Obituaries

GEORGE SCOTT FITZGIBBON Nov. 10, 1977 – June 4, 2024

Scott Fitzgibbon, 46, of Ruidoso and Los Alamos, New Mexico, was killed by a drunk driver and died at the scene of the accident on June 4, 2024, around 9 p.m. on N.M 48 near Shasta Place in Lincoln County, NM.

Scott graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1996 where he was very involved in Olions and choir. In high school he spent his free time climbing the rock faces around Los Alamos and White Rock and kayaking.

He went on to UNM and majored in voice. He sang with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale during his time at UNM. He met and married Reni Roberson who was getting Read More

MAXINE MAY TAYLOR May 28, 1924 – April 3, 2021

Maxine loved her family. She had four children. Maxine had been active in PTA and was president of PTA when she lived in Nebraska. She and her husband moved their family to Los Alamos in 1955.

She loved camping with her whole family every summer as well as with her husband in the winter. She also enjoyed being a Boy Scout den mother. She was a Master Gardener and was always happy working her garden. She joined DAR. She worked for many years at the Los Alamos Golf Club.

Maxine was predeceased by her husband Edward and by her daughter Karen.

She was survived by her Read More

PRESTINIA L. CHAVEZ Oct. 18, 1946 – June 3, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Prestinia Chavez, who passed away in Alamogordo, NM on June 3, 2024.

Prestinia was born on October 18, 1946, to Juan and Edna (Phillips) Torrez in Carrizozo, NM, and was the second of seven children. She grew up in the Alamogordo area, and lived in White Rock, NM for 34 years with her former husband, Arthur Chavez, and children.

She is survived by her former spouse of 49 years, Arthur Chavez; and beloved family including her sons, David Chavez and Ray Chavez (Venessa) of Nambe NM; grandchildren Read More

KAREN LEE BIEHL Feb. 8, 1943 – June 5, 2024

Karen Lee Biehl passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2024, with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. Despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, Karen was determined to live her life independently and only required assistance during the week before her death. Her quiet strength and tenacity will continue to profoundly inspire her children.

Karen was born in Bartlett, Illinois to Alvin Hahn and Dorothy Eaton Hahn. She was the middle child with older brother, Ken, and younger sister, Judy. She grew up on a farm and attended a one room schoolhouse for elementary Read More

HELEN RAEL LEHMAN May 29, 2024

Helen Rael Lehman, 79, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones at her home Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Helen’s loving spirit can be seen in the lives she has touched, including her family, friends, and those in need. Everyone who knows her will miss Helen’s beautiful smile, quick witty humor and her warm embrace. She is now  waltzing across heaven with her beloved husband Charles A. Lehman Jr. who preceded her in death.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m., June 20, 2024, at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory in Read More

JOY DRAKE May 15, 1936 – June 1, 2024

Joy Drake, 88, of Los Alamos, died June 1, 2024.

Joy was born May 15, 1936 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Joy was a wonderful person, who could be described in numerous ways: elegant, silly, adventurous, artistic, musical, a football fanatic and a true friend.

During her early childhood she lived in Eagle Grove, Cherokee and Waterloo, Iowa following her father’s teaching positions. At 7 years old through high school, she lived on her Grandpa Henry Stavenhagen’s farm (he homesteaded in the 1800s) in Victor, Iowa. They had a mixed farm where she loved the variety of plants Read More

JESUS AGUSTIN HERRERA VELARDE May 23, 2024

Jesus Agustin Herrera Velarde better known as Dad, Tata or Chewie entered into the arms of our Father, Thursday, May 23 in his Sierra Vista home in Arizona and was laid to rest with his family on Saturday June 1 at the Rivera Memorial Gardens.

He was 85 years old and is survived by his wife, seven children, 31 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren all of which were his motivation, his greatest joy, and the purpose of his being.

He grew up in Los Alamos to Miguel [Estrada] Velarde and Loretta Isabel Herrera the second born in a family of 11, he was always busy Read More

JUDITHA ANN (JUDY) YOUNG May 25, 1935 – May 21, 2024

Juditha Ann (Judy) Young of Los Alamos, NM died peacefully with her family by her side on May 21, 2024 – just four days shy of her 89th birthday.

She was born on May 25, 1935, in Fort Collins, Colorado to Harold Dillon Graham and Ruby Rossi Graham.  When Judy was just a baby she lost her mother (Ruby Rossi Graham) to tuberculosis.  Judy was lovingly raised by Katy Fedric Graham.

Survivors include her son, Jeff Young DVM (Sandra) of Amarillo, Texas; daughter, Ruby Alexander (Mike) of Los Alamos, New Mexico; Daughter-In-Law, Dawn Sue Young of Bridgeton, Read More

MARTHA E. DEHAVEN May 24, 2024

Martha E. DeHaven, daughter of Jack and Ruth Greene of Las Cruces and Raton, passed away on May 24, 2024, at age 78. She is survived by her husband Russell DeHaven and two children Roy DeHaven & Leanne DeHaven; her granddaughter Nicole Leitch, and great grandson Luke Leitch.

She was a fine artist in White Rock and participated in several studio tours and art shows around the state. She was represented by the Seigel Gallery in Santa Fe. She was a LANL employee for many years. Also, she was the first parent of a student at New Mexico School for the Deaf appointed to the school’s Read More

KATHERINE ANN ATTREP Feb. 1, 1938 – May 26, 2024

Katherine Ann Attrep, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died in Santa Fe on May 26, 2024, of natural causes.

Born the middle child to Alfred and Esther Gerloff on February 1, 1938, in Bland, Missouri, Katherine grew up on a farm near Owensville. She was known to drive the tractor at a young age and stories of her experiences on the farm were often retold by her family.

The first to go to college in her family, she attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield. She continued on to graduate school in Arkansas, one of the only women in the chemistry Read More