From Yavapai County, Arizona:
Barbara Smith
Barbara Beck Smith, 74, of Chino Valley, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 1998, at Yavapai Regional Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 14, 1924, in Berkeley, Calif., to Edward Earle and Doris (Bernstein) Monahan.
Mrs. Smith married Larry Beck Smith on Jan. 31, 1975. She helped him in his art exhibits and showings in seven states. She was an excellent sculptor in her own right, and was a good seafood cook.
She was proud of her children and of her contributions to art.
Survivors include her husband, Larry of Chino Valley; sons, Michael Rutten of Marysville, Wash., and Richard Rutten of Maryland; and one grandchild.
Private cremation was at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Cecil Carter
Cecil Clayton Carter, 76, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998, at the Prescott Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
He was born March 29, 1922, in Kingston, Okla., to Arthur and Effie (Gardner) Carter.
Mr. Carter was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran. He served as a gunner's mate second class. He moved to Phoenix from California in 1942, and to Prescott in 1955.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, making gun stocks and silversmithing. He had worked as a carpet installer.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret "Peggy" of Prescott; daughter, Gwen Parker of Springfield, Mo.; son, Jim, also of Springfield; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chapel, with Chaplain Charles Turner officiating, and military honors by the American Legion Post 6 Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center for G.P.F. 9057, Prescott, AZ 86313. Contributions will benefit the first floor nursing center.
Hampton Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Richard Aston
Richard T. Aston, 38, of Mayer, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, in Phoenix.
He was born May 30, 1960, in Prescott, to Richard and Shirley (Jensen) Aston.
Mr. Aston graduated from Bradshaw Mountain High School in 1978. He worked as a pit supervisor at Earth Products in Prescott Valley, where he coached and played slow pitch softball for Earth Products teams for many years.
Survivors include his mother, Shirley Doil of Camp Verde; sons, Corey Aston of Quartzsite and Jason Morrison of Mayer; daughter, Elisha Morrison, also of Mayer; brothers, Billy of Mesa, Jesse of Safford and Melvin of Humboldt; and sisters, Wanda Hofferber of Humboldt, Cindy Aston of Mesa and Kathy Clark of Rimrock.
A visitation will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sunrise Funeral Home, 8167 E. Highway 69 in Prescott Valley. Funeral services will follow at noon, with Pastor Jim Jones officiating. Interment will be at Humboldt Cemetery.
Gary Adams
Gary Garth Adams, 64, of Prescott, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at Phoenix Regional Medical Center.
He was born July 7, 1934, in Newton, Iowa, to LaVelle Erwin and Helene (Ainsworth) Adams.
Mr. Adams graduated from Norfolk High School in Norfolk, Neb., and from the University of Nebraska, with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics. He moved to Cave Creek from Omaha, Neb., in 1978, and to Prescott in 1985.
He was a long-time area businessman who owned and operated Adams Med-Dent Cabinets, Inc. in Phoenix, along with varied business ventures in the Omaha, Neb., Cave Creek, Phoenix, Sun City and Prescott areas.
He served his country in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Adams was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #330, the Mother Lodge of Arizona in Prescott. He was also a member of the United States Golfing Association. He retired in July 1996, and made it a practice to spend as much time as possible on the golf course.
He was a dedicated father and husband who would tenderly dig holes for his wife's roses, as well as care for his own flower and vegetable garden. He had been attending Yavapai College for pottery making, and enjoyed learning about and creating pottery. He was proud of his success in finding happiness, and will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Jacline; daughter, Christine Caron of Glendale; sons, David Adams of Phoenix, Brad and Todd Laughlin, both of Phoenix, and Rod Laughlin of Glendale; brother, Tim of Norfolk, Neb.; and six grandchildren.
A visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Deacon William Davis presiding. Concluding services will be conducted during a private cremation at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley. Inurnment will take place at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association, 2702 N. Third St., Suite #4015, Phoenix, AZ 85004; or to the Prescott Elks Lodge #330, P.O. Box 27199, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Joseph Metiva
Joseph I. Metiva, 68, a resident of Dewey, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999, in Prescott.
He was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Bay City, Mich., to Ivan Joseph and Antonia (Zelenka) Metiva.
Mr. Metiva married Rachel Southwell April 11, 1953. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954. He then worked as a supervisor for General Motors for more than 25 years, retiring in 1974.
He loved prospecting, and had a claim in Skull Valley when the family moved to this area in 1980. When his health deteriorated, and prospecting was not possible, he and his wife would take long back-road rides to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature, and have picnics. He loved listening to jazz and older rhythm and blues recordings.
Mr. Metiva was a member of Calvary Chapel of Prescott. He was proudest of his wife, children and grandchildren, and of helping other people.
Survivors include his wife, Rachel, of Dewey; sons, Bruce of Humboldt, Brent of Flushing, Mich., and Patrick of Renton, Wash.; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary Chapel, 2313 E. Highway 69. Inurnment will follow at Redwood Memorial Gardens in Dewey.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the National Arthritis Foundation, 711 E. Missouri, #116, Phoenix, AZ 85002.
The Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel helped the family with arrangements.
Richard Weeks
Richard Daniel Weeks, 54, of Phoenix, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.
He was born Sept. 18, 1944, in Pittsburg, Calif., to J.C. and Marguerite Bell (Stem) Weeks, and moved from there with his parents in 1945.
He served his country in the U.S. Air Force for six years, and participated in the Vietnam Conflict. He worked as a carpet layer for 20 years in the Prescott and Phoenix areas.
Mr. Weeks loved to fish with his brother, James, who preceded him in death on July 1, 1994. He also enjoyed hunting and camping. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends.
He is survived by his mother, Marguerite, of Phoenix, and sister, Nellie Guensch, also of Phoenix.
A graveside service was held Thursday at Redwood Memorial Gardens in Dewey.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Margaret Harris
Margaret H. "Peggy" Harris, 86, a resident of Prescott for the past 23 years, died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, in Prescott.
She was born June 22, 1912, in Newburgh, N.Y., to Daniel A. and Ethel M. (Strong) Force.
Mrs. Harris was a homemaker and a retired medical laboratory technologist. She was a member of the Yavapai County Medical Society Alliance.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Dr. George Harris.
Services will be private.
Memory Chapel Mortuary helped the family with arrangements.
James Noble
James Leroy Noble, 84, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, in Phoenix.
He was born Feb. 19, 1914, in Pensacola, Okla., to Leroy and Alta (Morris) Noble.
Mr. Noble moved to Phoenix from Ohio 42 years ago, and to Prescott Valley 17 years ago. He worked in equipment maintenance for the Department of Public Safety, retiring in 1976. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith, in 1996.
Survivors include his son, Leroy of Happy Jack; daughters, Beverly Lambert of Iowa, Arlene May of Alabama and Mary Saltzman of Ohio; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, at Sunrise Funeral Home, 8167 E. Highway 69 in Prescott Valley.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Gary Willow officiating. Entombment will be at Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale.
