From Yavapai County, Arizona:
Charles Smith
Charles W. Smith, 78, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at his home in Prescott.
He was born June 2, 1919, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to John P. And Bernice (Jones) Smith. He grew up in Pasadena, Calif., except for his high school years. He graduated from Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Ore.
Mr. Smith served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He taught sonar and radar at Treasure Island in San Francisco, Calif.
He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, and worked in the computer field until his retirement. He was a 47-year member of the Masonic Order, Integrity Lodge, Chicago, Ill.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Dorothy; daughters, Cheryl Smith of San Diego, Calif., and Diana Rae of Saugus, Calif.; sister, Helen Broat of Laverne, Calif.; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Carter Wells Smith of Prescott.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Memory Chapel Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the National Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 7021, Colorado Springs, CO 80933, or YRMC Hospice Restricted Fund, 1003 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301.
Memory Chapel Mortuary helped the family with arrangements.
Gerald Warner
Gerald Guy Warner, 52, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997, in Ash Fork.
He was born March 21, 1945, in Callaway, Neb., to James and Velma (Wagner) Warner. He moved to Arizona from Nebraska 16 years ago.
Survivors include his daughters, Suzette Nickle and Claudette Britt, both of Aurora, Colo., and Tisha Warner of Denver, Colo.; one brother, one sister, and two grandchildren.
Mr. Warner was buried at the Yavapai County Cemetery in Prescott.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.
Hampton Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Fred Labahn
Fred Labahn, 83, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997, in Corona, Calif.
He was born Oct. 16, 1914, in Blue Island, Ill., to Frederick Carl and Hedwig (Reuss) Labahn. He moved to Prescott in 1977.
Mr. Labahn was interested in the natural sciences, being an accomplished birder, collector of sea shells, minerals and fossils, the latter being his most passionate hobby. He wrote numerous articles about fossils for several paleontological publications. He was a member of the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, the Mid-America Paleontology Society, the Paleontological Research Institution and the Mineralogical Society of Arizona.
He was very active with the Yavapai County Fair and also volunteered with the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo. He was also an accomplished square dancer.
Survivors include his wife, Esther; sons, William of Florida, Lawrence of Illinois, and Sidney of Tennessee; daughter, Elizabeth of California; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, at the Prescott United Methodist Church, 505 W. Gurley St.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Prescott United Methodist Church, 505 W. Gurley St., Prescott, AZ. 86301.
Alice Taylor
Alice Taylor, 74, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 1997, at her home in Prescott.
She was born Oct. 5, 1923, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to John E. and Elizabeth M. (Ellis) Yon. She moved to Prescott in 1971 from Mohave Valley.
Mrs. Taylor had worked as a telephone operator. She was a member of the Christian Women's Club, Gideons Auxiliary and Prescott Heights Baptist Church.
She enjoyed everything to do with homemaking, cooking, sewing and taking care of her family. She would spend many pleasant hours tending to her garden and her dog "Prissy." She enjoyed traveling and working with ceramics. She was proudest of her son and his family. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Eugene; son, Dale of Illinois; brother, Freeman Yon of Allen Park, Mich.; sister, Phyllis Moser of Novi, Mich.; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Prescott Heights Baptist Church, 700 Rosser St., with the Rev. Lee Wiggins officiating.
Interment will be on Tuesday at Fairlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Cushing, Okla.
The family suggests memorial contributions to YRMC Hospice, P.O. Box 26565, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312.
Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Johnnie Wight
Johnnie P. Wight, 85, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at Meadow Park Care Center.
She was born June 23, 1912, in Jasper, Tenn., to George W. and Dora (Mason) Downey. She moved to Arizona from Los Angeles, Calif., 30 years ago, and worked as a clothing designer for many years.
Mrs. Wight is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph.
No services are planned.
Hampton Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Billie Walden
Billie Walden, 74, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Prescott.
He was born March 31, 1923, in Florence County, S.C., to Alexander and Jessie (Hendrix) Walden. He worked as an automobile and mobile home salesman for many years before moving to Prescott from Pennsylvania in 1972.
Mr. Walden served his country honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Patricia Fields on Dec. 19, 1973, in Prescott. They had owned the "This and That Shop" in Prescott.
He helped the Disabled American Veterans set up the D.A.V. Thrift Store in Prescott. He was also a process server for Palmer Investigative Services. He was a member of the D.A.V. and the Prescott Coin Club.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia of Prescott Valley; sons, James L. and Richard L., both of North Carolina, and Gary Walden and Jim Fosnough, both of Prescott Valley; daughters, Billie Jean Yordy of Lebanon, Pa., Jeanette Powell of McFarland, Wis., and Michelle Hall, Julie Slay and Joan Jenkins, all of Prescott Valley; 19 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation was held Monday at Sunrise Funeral Home in Prescott Valley.
Funeral services will be held today at 4 p.m. at Sunrise Funeral Home, with Pastor James Pence officiating. Interment will be private at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans in Prescott.
Sunrise Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
