Obituaries, Dec. 20, 2006

Robert G. Larson

Former Camp Verde resident Robert G. "Bob" Larson, 79, died Dec. 14, 2006, in Seal Rock, Ore. He was born April 13, 1927, in Southington, Conn., to Sigrid (Person) and Richard Larson.

He joined the Merchant Marines when he was 16 near the end of World War II and later served in the U.S. Army with the last Horse Cavalry occupation forces in post-War Germany.

Bob married Laurette J. (Miron) Larson on March 10, 1951, at Camp Pickett, Va. They returned to Southington, Conn., where he worked as a land surveyor. They later moved to Phoenix and Camp Verde, where he worked in civil engineering and then retired to Seal Rock, Ore., in 1998.

He enjoyed hiking and crabbing. He was an active member of the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Waldport, Ore., where he served as a Eucharistic minister almost every Sunday. He was also a member of St. Vincent de Paul. After retirement, he enjoyed working at the Newport, Ore., Recreation Center.

Survivors including his loving wife Laurette; seven children, Jay Larson, Christine Larson, Karen Morton, William Larson, Keith Larson, Ross Larson and Ellen Jordan; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at Montezuma Chapel in Rimrock. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Memories and wishes can be sent online to robertlarsonmemorial.blogspot.com.

Shirley Tidridge

Shirley Tidridge, of Cottonwood, died Dec. 13, 2006. She was born Sept. 23, 1922, in Ottawa Canada. She moved to the United States with her husband Bill in the early 1950s, becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1958. They raised four children, Lorne, Susan, Lynne and Judy.

They discovered the Verde Valley in the 1960s and made it their home in the early '70s. They resided in Sedona until Bill's death. Shirley then returned to Cottonwood after extensive traveling in 1993 to make it her permanent home and to be close to her daughters.

Shirley was a long-time dancing and singing member of the Grannies on the Rocks, now known as the Sedona Showstoppers, as well as their secretary. She volunteered at Sedona Arts Center for several years and also volunteered her time and energies to the Verde Valley Humane Society because of her great love of animals.

Survivors include her daughters Susan Homack, Lynne Metcalf and Judy Tidridge; daughter-in-law Bertha Tidridge; son-in-law Berhnard Metcalf; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of her life at Franco's banquet room at the Quality Inn of Cottonwood, 301 W. 89A, on Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, send donations to Northern Arizona Hospice and/or your local Humane Society.

Michael 'Gene' Slagle

Michael "Gene" Slagle died Nov. 27, 2006. He was born on Aug. 12, 1938.

Survivors include his wife Carole and her mother Betty; two daughters, Janelle and Darla; three stepchildren, David, Michael and Deborah; a sister, June; a brother, Donald; three grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be Jan. 3, 2007, 1 p.m. at Pine Shadows Clubhouse in Cottonwood. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to RTA Hospice, 70 Bell Rock Plaza, Sedona AZ 86351.

Helen G. Sitterley

Helen G. Sitterley, 90, formerly of Lake Montezuma, died Dec. 18, 2006, in her Cornville home among her children.

Helen was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on Dec. 7, 1916. After graduating from high school, Helen enrolled in Kent State University, where she received her BA in primary education. She taught until Pearl Harbor, when she was personally incited to join the U.S. Army and serve her country being trained as a physical therapist. As a sergeant and while in training at Mayo's in Rochester, Minn., she met the love of her life, Capt. Jay L. Sitterley, a physician.

After marriage, they spent their first years at the VA Hospital in San Fernando Valley, Calif., and then Witchita, Kan. Helen and Jay moved with their children to Flagstaff in 1952.

It was at NAU, then ASC in Flagstaff, where Helen received her master's degree in education while raising three children. Helen returned to the classroom at Weitzel school, when her youngest child was starting high school, and loved being a teacher.

After she and Jay retired, they moved to Lake Montezuma. After Jay's death in 1984, Helen received and expanded her lifelong passion for art and became competent in several media, her latest passion being China painting.

Helen is survived by her children, Warren Jay, John Wayne and Mary Patricia; her sisters, Corinne Beard and MaryLou (Pratley) Neal.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Albert; her father and mother; her sister, Betty Clark; and her husband Jay Leland.

Memorial services will be at Westcott Funeral Home Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. Memorial donations can be made in her name to the NAU Education Department.


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