Obituaries, Nov. 27, 2005

Eugenia Lesage

Eugenia Thompson Lesage, 87, died Nov. 19, 2005, in the VA Medical Center. Eugenia was born Feb. 1, 1918, the daughter of Bailey and Jennie Blagg (Smitley) Thompson in Fairmont, W.Va. She was a member of St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, where she had served as the director of the church choir. She also directed the Verde Valley Players.

She truly enjoyed music. She was most proud of her family and co-composing the St. James Mass liturgy.

Eugenia is lovingly survived by her children and their spouses Frank and Pat Lesage, of Escalon, Calif., and Christina and Jack Allen, of Prescott Valley; grandchildren Elizabeth, Vernon, Willie and Angela; also by her brother and his spouse Bailey and Doris Thompson of Cottonwood. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband in 1986, a sister Genevieve T. Perry, and a brother Harold.

Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 26 at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, Camp Verde. Inurnment will be at a later date in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix.

Donald K. Hodel

Donald K. Hodel, 61, owner of Hodel's Adirondack Store in Inlet, N.Y., died at his home in Camp Verde on Nov. 14 from complications due to cancer. He was predeceased by his parents, Donald S. and Margaret Hodel.

Don is survived by his wife, best friend and business partner, Pattie Kelly-Hodel; two daughters, Carie Hodel of New Hartford, Conn., Rebecca Hodel Gavins of Dacula, Ga.; and a son, Sean Kelly of Whitefish, Mont.; also a sister, Margaret Hodel of Deposit, N.Y., and five grandsons, Tyler, Nicholas, Joshua, Cody and Dustin Gavins.

Don worked in Sedona and the Verde Valley for 11 years until his illness. Known for his love of the outdoors and the Adirondack Mountains, he was an avid hiker and traveler who, with his wife Pattie, made frequent camping treks into the Grand Canyon and many other places around the world. He was also a first-rate fisherman, golfer, and actor.

Don touched many lives with his open-hearted friendship and warmth. He will be remembered especially for his wonderful sense of humor.

At Don's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral. If you wish to make a contribution in Don's memory, please consider RTA Hospice and Palliative Care, 70 Bell Rock Plaza, Suite A, Sedona AZ 86351.

Carole Ann Jones

Carole Ann Jones, 65, of Camp Verde, died Nov. 17, 2005. She was born July 15, 1940 in Mesa to Otho "Bo" Jones and Georgia Mitchell Jones.

Carole Ann graduated from Casa Grande Union High School in 1958. She then attended nurses training at St. Joseph's in Phoenix. She moved to the Verde Valley in 1972 and began working at what was then Marcus J. Lawrence Hospital until she took medical retirement in 1995.

Carole Ann was instrumental in founding the "Happy Huggers," a branch of the Reach for Recovery cancer support group in the Verde Valley. She was a breast cancer survivor and felt her calling was to support group and encourage other women who faced the same diagnosis. Carole Ann's sense of humor was her method for coping with obstacles in life. She brought smiles and laughter to all who were fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter who died at birth; her sister Elsie Ballam, of Camp Verde and her brother Richard Jones, of Taylor, Arizona.

She is survived by 11 nieces and nephews and many dear and precious friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. at Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Shelter of Camp Verde, P.O. Box 710, Camp Verde, AZ 86322.

An online memorial guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com.

Shirley G. McMenamin

Shirley G. McMenamin, 71, of Cornville, died Nov. 18. She was born Nov. 11, 1934, in Prescott, the daughter of Vernon and Phyllis (Treweek) Harbeson.

She was a graduate of Camp Verde High School. She retired from Oak Creek School District after 25 years of service.

Her memberships included the Sweet Adelines and Rim Country Bowhunters Association. Her hobbies included painting, crafts and doll collecting. She loved the outdoors, camping and hunting.

Her husband, Ernest McMenamin, preceded her in death last year.

She leaves a son, Dean McMenamin of Cornville; two daughters, Darlene Moreno of Cornville and Melinda Wynd of Tolleson; three brothers, Jack, Jerry and Phillip Harbeson, all of Camp Verde; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the Oak Creek School in Cornville at 11 a.m.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Northern Arizona Hospice, 269 S.Candy Lane, Cottonwood, AZ 86326.

An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com

Delfino E. Rosas

Delfino Espinoza (Cigaritto) Rosas, 87, of Clarkdale died Nov. 17. He was born Nov. 2, 1918, in Guanayuato, Mexico, the son Yrineo and Cruz Barron Rosas.

Mr. Rosas graduated from Clarkdale High School.

He was an Army veteran of World War II serving in the Asiatic-Pacific theater earning a Bronze Star.

Before his retirement, he worked in the mines.

He enjoyed reading, especially Louis L'Amour, and loved all sports.

Mr. Rosas was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Rosas, and a son, Dario.

He is survived by sons Danny (and his wife Bert) of Cottonwood, Jerry (and his wife Pat) of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Eddie Rosas of Montana; a daughter, Lisa Westlake of Clarkdale and her husband, Lyle, who is stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia; a brother, Nicholas Rosas of Fresno, Calif.; sisters Mary Maneth of Whittier, Calif., and Vera Baker of Cottonwood; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held on Friday, Nov. 25, in the Cottonwood Cemetery. VFW Post #7400 provided military honors.

An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com.

Gordon H. Bronleewe

Gordon H. Bronleewe died Nov. 22 in Camp Verde. He was 79.

Mr. Bronleewe was born Feb. 7, 1926 in Portland

Mr. Bronleewe married Fern Mulder in 1949. She preceded him in death in 1965. He married Jean Jacoby in 1966.

Mr. Bronleewe was an Eagle Scout and Scout leader in the Boy Scouts of America and loved the outdoors.

He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army in 1945 to 1946 and attended Oregon State University in the fall of 1946

With the help of his father, he purchased Standard Monument Company in Hillsboro, Ore., at which time he founded Oregon Memorials. In 1959, he purchased Fir Lawn Cemetery, along with inventing and founding Permavase. He along with his children founded Bronleewe Bass Funeral Home in 1985 and Elite Granite and marble in 1986. All are located in Hillsboro, Ore.

He owned and operated Oregon Memorials, Fir Lawn Cemetery, Bronleewe Bass Funeral Home, Elite Granite and Marble and Permavase until his retirement.

He served as president of the Pacific Northwest Monument Dealers and was involved with the Cemetery Association of Oregon.

He has actively involved in Horse 4H, Boys Brigade, and the Baptist Church.

He moved to Arizona in 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Bronleewe; sons and daughters-in-law, Sam and Bonnie Bronleewe, Jennie Bronleewe, Dan and Julie Bronleewe, Tim and Paula Bronleewe; daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Kent Sturgeon, and foster daughter Vicki Olds

He had 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Thomas and Loren, and son, Thomas L. Bronleewe.

Services for Mr. Bronleewe will held at 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at Sonrise Church in Hillsboro, Ore.

A private service was held in Camp Verde.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Thomas L. Bronleewe Memorial Scholarship fund C/O Bronleewe Inc. 1299 NE 25th Ave. Hillsboro, Ore. 97124 , 503-648-3596, or to the Vernonia Community Church, 957 State Ave., Vernonia, Ore., 97064; 503-429-6790.


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