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Marjorie Anna Havlena, 84, of Mesa, Arizona; passed away on July 8, 2016.  She was born in Babcock, WI on July 9, 1931 to Charles and Elsie (Damme) Sanger.  A Visitation will be held at 10:00 am with Funeral Services at 11:00 am, Friday, July 15, 2016 at the Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 3257 E. University Dr. in Mesa.

Arthur R. Schmidt, 87, of Mesa, AZ, passed away on July 8, 2016.

Born in Santa Barbara, CA, he was raised and lived most of his life in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. Arthur met his wife, Jean M. Ellingwood, while both were attending the University of Minnesota. They were married on March 21, 1953 in Minneapolis and later had their marriage sealed in the LDS Temple in Idaho Falls, ID. He was a graduate from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Together they had seven children. Arthur loved hunting, fishing and camping with his family. He was an avid skier and loved waterskiing and boating. He loved playing sports with his children and actively supported each one of them. With his family, he created many fond memories during family vacations, camping and canoeing trips.

Arthur remained a strong and devoted member of the LDS Church throughout his adult life, serving as Bishop twice as well as many other Ward and Stake callings. After an extraordinary career as a dentist, he retired and together with Jean moved to Mesa, AZ in 1999. After nearly 50 years of marriage, Jean passed away in 2002. Shortly thereafter Arthur married Peggy Ennis in the LDS Los Angeles Temple. Arthur served as an ordinance worker in the LDS Mesa Temple for 14 years, and was devoted to family history work. He and Peggy also served a mission to the LDS Washington D.C. Temple in 2005-2007. In addition to his many professional and personal accomplishments, he is best known and honored as a loving husband and father.

He is survived by his wife Peggy, and his seven children: James (Rosalyn), Mark (Tami), Steven (Leslie), David (Jinjer), Sandra Bishop (David), Daniel (Melanie) and Kathryn Hadfield (Greg), 36 Grandchildren and 39 Great-Grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Carolyn Papke.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the LDS Temple Patron Assistance Fund at www.ldsphilanthropies.org

Viewing:

Friday evening 6:00-8:00 pm at the Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ.

Saturday morning 9:00-9:45 am at the LDS Mesa Central Stake Center, 925 North Harris Drive, Mesa, AZ

Cheryl Darlene Dreyer, 74, of Mesa, died Sunday, July 10, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ.

Born July 27, 1941 to Dewey and Vera (nee Whitmer) Jones in Hagerstown, MD she was then adopted by Clarence and Virginia Weller. She previously worked as a teller for Valley Bank.

Cheryl is survived by her husband John of Mesa, son Barry Clem of Gilbert, daughter Tracy Markovic (Mark) of Mesa, sisters Gloria Poffenberger of Eutise, FL, Joyce Felds of Hancock, MD, Kay Doris Clark of Hagerstown, MD and brother Gary Jones of Sherburne, NY. Her joy was her grandchildren, Chris Clem (Erin) of Morenci, AZ, Matt Clem of Gilbert, Lynsey Hall (Bryce), Adam Markovic, Cody Markovic, Heather Klepinger (Kohl), Blake, Hailee and Leah Markovic, all of Mesa, and her great grandchildren Colin & Ella Clem of Morenci, AZ, Maverick Clem of Gilbert, AZ, Bryln and Graham Hall of Mesa. Cheryl is also survived by her dear niece Kim Fitzpatrick, of Sparks, NV. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, adopted parents and sister Linda Earley.

Visitation will be Friday, July 15, 2016 from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s University Chapel, 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 16, 2016, at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3920 E. Brown Road, Mesa. Interment will be in the City of Mesa Cemetery. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Tracy Mae Smith, age 47, passed away July 1, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Wake services will be Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 6 PM at Salt River Memorial Hall, 9849 E. Earll Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona. Funeral services will be Thursday, July 14th at 7:00 AM at the same location.

Evelyn Yvonne Smith-Rogers, age 79, passed away July 10, 2016 in Fountain Hills, Arizona.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 14, 2016 at the City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center Street, Mesa, Arizona. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 480-696-6883.

JoAnn Sue Fletcher (nee Troxel) born June 17, 1933 in Phoenix, AZ to Orville Troxel and Eva (nee Ross) died July 8, 2016 in Phoenix.

During her lifetime, JoAnn worked as a seamstress. She is survived by her son, Christopher, and her daughter, Carrie. Services will be private.

Arrangements under the direction of Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Dr. J. Howard Downs, 88, of Kings Ranch, AZ, passed on July 8, 2016.

Born in Allegan, MI, the son of an FBI “Untouchable”, he was a Marine and an Army Veteran of WWII. Howard earned BS, MA and DDS degrees. He had careers in law enforcement, teaching, and dentistry among many others. For decades, he combined his passion for travel and philanthropy by traveling to developing countries and providing free dentistry. As a Freemason he was a member of Apache Lodge 69 and the El Zaribah Shrine. His zeal for perfection made him an exceptional dentist. He retired from his East Valley practice in 1999. Howard was an avid pilot and his love of flying is shared by his sons and a grandson. His adoration for his devoted bride of almost 60 years never faltered.

He is survived by his wife Daphene, their 5 children, Joseph, Dana, Darcy, Dan, and Reed, and 3 wonderful grandchildren. Services will be held on July 23, at 10:00am  at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2520 E Old West Hwy, Apache Junction, AZ. Howard will be deeply missed. Please share in the celebration of his life.

In lieu of flowers please consider a charitable donation to the Shiner’s Children’s Hospitals.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Sharon VeAnn Bunch, age 65, passed away July 8, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona.

Funeral services will be Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 10:30 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9:30 AM, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona. Interment will be at the City of Mesa Cemetery.

Ethel ‘Sammee’ Appel died of Alzheimer’s Disease and pneumonia, surrounded by family in Mesa, Arizona.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 69 years, Norman, formerly of Del Mar, California, sister, Lenice Schneider of Pacifica, California, sister-in-law Sylvia Appel of Santa Rosa, California, daughters Lori Diquattro of Mesa, Arizona, Adriane Appel of Danville, California and son Jeffrey Appel of Poway, California, grandsons Wes, Ryan and Jeremy Diquattro and Michael Appel and nine great-grandchildren.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Ethel contributed to the WWII effort developing top-secret aerial photography. After meeting and marrying Norman Appel, the couple moved to Concord and Walnut Creek where they raised their family.

Ethel enjoyed the theatrical arts, singing and acting in productions with the Lafayette Dramateurs and Temple Beth Isaiah in Lafayette, California. Ethel was active in school PTA’s supporting her children’s education. While managing family rental properties, Ethel discovered her business abilities and enjoyed a successful, life-long career in the real estate industry. In the late sixties, after becoming a California real estate broker, Sammee partnered with another broker to open Aquarius Realty, one of the first female owned and operated real estate companies in Contra Costa County.

In retirement, Sammee pursued her love of writing, winning first and second place in the non-fiction categories with the San Diego Writer’s Guild. She also wrote over 350 pages comprising her life history and genealogy.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 18, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, 1301 El Camino Real, Colma, California. There will be an open casket viewing in the chapel at 10:45 AM. Please be in the chapel at 10:30 AM to participate. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Alzheimer’s research.

There will be a luncheon at 12:30 PM, immediately following the funeral service, at Chevy’s, 141 Hickey Blvd, S. San Francisco, CA 94080. Phone: 650-755-1617

Funeral arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, Mesa, Arizona.

Esther Mildred Saltzman, 89, passed away July 2, 2016.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona. Interment will be at the City of Mesa Cemetery.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Joyce Burt Moore, 88, passed away peacefully Wed., June 29, 2016 in Mesa, AZ. She was born to Wildon H. & Gwendolyn Barton Burt in SLC, UT in 1928. She led a happy, active life filled with family, friends, & faith. Joyce was a talented musician & a guest accordion performer at the Phoenix Symphony’s 50^th Anniversary; a gifted athlete who nearly scored a perfect game of bowling–minus 1 pin, and taught most of her grandchildren to swim. She loved to crochet, creating 100’s of gifts for family & the needy. In 1946, she married her high school sweetheart, Edward Douglas Moore, with whom she recently celebrated their 70^th anniversary. He called her his “perfect Air Force wife,” moving every 3 years during the 27 years they spent in the Air Force.  Joyce dearly loved her family, consisting of 4 children: Steven Moore (Linda), Linda Westbrook (Brent), Nancy Ashcroft (Alan), Janet Clark (Brad) — all of Mesa AZ;  14 grandchildren: Sara Thweatt (Ed), Julie Ann Rodriguez, Dan Daniels (April), Eric Daniels (Jenn), Scott Daniels, Becky Shipley (Brandon), Jesse Ashcroft (Mikel) Alisa Chaffee (Bobby), Kevin Ashcroft, Paul Clark (Fawn), Greg Clark (Nicole), Jeffrey, Michael, & Shalia Clark; her step-grandchildren: Bryan Ashcroft (Shawntel), Donovan Ashcroft (Jackie), Sunny Lewis, Sabrina Ball (Randy), & Damien Westbrook (Traci);  17 great-grand children: Ethan, Andrew, Tyler, & Katelyn Daniels, Tiffany, Blake, Dylan, & Brianna Shipley; Weston, Karen, Nikki, “Hailey Joyce”, & Dylan Clark; Jeffrey, Brianna, Skylar, & “Riley Joyce” Clark; & her step great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Brianna, & Brooklyn Ashcroft, Eligh & Reese Ashcroft, Amanda Stolpe, Kylie, Ivy, & Mailey Ball, Anglica & Eli Westbrook, and a step 2^nd Great-Grandchild: Brille Ball. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her sister LaWana Margetts, her brother Milo Burt, his wife & son, Rita, & Thomas Burt; a grandson Jeffrey Clark; a son-in law, Alan Ashcroft; and a daughter-in-law, Linda Grove Moore. Visitation is Fri., July 8th, 6-8 pm at Bunker’s University Chapel 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa AZ 85213. Funeral Services are Sat, July 9th at 11 am at the LDS Church at 7145 E. Monterey Ave, Mesa AZ 85209.

Olene Katherine Tanner, 91, of Phoenix, Arizona passed away June 28, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona.

There are no services planned at this time. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Betty Lou O’Keefe, 84, passed away June 26, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona. She was born March 15, 1932 in Logan, West Virginia.

Betty is survived by her daughter Donna Kielland, her son-in-law Jorgen Kielland, and her son Stephen Roger Burgess Sr. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Steve Martin, Jennifer Martin, Stephen Burgess Jr., Thresa Burgess, and four great-grandchildren: Dillon Dorsey, Finn E. Martin-Faeroy, Olivia Burgess, Stephen Burgess III.

Betty was loved by all she met and she will be remembered for her greeting, “Praise the Lord,” by everyone she knew!

A private interment will be held at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.

Rhoda Rose Allison-Lewis went to her Heavenly Home on Saturday, June 25, 2016. The daughter of James T. Allison and Jennie Whitman Allison, Rhoda was born in Stotonic, Arizona.

She is preceded in death by her husband Tilman M. Lewis, her oldest daughter, Harriett Rascon, and only son, Sgt. Kevin T. Lewis. Rhoda leaves behind her daughters, Tonita A. Lamb and Rebecca A. Lewis, as well as 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She is the last of 14 children also leaving behind many relations.

A proud member of the Gila River Indian Community, she served two terms as a Council Member and will lie in state at the Governance Center in Sacaton, Arizona on Friday, July 1, 2016 from 3-5 pm followed by wake services at the District 4 Service Center from 6-10 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at the Santan Baptist Church beginning at 7 am. Rhoda will be dearly missed and loved for generations.

Sarah Kathryn Whalen, 90, of Mesa, Arizona; passed away on June 26, 2016.  She was born in Birdsbro, Pennsylvania on January 6, 1926 to Helen and James Myers.  Private services to be held.

Patrick (Pat) Pomeroy of Mesa passed away on 6/27/16 at the age of 84.  He was born March 17, 1932 to Frank K. and Eunice (Shurtliff) Pomeroy. He was a member of one of Mesa’s pioneer families, a great grandson of Francis Martin Pomeroy, one of the founders of Mesa in 1878.  He is survived by his wife Anne (Hawkes) and his children, Pamela Iorg (Lee), Kimball (Gina), Scott (Lori), Julie Woods (Larry), and Wayne (Becky).  He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy (Osterloh).  Pat is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, his brother Wayne and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Pat was very active as a student at Mesa High School.  During his senior year, he served as student body president, participated in football and basketball and was named as the valedictorian of his graduating class.  In basketball, he played on the Jackrabbit 1950 state championship team and he was honored as a guard on the all-tournament first team.  Upon graduation from high school he was selected by the Elks Lodge as the Arizona State winner of the “Most Valuable Student” scholarship award, and he received third place honors in the national contest.

Most of his life was spent in the field of education as a teacher, administrator, and consultant.  He was an assistant superintendent for the Mesa Public Schools from 1972-88.  Pat was an adjunct professor for NAU and the University of Phoenix.  He also served as a trainer for Venture for Excellence, Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1988-89 he was the founding director of the Arizona Academy for School Personnel Administrators.  In 1967 Pat was one of fourteen freeholders who wrote the Mesa City Charter.  He also served on the City Council from 1998-2002, and various boards and committees to include terms as President of the Mesa Rotary Club and the Mesa YMCA Board.  Pat spent four years on active duty in the US Air Force and nineteen years in the Air Force Reserves and Arizona Air National Guard as a navigator and he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.  His family and community were extremely important to him as he sought ways to serve them both.  He watched the City of Mesa grow from a town of about 5000 to its current population of over 400,000.  He also served in various church positions that included Bishop and temple worker.  He and Nancy served a mission to the Salt Lake Temple Square Visitor’s Center.

Pat loved his heritage.  He co-chaired a committee in 1988 to raise funds to place a monument to Mesa’s founding pioneers in Pioneer Park.  In 2012 he headed a family fund-raising project to erect a new headstone for his great-grandfather’s grave to identify him as a “Founder”.

Services will be held Saturday, July 2^nd at 10:00 at Greenfield Park Ward, 1249 S. 48^th St., Mesa.  A viewing will take place at 9:00 am prior to the service.   A viewing at Bunker’s Garden Chapel at 33 N. Centennial Way will also take place on Friday July 1^st from 6:00-8:00 pm.