Hudson died peacefully at home on September 11, 2015.

 

Born New York City in 1925, Hudson joined the US Marine Corps in 1943. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for action on Iwo Jima. After WWII he received BS and MA degrees in health and physical education from New York University.

 

Hudson came to New Mexico in 1949 and taught in the Los Alamos Public Schools for 33 years as a physical educator, swimming and cross country coach. After he retired from teaching, he had a successful career as a financial consultant with Waddell Read More

KEVIN STEVEN DONAVAN CHAVEZ May 4, 1988 – Sept. 15, 2015

Kevin Steven Donavan Chavez, 27, a resident of El Rancho, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 after a long and courageous fight after a car accident in April 2012 that left him a quadriplegic and changed his life forever.

Kevin rehabbed intensely at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado for four months. Kevin had many bumps along the road, but continued his fight wanting to do great things. Kevin was born on May 4, 1988 to Felix and Gloria Chavez.

He was preceded in death by grandfathers, E. Nestor Lujan and Max L. Chavez Jr.; aunts, Read More

BARBARA STEBBINS CROLEY Aug. 11, 2015

Barbara Stebbins Croley, 87, died on August 11, 2015. Barbara had lived in Los Alamos since 1957 when her husband Dale C. Croley began working at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. 

Over the years, in addition to raising three daughters, Barbara was an avid gardener, artist, gourmet cook, and enjoyed taking care of small animals and wild birds. Barbara was active in the Los Alamos Lion’s Club and in the sight conservation programs of Lions International for 50 years, as well as being a substitute teacher, a member of the Los Alamos Geological Society, Read More

DOYLE WAYNE ROTTMAYER March 12, 1927 – Sept. 13, 2015

Doyle Wayne Rottmayer passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family and friends on Sunday, September 13, 2015.

He is survived by his children Kay Margaret of Mora, New Mexico; Dwain and Gay Farley of Los Alamos and Phil and Trish Guinn of Ponca City, Oklahoma, grandchildren Andy Joe Ruiz and Suzanne of El Rancho, NM Joe Benjamin Ruiz and Cynthia of Mesquite, Texas and Melissa and Travis Brown of Los Alamos, and great grandchildren Israel Ruiz, Joseph Ruiz, Maribelle Ruiz and Thalia Ruiz, JD Weiss, Savannah Brown, Emily Brown, Spencer Read More