Yuma County, Arizona Obits
Date: 1879-03-21;
Paper: Arizona
Weekly Journal Miner
SMITH- At Yuma,
A.T. , March 6th 1879
about 6 o'clock p.m., Orlando E. Smith of inflammation of the bowels.
Date: 1871-03-18;
Paper: Weekly
Arizona Miner
J.W. Jones, a
pioneer of this
Territory, died at Arizona City, Yuma County, February 20.
Date: 1878-04-05;
Paper: Arizona
Weekly Journal Miner
Mark Hopkins,
Treasurer of the
Central Pacific Railroad Company, died at Yuma on Friday last, March
29, 1878.
Date: 1891-08-07;
Paper: Tombstone
Epitaph Prospector
George Bateman,
well known on the
Pacific coast died at Yuma last Friday, aged 65 years.
Date: 1898-03-16;
Paper: Arizona
Weekly Journal Miner
George Thompson,
one of the best
known and most highly respected miners of Yuma county, lost his life
last Wednesday morning in the Fortuna mine by suffocation from gas created by the
explosion of
blasting powder. He and his partner were working on the fourth level of
the mine and had fired a number of shots, one of which went off
prematurely, and in his frantic effort to escape the falling rock and
danger of the shots that would immediately follow, Thompson ran into a
drift from which, there was no escape from the fumes arising from the
powder. His partner, Sullivan, escaped in another direction and
thinking Thompson was safe did not pay any attention to his absence or
some time. Finally, thinking something was wrong, he began an
investigation and soon discovered Thompson in an unconscious
condition. He died a few hours later.
Date: 1891-06-03;
Paper: Tombstone
Epitaph Prospector
Dr. De Corse, a
prominent citizen of
Yuma died of heart disease last Monday.
Date: November 25,
1894 Paper:
Tombstone Epitaph Prospector
Frank Burke, of
Yuma, who was with
Vic Wilson when he was killed by Evans and Sontag, died on Tuesday. He
was born in Yuma 30 years ago.
Date: 1890-06-07;
Paper: Tombstone
Epitaph Prospector
M. Walters
accidentally shot himself
through the bowels yesterday at the Pot Holes. He was brought here, and
Dr. J.H. Taggart called to attend him, but his wounds.
Date: 1891-12-09; Paper: Weekly Journal Miner
Col. Luis Huller Dead.
It was with great surprise, that Friday last that Col. Luis Huller
while on his way to Yuma, had died on the train just east of Tucson.
Middle aged, robust and in perfect health, he was the last whom it was
believed that death would summons so suddenly. The cause is said to
have been heart trouble. Col. Huller was to have met Gen. Luis Torres,
governor of Sonora and Lower California, also the inspector general and
chief engineer of the Mexican government here at Yuma, and together
with Col. D. K. Allen they were to have gone on Wednesday, either by
steamer or by small boats to the sulphur mines, the volcanoes and the
source of the Carter river. Col. Allen's late work was to be inspected,
his measurements, lines, monuments and surveys examined.
The great sulphur and alum deposits were to have been examined and a
decision given as to what would be the best plan to adopt for their
development. The proposed railroad lines from the sulphur mines the one
to Horse Shoe Bend in the Colorado, near its mouth, the one to Major
lake, and the one to El Rio, were each to be looked over and the one
preferred by the government to be decided upon Col. Allen's estimate as
to the cost of each of these lines are already in the official's
possession; also his recommendation as to allowing any interference
with the water that now flows through Carter river toward Salt on. and
out to the desert, as well as those which flow into Lake Julniln and
New river, were to have been carefully considered and a decision given,
that the president might place the matter before the Mexican
congress. The matter of giving permission or a
concession for a line of steamers from Yuma to the volcanoes via the
mouth of the Colorado was to have been one of the matters to be looked
into and which was included in Col. Allen's report. The line of the
Yuma and San Diego railroad was to have received particular
attention, especially that portion of it between the east end of the
Mt. Major range and Hall Hanlon's. The three proposed crossings of the
Colorado
would have been one of the matters for consideration, as well as the
establishment of a new town on the boundary line at Hanlon's. Col.
Huller's coming meant the expenditure of thousands of dollars below the
line, a portion of which would have found its way back to Yuma. Col.
Luis Huller was the father of the old International Company of Mexico,
as it was formerly known as Luis Huller & Co, He was also the
originator of the Yuma San Quentin and San Diego railroad to Yuma and
from the mouth of the Colorado to El Paso, Mexico can not lose a man
who has done so much to advance her best interests of her northern and
northwestern borders.
— Yuma Sentinel.
Date: 1878-11-21; Paper: Arizona Weekly Star
Mrs Julia S.Porter, wife of Judge De Forrest Porter, of Yuma on the
12th instant, in the 29th year of her age. The Judge has the sympathy
of the people of the Territory, The remains were buried at
Yuma in the military cemetery.
Date: 1872-12-07; Paper: Weekly Journal Miner
Death of John Duff.
John Duff, an old and respected citizen of Yuma county, departed this
life, at Arizona City, on the morning of November 22. Deceased was well
and favorably known by citizens of every section of the Territory, many
of whom will feel sad over the news of his death. Being an officer of
Yuma County, the District and Probate courts adjourned, upon hearing of
his death; and the former Court passed suitable resolutions. The
remains of Mr. Duff were followed to the grave by large number of
people, and the stores of the city were closed, during the performance
of the last sad rites.
New York Times, The (NY) - August 23, 1980 Deceased Name: Roy Yerger,
72, a Former Editor Of International Herald Tribune
Roy Ralph Yerger, former assistant managing editor of The International
Herald Tribune in Paris, died of heart disease Thursday at the Yuma
(Ariz.) Regional Medical Center. He was 72 years old and had lived in
Yuma the last two years.
Mr. Yerger was born in Rochester and graduated from the University of
Rochester in 1928. He then joined the staff of The Rochester
Times-Union, and later became its news editor.
In 1935 Mr. Yerger joined the staff of The New York Herald Tribune and
was executive news editor when the newspaper ceased publication in
1966. He transferred to The International Herald Tribune at that time
and retired in 1973.
He is survived by his wife, the former Eloise Barrangon; two daughters,
Lucy Shipp of Yuma and Johanna Stobbs of Manhattan and Caracas,
Venezuela, and five grandchildren.
New York Times, The (NY) - December 30, 1981 Deceased Name: F.F.
McNaughton Dies at 91 Illinois Newspaper Publisher
F.F. McNaughton, a veteran of 60 years in newspaper publishing and
broadcasting, died today at the Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma,
Ariz., where he had lived since his retirement. He was 91 years old.
The founder of the McNaughton Newspapers, Mr. McNaughton was involved
in the purchase and development of 25 newspapers and a half dozen radio
stations, including The Effingham Daily News and radio station WCRA in
Effingham, Ill., and The Pekin Times in Pekin, Ill.
A graduate of Tri-State College in Angola, Ind., Mr. McNaughton
received a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School
of Journalism and took a job as a reporter on The New York Tribune.
In 1963, he was honored as a distinguished alumni of the journalism
school; in 1966 he received an honorary doctorate from Tri-State.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Joseph E. of Effingham and W.
Dean of Balboa Island, Calif.; a daughter, Lou Edith Soldwedel of Yuma,
Ariz.; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
New York Times, The (NY) - October 13, 1982 Deceased Name: Librado
Chavez, Farm Leader Was Father of Cesar Chavez
Librado Hernandez Chavez, a longtime advocate for migrant workers died
today. He was 100 years old. Mr. Chavez, who was the father Cesar
Chavez, the president of the United Farm Workers, died of a stroke at
Alexian Brothers Hospital shortly before 9 A.M., according to Marc
Grossman, a family friend.
Librado Chavez's father immigrated from Mexico to the United States in
1880 and settled near Yuma in southwestern Arizona, where Mr. Chavez
was born Aug. 17, 1882.
He had a small farm in Arizona but lost it to a bank in the Depression.
He moved his family to California, where he, his wife and their five
children worked as migrant farm laborers.
Mr. Chavez was active in three migrant worker unions that preceded the
United Farm Workers, which his son founded in the 1950's. He is
survived by his wife, Juana; two daughters, Rita and Vickie, and a son,
Librado Jr.
Services for John Doan Tuesday at 3
Prominent Yuman Succumbs to Heart Attack
Funeral services for John Doan, 65 year old Yuma pioneer and prominent
for many years in local and state politics, who died Saturday morning
following a heart attack, will be held tomorrow afternoon
starting at three o'clock at the D.C. Johnson chapel with the Yuma
Lodge of Elks in charge.
The Rev. Randall B. Scott will offer a prayer and Attorney R.N.
Campbell will deliver the eulogy.
Pall bearers were announced as follows: O.T. McCook, W.R. Whitman, H.F.
Colman, William H. Westover, W.L. Ellison and A.J. Griffin.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 2, 1935
George Bridge Yuma Pioneer Passes Away
George Bridge, 72 years old pioneer Yuma valley rancher and prominent
in Farm Bureau circles throughout the west, died at the Yuma General
Hospital shortly before noon today, following an illness of pneumonia.
Funeral arrangements had not been completed this afternoon it was
announced at the O.C. Johnson mortuary.
Coming to the Yuma valley from the east about 30 years ago, Mr. Bridge
homesteaded on a ranch east of Somerton, which he continued to farm
untill he became ill several weeks ago.
Prominent in Farm Bureau work, he served two terms as president of the
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation, and in the local Townsend Pension Club,
he got up from his sick bed while still feeling far from well to attend
meetings of these organizations. He suffered a relapse and was taken to
the Hospital Nov. 24, after pneumonia had developed.
Mr. Bridge served a term as regent of the University of Arizona.
Surviving is the widow.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 6, 1935
Hardin Power, Former Yuma Resident Dies
Word was received in Yuma today of the death in Florence, Arizona of
Hardin Power, 91, father of F.A. Power of Yuma and perry Power,
formerly on the Yuma Police force, now a guard at the state
penitentiary at Florence.
The deceased lived for many years in the Yuma valley and farmed in
earlier years a large acreage of land. for several years past, he has
made his home with his sons and for the last three years with his son
in Florence.
Besides his two sons he has a daughter, Marjorie and many nieces and
nephews in the valley. Mr. and Mrs. Claude Mahery and other relatives
have gone to Florence to the funeral.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 6, 1935
Buckeye Man Found Slain
Buckeye Az. Dec 9, The___ desert north of here today held the
solution for a third mysterious death that wiped out the family of a
homesteader.
The dismembered body of Kage A. Atkinson, 78, was found in a lonely
canyon six miles northwest of here by cotton pickers. He apparently had
been murdered, deputy sheriffs said. He obviously had been dead for
months.
Atkinson had been missing since July 14, when his 70 year old wife and
their 40 year old daughter were found dead in their cabin. The older
woman lay in bed, her face covered with a cloth, beside her in a
rocking chair was the decapitated body of the daughter. her head lay on
the floor near the chair.
So far as known officers said the family had no enemies and were too
poverty stricken to make robbery a motive.
The Atkinsons were Negros.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 9, 1935
Services Today for Valley Child
Funeral services for Loretta Winburn, three year old daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Oscar Winburn of Somerton, who died Sunday morning, were
scheduled to be held a the Johnson Chapel, starting at four o'clock
this afternoon. The Rev. James T. Jones pastor of the Somerton Baptist
church, is the officiating clergyman. Interment will take place in the
Yuma Cemetery.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 9, 1935
A. Bustamante, Former Yunnan, Dies at Age 105
Antonio Bustamante, former Yuma resident died at the home of his
daughter Mrs. Linda Haney, San Bernardino, Calif. last Friday,
according to word received by local friends. He was 105 years old.
Of the five children surviving two reside in Yuma, Frank and Antonio
(Nino) Bustaamante, Jr. The others are Theodore of Seal Beach Calif.;
Mrs. Theodore, Macias, Los Angeles and Mrs. Haney of San Bernardino.
Born in Coquitava, Sonora Mexico on July 15, 1830, Bustamante came to
San Bernardino county at the age of 11 years. He worked as a rancher
and later the Southern Pacific Railroad roundhouse at Tuscon. He was
transferred to Yuma in 1898 and it was here in 1902 that an earthquake
wrecked his home, killing his wife and son and injuring him so severely
that he remained in a hospital for a year.
He was transferred to San Bernardino by the southern Pacific in 1916
and has remained here since.
At the age of 84 Bustamante was hailed a hero, after he saved a two
year old child from drowning in the surf at Seal Beach, although he was
unable to swim a stroke.
Funeral services will be held here Thursday. A wake will be at San
Bernardino tonight and another here Wednesday night at the home of Mrs.
Huana Sorillion 232 Sixth Avenue.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 9, 1935
Mrs. A. B. Baker, Former Yuman, Dies At Bowie
The body of Mrs. Albert-B. Baker, 84, former Yuman. who died last
night at her home in Bowie Ariz.. will arrive here tomorrow night.
friends announced today.
Mrs. Baker who was born near here, left Yuma two years ago when her
husband, Southern Pacific foreman, was transferred to Nogales. A
few months ago, he was again transferred. this time to Bowie
Funeral arrangements had not been completed this afternoon.
Mrs. Baker was a member of a pioneer Yuma county family. She was born
Frances BoItares, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allonso Boltares
Surviving are her mother, residing in Ensenada., B. C, Mexico: her
husband, a daughter and four sons.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 10, 1935
Aged Gila Valley Man Passes Away
Funeral services for Thomas Amavisca, 82, who died at his home in the
North Gila Valley early tomorrow, with interment at Laguna was
announced at the O.C. Johnson Mortuary.
Born in San Gabirel, Calif. Araviaca came to Yuma County 60 years ago.
surviving are a son, two sisters, and a brother.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 10, 1935
Services Friday for Mrs. Baker
Funeral services for Frances Baker, wife of Albert B. Baker, who died
in bowie, Arizona, willbe held tomorrow morning. Friday. dec. 13, at
the Catholic church. The wake will be held tonight at the home of Mrs.
Carmen Norton, 226 First Avenue, where the remains will be held pending
the services. Services will be held at 11 a.m. in the Catholic church
and interment will be made in the Yuma cemetery.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 12, 1935
Final rites for Mrs. L. Daniels Saturday 1 p.m.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lela Daniels, 55, of the Yuma valley who died
Tuesday following a lingering illness, will be held Saturday beginning
at 1 p.m. at the O.C. Johnson Chapel, it was announced today at the
Johnson Mortuary, Interment will take place in the Yuma cemetery.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 13, 1935
Slide Kills Two Miners
Superior Ariz. Dec 14 (UP)
Two miners were crushed to death by a rockslide deep in the Magma
Copper Mine here yesterday by hugh boulders which broke loose from
sides of a shaft.
Juan Sadoval was killed instantly while william Vega crawled to the
shaft head where hr rode down in a landing place on an ore bucker. He
died with a few hours at a hospital.
The Yuma Daily Sun Monday Evening Dec 14, 1935
Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) - May 11, 1988
Deceased Name: Ramon Parra, 73, engineer 30 years and civic leader
A rosary for civic leader Ramon N. Parra, 73, of San Ysidro, will be
recited at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Humphrey Mortuary. A Mass will be said at
10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church.
Burial will be in Potholes Cemetery in Winterhaven, Calif. He died
Monday in a convalescent home.
Mr. Parra, a native of Bard, Calif., lived in the county 47 years and
was an M.H. Golden Co. operating engineer for 30 years and a member of
Operating Engineers Local 12. He was a member of the San Ysidro School
District board for 18 years and had served as its president. He was an
organizer of the San Ysidro Little League and a member of the San Diego
Model City Committee's Area 6 and the Democratic County Central
Committee; and had served as a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National
Convention.de Mayo celebrations; and a member of the Charros
Association.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor; seven sons, Ray of Hayward,
Calif., Daniel of Chula Vista, Norman of Spring Valley, Joseph of
Bonita, Richard of National City, Caesar of Memphis, Tenn., and Oscar
of San Ysidro; a daughter, Linda Sanchez of Los Angeles; nine brothers
and sisters; 35 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family
suggested donations to the San Ysidro Lions Club.
FERNANDO N. 'EASTSIDE' PARRA: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
San Diego Union-Tribune, The (CA) - November 9, 2001
Deceased Name: FERNANDO N. 'EASTSIDE' PARRA
June 6, 1913-Nov. 3, 2001
Fernando N. "Eastside" Parra, 88, of San Diego died Saturday. He was
born in Calexico and was a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of
the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 and the
Professional Rodeo Association.
Survivors include his daughters, Helen M. Sosa of Chula Vista and
Gloria C. Ward and Debra A. Parra of San Diego; sisters, Margaret Perez
of Chula Vista, Pauline Ybarra of Corona and Trinidad Campuzano of
Yuma, Ariz.; brothers, Emilio Parra of Spring Valley, Julian Parra of
Imperial Beach, Manuel Parra of Hayward and Tony Parra of Campo; eight
grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two
great-great-grandchildren.
Services: noon tomorrow, Potholes Cemetery in Bard.
Donations: Kaiser Hospice, 10992 San Diego Mission Road, 3rd Floor, San
Diego, CA 92108.
Arrangements: Balboa Cremation Services.
Mrs. C. Pina Rites Set for Saturday at 9 Funeral Mass for Mrs. Carolina
Mendez Pina, 89-year-old native Yuman who died Tuesday, will be held
Saturday at 9 a.m. in St. Thomas Mission, Fort Yuma, Calif., it was
announced today at the Johnson Mortuary. Interment will follow in
Potholes Cemetery, Laguna Dam, Calif., beside her husband. Jesus, who
died in 1927.
She had been a mid-wife in Yuma and in eastern Imperial County for many
years. She lived on the California side of the river most of her life.
In recent years she had resided in Winterhaven. Calif., with her
daughter, Mrs. Manuela Montana.
There will he a Rosary and wake at the Johnson Chapel Friday night from
7 to 10.
Surviving are two sons, George of Winterhaven and Arthur of Yuma; two
daughters, Teresa Ruiz of San Jose, Calif., and Manuela Montana of
Winterhaven; three sisters. Conception Lopez of Winterhaven and
Anastacia Gonzales and Kina Mtinox, both of Yuma: 39 grandchildren; 92
greal-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Yuma Daily Sun March 10 1960
Mrs. Robt. Nunez Tomorrow at 3
Mrs. Margarita Nunez, 24, wife of Robert Nunez employee of the American
Girl mine at Ogilby, Calif. passed away at 4 p.m. yesterday at the
Yuma. General hospital.
Funeral services will be held at St. Thomas Yuma Indian mission
tomorrow afternoon beginning at three o'clock, it was announced at the
O. C. Johnson Mortimry, followed by burial In Potholes cemetery. A wake
is to be held tonight at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ramon
Mendez, of near Bard. Born in Yuma, she spent her entire life in this
vicinity. Surviving are the husband, the parents, three brothers and
seven sister.
Yuma Daily Sun June 28 1938
John T. Dunn Former Yuman Dies in Phoenix
John T. Dunn. 53. former Yuma resident, died yesterday at his home in
Phoenix following a heart attack, according to word received here. A
resident of Arizona for 18 years, he moved to Phoenix in 1932
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Alma Nash of Long Beach and Mrs.
Delma Prouse. Yuma, and a son, Stancil Dunn of Long Beach.
Yuma Daily Sun June 28 1938
EZ-ARIZONAN KILLED
Las Vegas, Nev. June 28 (AP) Edward W. Scott was held today in the
county jail charge with the first degree murder Larry Saunders, former
Phoenix Ariz., golf-club greens-keeper whom Scott assertedly had
befriended a week ago.
Yuma Daily Sun June 28 1938