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Sefesi Tautalanoa Hingano, 58, passed away February 25, 2017 in Mesa, Arizona. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 12 PM, with a visitation beginning at 6 AM, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Olive Ward, 525 E. Second Avenue, Mesa, Arizona.

Levi Parker Waldron, 78, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed peacefully surrounded by family on February 28, 2017. Lee loved his family, history, hunting, and the outdoors. He was known for his sense of humor, kindness, and service to others. He was active in the LDS church. He had a Masters degree from BYU in outdoor recreation and worked for the City of Glendale for 31 years. Many of those years as Recreation Superintendent. Lee is survived by his wife Marcia, 5 children and their spouses, 18 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Proceeded in death by a granddaughter. Funeral services will be held Wednesday March 8, 2017 at 10 AM at the LDS church at 2618 N. Lindsay Rd. Mesa, AZ 85213.

Mildred Lila Grace Benesch, nee Bunger passed away peacefully on February 24, 2017 in Glendale, AZ. Mildred, known as MeMe or Cecilia to friends and family was a loving and compassionate sister, aunt and friend. She was born September 7, 1928 in Los Angeles County, CA to Samuel and Alta Bunger. She spent most of her life in California, Washington, and the last seven years in Arizona. Mildred touched the lives of many during her time as a nun, teacher and avid cat breeder.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Bunger and Alta McNaughton; sisters, Frances Bunger, Doris McGee, Dorothy Setchell, Margaret Tripp and Barbara Bunger; brother Samuel Bunger and husband George Benesch. She is survived by her sister Jean Newman, numerous nieces and nephews, friends and her beloved cat McKenzie. Mildred was loved and will be greatly missed by her family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley.

James Allen May, Sr., age 80, returned to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, 28^th February, 2017, surrounded by his family in Phoenix, Arizona. Born on August 5^th, 1936 in Phoenix, Arizona to James Hyrum May and Havana Sorensen May, Jim graduated from Phoenix College and from Brigham Young University in Business Management. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States. On November 22^nd, 1963, he married Carol Ann Adams, in the Mesa Temple, and together they had six children: David, James Allen Jr., Stephen, Michael, Shannon, and Erin. Jim served Heavenly Father in numerous capacities, including Bishop, High Councilman, Seminary Teacher and as a dedicated scholar of the Lord’s word. Jim’s pursuits in life focused on service and improving quality of life for others, from working to expand renal dialysis units in hospitals around the world, to bringing medicinal herbs and sweeteners from South America to the United States and now worldwide. He is known globally as the “Father of Stevia.” He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; sons Stephen and Michael (Christine) and daughters Shannon (Jay) and Erin; 7 grandchildren; and his sister Ramona Sterling. Jim will be remembered as a scholar and business leader, a stalwart member of his community and faith, and a dedicated husband and father. A celebration of his life and legacy will be held on Saturday, March 4^th at 10:00am with visitation at 9:00am at the LDS Church on 2835 E Des Moines St, Mesa, AZ 85213, with burial afterwards at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona. Following this, his family and friends will have luncheon together at the LDS Church to remember Jim’s life.

Edward (Ed) Davidson, age 70, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on February 26, 2017 from complications of brain cancer.  He was surrounded by his wife, his children and their spouses.  Ed was born in Phoenix, Arizona on May 16, 1946 to Arlo Davidson and Vivian Lambson Davidson.  He was raised in Chandler, Arizona where his family owned and operated Davidson’s Reliable Hardware store for many years.  As a youth, he enjoyed playing music and sports with his 3 brothers, Vance, Steve and Doug, and his sister, Arlene (Langoff).

He married Frances Thompson in 1967, and together they raised 3 beautiful children, Becky, Joleen and Terry.

In February of 2001 he met and fell immediately in love with Bonnie McKusick.  They were married soon afterwards on September 10, 2001.  Ed and Bonnie loved traveling together and went on many adventures.  Ed loved spending time with each of his grandchildren.  He enjoyed going to all of their concerts, plays, sports, and other activities.  He was and still is their biggest fan.

Ed worked most of his career as a computer engineer, the longest time (25 years) for Motorola in Mesa.  The last few years before retirement he worked for the Tempe Police Department.  Ed was an avid volunteer and loved to give service to everybody around him.  He served several years in the Boy Scouts of America.  He loved cooking and sharing his food with others and was nicknamed “Eddie Crocker” by the people he worked with.  He also had a great sense of humor that made life better in good times and bad.  He made life fun.

He was survived by his wife, Bonnie Davidson.  His children: Becky (Steve Mousser), Joleen (Brian Krueger), Terence (Kathlyn Davidson); step children:  Laura (Carl Simpson), and Dan Akridge; and 10 grandchildren and 3 step grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held March 4, 2017, 10:00 a.m., preceded by a visitation at 9:00 a.m., at the LDS Chapel on 6942 E. Brown Rd. Mesa, AZ 85205.

There will also be “Celebration” of his life on March 18^th from 2 – 4 pm at the Las Palmas Clubhouse, 215 North Power Rd., Mesa, AZ.  This will be an informal gathering to laugh and share funny stories about Ed, and there are many of them.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to National Brain Tumor Society, 550 Chapel Street, Suite #200, Newton, MA 02458.

Craig Westover Hicks, 43, died unexpectedly after a short illness February 25, 2017 in Tempe, Ariz. He was born January 25, 1974 in Milwaukee, Wisc. to John Ridge Hicks, Jr. and Linda Craig Hicks. He moved with his family to Arizona in 1980.

Craig graduated from Corona del Sol High School in 1992, and studied music at Northern Arizona University. He was an Eagle Scout and served a two-year mission to Carlsbad, Calif. for the LDS Church. He worked in the hospitality industry in Orlando, Fla. for 8 years and returned to Phoenix in 2004.

His interests were in the Arts: music, theater and film. He was known among family and friends for his beautiful singing voice. He especially loved singing karaoke, and had an impressive repertoire of songs spanning many decades and genres.

He is survived by his mother, Linda Hicks; father and stepmother, John and Sandy Hicks; brother and sister-in-law Ridge and Julee Hicks and their children; sister Wendy Hicks; sister and brother-in-law Lindsay and Tim Watrous and their children; and stepbrothers Jared Jones, Chad Jones, and Brad Jones, as well as their wives and children.

Craig was loved and will be greatly missed by his family.  A private family memorial service will be held.

Henry Alden (Al) Whetten, Jr. graduated from this life on 25 February 2017 in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 94. He was born to Henry Alden Whetten, Sr. and Lillie Mae Beecroft on 2 November 1922 in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico.  

Al had a true “Wild West” experience in his early childhood in Mexico. His family moved to the Phoenix/Mesa area in 1936 when Al was fourteen. He was an industrious youth and could be found delivering newspapers, selling ice cream from his bicycle in Mesa and later, milking his own herd of cows in South Chandler before and after attending Mesa High School every day. 

Al joined the Armed Forces during World War II and served as an MP in England.  After the war he returned to Mesa and met and married Elda Hansen in the Mesa LDS Temple on 1 August 1947. They lived in Mesa where Al worked as a dairy farmer. In 1950 they moved to Idaho to try dairy farming there but returned to Mesa in 1956.  At this time Al decided to try his hand at building houses and found his true niche in life.  He became a contractor/developer and ran Your Home Construction for many years.  

After losing Elda to cancer in 1972, Al married Lenore Hatch in 1979.  They had a wonderful companionship, enjoying their later years with travelling to Church History sites, square dancing and serving as the best Grandparents in the world.   

Al was predeceased by his wife Elda, sons Stanley and Dion, daughters Vernell Johnson and Marva Sonntag, brothers, Robert, Lloyd and Bill and wife Lenore. 

He is survived by his brother Tom (Gayle) of Tucson, AZ and sisters, Arlene (Darrell) Waite and Kathleen Whetten both of Henderson, NV; daughters Denise (Ron) Taylor, Pat (Phil) Stapley, son Kerry (Melanie) Whetten all of Mesa, AZ, sons-in-law Raymond Johnson of Lakeside AZ and Greg Sonntag of Salt Lake City, UT, twenty grandchildren, forty-six great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.  

Viewing is Friday, 3 March 2017 from 6 to 8 PM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa. There will also be a viewing on Saturday, 4 March 2017 at the LDS Taylor Park Ward, 825 S. 32^nd St, Mesa, AZ 85204 from 9 to 10 AM, with services immediately following. Interment will be at City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St, Mesa, AZ. 

Mark D. Csader, 54 passed away peacefully on February 25, 2017. 

He was a loving and generous son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.  He is survived by his wife Annette, children April (Roger), Brian (Elisa) and William (Kaitlin), his six grandchildren, his parents Mike and Virginia Csader, and his three siblings, Michael (Wendy), Michelle Fenlason (Don) and Marvin (Laura).  He is also survived by his in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews. He was a loyal Boeing employee for 30 years who really loved his job.

Funeral services are Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 11 AM preceded by a visitation at 10 AM, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way in Mesa.

Karissa Hall, 42, was called home on February 22, 2017, in Mesa, Arizona. Karissa led a very happy active life filled with family, friends, and many activities such as “jeeping,” photography, writing, reading, her dream of a chicken farm, and her church. In 2008, Karissa joined American Airlines as an employee of US Airways as the business analysist for the learning management system.  She moved to the Learning and Development Team for American Airlines, where she built many lasting relationships and friendships with her co-workers.  She was a dedicated employee where she loved the challenge and opportunity of her work.  She loved her nieces, nephews and Primary children. She is survived by her mother Sue Hall, father Daniel Hall, sisters Tammy, Dana, Cabrena, Veronica and brother Jeremiah. Funeral services are Friday, March 3, 2017 at 11 am at the Park Crest Chapel, 3920 E. Brown Road, Mesa, Az. There will be graveside service in Eagar, AZ, Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 11 am at the Eagar Cemetery.

Brian Kenneth Hardy, 57, passed away February 18, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM, with a visitation at 10 AM, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4225 North 56th Street, Phoenix, Arizona.

Loral Archie Leavitt, 78, passed away February 18, 2017 in Gilbert, Arizona. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 24, 2017 at 10 AM, with a visitation at 9 AM, at the LDS Adobe Villa Ward Chapel, 5620 E. Adobe Road, Mesa, Arizona.

James Steven Jackson was born on April 6, 1950 in Wichita Kansas. He passed away peacefully in the arms of his loved ones on February 19, 2017 in Mesa AZ. He was 66 years old. He was married to the love of his life Carol Casler Jackson for forty six years and they have two loving daughters: Heather (Chris Levario) and Summer (Derek Kennedy.) Jim’s legacy will continue through his seven grandchildren who love him dearly: Sage, Liberty, Krew, Lily, Kash, Sailor and Luke. Funeral services will be held on Friday February 24, 2017 at 11:00 am at Bunker’s University Chapel 3529 E. University Dr. Mesa.

C. Ray Capelo, 86, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on the morning of February 14^th, 2017 in Mesa, AZ. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Ray was born in San Diego where he lived most of his life, graduating from San Diego State University.

Ray was known for his quick wit and beautiful tenor voice.  His other musical talents included playing the piano, harmonica and ukulele.  His family will remember many cross- country road trips, motorcycle rides, camping at the beach, and having their “clocks cleaned” in a rousing game of ping-pong.  He loved cars, photography, his dogs, Westerns, music and Oreos. 

Ray was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to the New England States Mission and served in Connecticut and Canada.  He married his sweetheart Dona in the Manti Utah Temple.  He served in many callings in the church, but especially loved temple work.  He and Dona served in the Los Angeles, San Diego and St. Louis Missouri temples.  He also served a Family History Mission and a mission to the Independence Missouri Visitors Center.  One of his greatest loves was doing family history work, finding over 13,000 names of his Italian ancestors.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Laureen Crumrine (Jay).  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dona, son Greg (Debbie), daughters Kathleen Hofer (Dave) and Leilani Alger(Jon), 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on at 11:00 am on Friday, February 24, 2017 at the LDS Church at 22035 E Ocotillo Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona.  Interment will be held in San Diego, California at Greenwood Memorial Park on February 28, 2017 at 1:00 pm.

Randall Charles Howard 75

Born to Bert and Verna Randall on Oct 18, 1941 Mesa, AZ, at Southside Hospital. He being the 4th child of 7, Verna (Randy) Bert (Garna) Marilee (Jim deceased) Judy (Bill) Roberta (Thryle) Richard (Nancy)

Charlie loved Mesa and his Arizona Heritage. His grandfather settled Pine, AZ in the 1800’s. He lived an accomplished life as a beloved husband to Valerie, father to, Kristin (Jim) Rodgers, Bret, Trent (Jamie), Gage (Melissa) Keri (Zeke) Heath (Kenzie) Lin-z (Eric) and Chaz and grandfather to 17. Charlie was loved by all that met him.

Charlie was raised as a cattle rancher. He graduated from BYU and served a mission in the Gulf States. He later became a stock broker and opened the first Stock Exchange Firm in Mesa. An entrepreneurial at heart he became Pilot, Scuba Diver for the sheriff’s posse, golfer, silver mine owner, developer and the top sales agent in real estate. His shining moments were as a Bishop for the Lehi ward and sending many missionaries on missions.

He will be missed by all. Till we meet again

Viewing will be Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6-8 pm at Bunkers at 3529 E. University Drive, Mesa, 85213.  Services will be held Friday, February 24 at 10am at The LDS Church at 2549 N 32^nd St, Mesa AZ 85213, with a visitation one hour prior to services.

On February 19, 2017, Dr. William F. Wright of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away at his home swiftly and sweetly in the arms of his wife, Martha C. Wright.  William and Martha’s story-book marriage spanned 56 years and includes three surviving children, Julie, Michael, and Matthew.  Their posterity includes 23 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.

William Frank Wright was born on November 22, 1940, to John and Gladys in Tolleson, Arizona, while his parents were undertaking seasonal harvest work there.  World War II divided the family shortly after his birth, and Bill lived in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona eventually landing in Page, Arizona where he finished high school career as a three sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball.  There he met the beautiful cheerleader and classmate, Martha, who would become his wife just 3 years later on October 29, 1960.  Bill played on Phoenix College’s National Championship football team, and thereafter earned his BS in education at ASU.  As an educator his career was centered in Apache Junction where Coach Wright was the head football coach until 1974, then principal and later that year was named superintendent of schools.

Dr. Wright earned his doctorate degree in 1982, and retired as superintendent in 1995.  During his tenure he became a lead author for national educational publications, and earned high honors including Superintendent of the Year for Arizona, and was a National Superintendent of the Year nominee.  As a professor and department chair in the College of Education at NAU (1995-2017) he has mentored hundreds of students through their doctoral programs.  For over a half a century, Dr. Wright has led and served Arizona’s educational community.    

Dr. Wright was a devoted disciple of Christ, serving the Lord faithfully as a bishop, high councilor, teacher, and church-service missionary with his with wife, Martha, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Viewing Friday, Feb. 24 from 6-8 pm at Bunkers at 3529 E. University Drive, Mesa, 85213.  Services held Saturday, February 25 at 10am at The LDS Church at 3580 East Houston Ave Gilbert AZ 85234.

Johnny Tapia Jr. passed away peacefully on February 16, 2017 in Mesa, Arizona. Johnny was born to Juan and Josefa Tapia in Mesa, Arizona in 1961.

Johnny lived a happy life filled with family and friends. Johnny enjoyed going to the Renaissance festival, movies, and playing cards.

He is survived by his father, Juan De dios Tapia and three sisters Lupe Chavez, Terry Vanzzini, and Josie Tapia. He had a loving and generous heart and will be missed by all.

A visitation will be held Friday, February 24, 2017 from 6 PM to 8 PM, with a Rosary at 7 PM, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel located at 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona. On Friday, March 3, 2017 at 10 AM, a mass for his cremation will be held at Queen of Peace Catholic Church located at 141 North Macdonald, Mesa, Arizona 85201.