Obituaries

ELIZABETH ‘BETSY’ OLSEN SAVARESE Aug. 16, 2022

Born and raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Elizabeth “Betsy” Olsen Savarese, somewhat reluctant and serious at the age of eight was encouraged, by her parents, Jim and Barbara, to try the Los Alamos Aquatomics swim team. She dove in headfirst and the water and chlorine activated her spirit. From that point on Betsy swam her way through life. Betsy valued the lessons taught by competitive swimming: persistence and hard work, the joy of meaningful camaraderie, the thrill of competition and achievement, and the sheer fun of it. She just kept swimming…and Read More

ETHEN L. “SWEDE” L. EKBERG Sept. 1, 1929 – Aug. 23, 2022

Longtime Espanola resident Ethen L. “Swede” Ekberg, 92, ended his standoff with that mortal foe cancer peacefully at home on August 23, 2022.

Ethen was born the 7th of 8 children on September 1, 1929, at the family farm near Broadwater, Neb.

To say Swede could accomplish anything he set his mind to would be a significant understatement. He lived a remarkable 92 years that was filled with accomplishments, tremendous love, and adventure. Born on the farm on the eve of the Great Depression he embodied the values he learned growing up: an incredible Read More

DEBORAH COLEEN SPORE March 4, 1951 – Aug. 24, 2022

Deborah Coleen Spore, 71, resident of Española, NM passed away August 24, 2022, at the hospital with family by her side. She was a strong Kiowa woman who fought hard but succumbed to a long battle of illness.

She was born March 4, 1951, to Hawley Tsoodle and Mary Ruth (Redbird) Tsoodle in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Debbie met Jay in the 8th grade in Newkirk, Oklahoma. They were married in Newkirk on August 28. 1969. They were the love of each other’s life for 53 years. To this union they have two daughters Candace Katrina and wife Carol of Frederick, Maryland, and Read More

VERNON V. HAYWOOD, Jr. June 29, 1950 – July 7, 2022

Vernon V. Haywood, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 7th in Tucson, AZ.  

Vernon, (Vern as he was known by family and friends) was born in Mesa, AZ, the only son of Imogene Vivian and Vernon V. Haywood Sr. (Col. U.S. Air Force).

His father who trained as a Tuskegee Airman, served honorably as a fighter pilot in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. As typical of military families, Vern spent much of his childhood growing up and living in locations such as the Philippines, Japan, as well as New York, and New Mexico, and experiencing the different Read More

CHARLES TURNER APEL April 28, 1931 – June 23, 2022

On June 23, 2022, Charles (Charlie) Turner Apel, loving husband and father of five children, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family. He was 91.

Charlie was born April 28, 1931, in Kearney, Nebraska to Charles and Grace Apel. After moving several times in his youth, Charlie graduated from Saranac Lake High School in New York in 1948. He received his Bachelor of Science in 1952 from Morehead State University with majors in chemistry and physics and a minor in mathematics. While at Morehead, he earned money by working summers at the Lake Read More

JANIS ANN CABBELL WHITE Dec. 16, 1937 – Aug. 23 2022 

Janis Ann Cabbell White (Jan) was born in Borger, TX Dec. 16, 1937 and passed from this earth Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the age of 84.

She graduated from Borger High School in 1954. She attended West Texas State University, in Canon TX for 2 years. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do for a career so she decided to go to beauty school in Amarillo, TX to be able to help put herself through dental hygiene school in Dallas.

She graduated from Baylor Dental Hygiene school in 1961. After this, she was looking for “adventure” and Los Alamos sounded like a good spot. Read More

PATRICIA ANN OAKES MELVIN July 23, 2022

Patricia Ann Oakes Melvin, 74, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2022 at home in Indio, California. Pat was born in 1948 in Los Alamos, NM, and was the third of five children of William R. Oakes and Josephine H. Oakes. She loved growing up with her large family and remained close with her brother, sisters, and their families throughout her life.

Pat graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1966 and attended New Mexico State University, where she studied theater. She met the love of her life, William “Bill” Melvin, one summer night when she was home Read More

MARGARET RUTH FARRIS NEHER July 21, 2022

Margaret Ruth Farris Neher passed away July 21, 2022.

She was born in Fresno, CA and was the first of four children. She was nick-named, “Margaruth,” by her parents and later went by “Meg.”

Meg grew up in “Hollywood Land” as it was previously named before it became “Hollywood.” She graduated from Pomona College in 1943 with a bachelor’s in chemistry and was married to the love of her life, Leland Neher, in May of 1943. Her pilot father, Pat Farris’s response to Lee’s proposal for Meg’s hand in marriage was; “Well… Margaret Ruth always gets what she wants!” Read More

BRIAN WAYNE EMKEIT Aug. 20, 1941 – Aug. 19, 2022

We are sad to announce the passing of Brian Wayne Emkeit of Los Alamos, New Mexico. He fought a long hard battle with prostate and bone cancer.

Brian died at the age of 80 on August 19, 2022, just 12 hours before his 81st birthday.

Brian was born on August 20, 1941, in Oakland, California. He grew up in Nyack, New York. He served two years as a Merchant Marine and got a teaching degree at the University of New York. Brian taught for several years in Tuba City, Arizona, and Safford, Arizona. He returned to school and received a degree in civil engineering from Read More

JERRY (GERALD THOMAS) MORTON Aug. 5, 2022

Jerry (Gerald Thomas) Morton, a free riding spirit went home to ride free Aug. 5, 2022.

A man of mystique and intrigue that will be missed. A man with a mind that was only capable of thinking outside of the box. A man that was an entrepreneur and always reaching for the next best thing. A man that “wouldn’t ask nobody for nothing if he couldn’t get it on his own”.

Jerry loved a good classic rock song and a.m. talk radio or a good chuckwagon band. If you were special to him, he probably had a nickname for you. 

He had a passion for nature and rafting the river was a great Read More