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Paul James Gurrola, 59, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2014 at his home in Mesa.
Paul was born at Downey Community Hospital in Downey, California on December 2, 1954. After 40 years in Southern California, he and his family moved to Mesa. Paul developed many hands on skills during his lifetime, including woodworking, exhibiting musical skills on guitar and other instruments, and working on computers and printing equipment. He also enjoyed helping friends and neighbors with a variety of do-it-yourself projects. When he had time to relax, he loved to listen to all types of music.
Paul always demonstrated a positive attitude and he was the “life of the party”, at all family and friends events. He could always be depended on to pick you up, or to help with any problem situation.
Paul was a dedicated and loved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. He is survived by his wife Sabrina, and his daughters Melissa and Kristin and many other family, friends and neighbors. Paul will be missed deeply by everyone who knew and loved him.
There will be a Service to celebrate Paul’s life on May 17, 2014. The Service will be held in Southern California at Green River Country Club, 5215 Green River Road, Corona, CA 92880 from 3-6 PM.

Brian Ellis Kelley, 60, of Apache Junction passed away Saturday May 3 2014. Mr. Kelley a Marine-Army Vet and member of the SMPC, was born in St. Louis MO. He was a very charitable and humble man, welcoming anyone with open arms. He lived to see smiles on kids faces. He is survived by his son Brian; nieces Brandy and Tia; nephew David and many great nieces and nephews. Memorial services are Friday, May 16, 2014 at 4 PM at the Elks Lodge, 2455 N. Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119.

Julia Ann Lewis, 55, passed away May 4, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. Wake Services will be Friday, May 9, 2014 at 7 PM at 3623 North Longmore Street, Scottsdale, Arizona. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 8 AM at the Salt River Cemetery, 10661 East Palm Lane, Scottsdale, Arizona. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Trelva Mae Merrill Riggs. Born Safford, AZ on October 4, 1930. Died Gilbert, AZ on May 5, 2014. The last living child of Orson Pratt Merrill and Irene Mae Sabin Merrill. Youngest of 4 brothers and 1 sister. Survived by Lyle Alton Riggs Jr., her loving husband of 64 years and 8 children: Deborah Wood (David), David Riggs (Donna), Rebecca Allen (David), Mark Riggs (Suzie), Deena Heap (Bob), Paul Riggs (Mary Ann), Matthew Riggs (Dawna), Kimberly Boynton (Matthew); 42 grandchildren; 57 great grandchildren; with one more grandchild and 5 more great grandchildren expected by years end. Family and Gospel of Jesus Christ were the center of her life. She was an active member of the Maplewood Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with most of her adult life as a member of the Mesa Fourth Ward. Served as leader and teacher in every women’s organization, including Stake Relief Society President. Active in civic affairs: the Sirrine Adult Day Care of Mesa; Mesa Farm Museum; and Arizona Ecumenical Council. The epitome of grace, love and service. Known for warmth, making all feel loved and accepted. Loved animals, caring for the stray creature that crossed her path. Funeral services will be held Saturday May 10th at the LDS Chapel 3301 S. Greenfield Rd, (Next to Gilbert Arizona Temple) at 10 AM. Viewing Friday, May 9th from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa and Saturday 9 AM, prior to the funeral in Gilbert.

Mettie Skye Tingey, 26 days old, of Mesa, Arizona passed away in her home May 9, 2014 in Mesa. She taught us about the important things in life in her short time on earth.

Visitation will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8:30 AM, at the LDS Mountain View Stake Center, 1550 N. Val Vista Drive, Mesa, AZ 85213. Funeral Services will follow at 10 AM at the same location. Mettie will be buried at the City of Mesa Cemetery following the funeral services.

Deanne Glad Darger, 77, passed away surrounded by her loved ones Saturday, May 10, 2014 in Queen Creek, AZ. Deanne is survived by her husband Darryl, her 8 children: Debbie Gessel (Mark); Donetta Tayrien (Grant); Joy Allen (Tracy); Ann Call (Ladell); Dina Gardner (Brent); Scott Darger; Bizzy Esplin (Brad); and Jamie Darger (Heather); 41 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Deanne was very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as she served in various callings. She loved children and spent many years caring for them at her day care (Heavenly Days) and later in her preschool. For many years Deanne served in the Lupus Foundation; even as she battled the disease herself. She fulfilled the responsibility of Local Chapter President and later as Regional Coordinator. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 14, 2014 from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s University Chapel, 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ. Funeral services will be Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 11 AM, at the LDS Church, 22035 E. Ocotillo Rd., Queen Creek, AZ. She left a legacy of love and service for her family and will be greatly missed.

Clifford Raymond Hanks, 47 passed away unexpectedly at his home on May 12, 2014 in Mesa, AZ. Cliff was born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 19, 1966. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fan. Cliff worked at Honeywell International for the past 27 years and had many friends, co-workers and family who loved him. He is survived by his wife Jace, daughter Kaitlyn, son Christian, step-daughters Jody and Natasha, step-sons Nick and AJ, his granddaughters Chloe and Braxtyn, siblings Mary Ann, Debbie, “Sissy”, and Rick along with cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Mary Hanks and brother “Butch” Hanks. Services are Friday May 30, 2014 at 6pm at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa AZ 85201. For more information go to www.bunkercares.com

Jack Dempsey Combs, age 94, passed away May 13, 2014 in Mesa, Arizona. Jack was born July 3, 1919 in Anabel, Missouri. He was preceded in death by a daughter – Kristy Combs Valentine, and a granddaughter – Aimee Nicole Garrett. He is survived by his wife Carma R. Combs, three sisters – Louise Wallace, Rose Marie Welch, Pat Hackley; four daughters – Nancy Combs Garrett, Penny Combs Willis, Darcy Combs, and Karry Combs Merrill; three sons-in-law, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

His life’s work was as a master carpenter, including work for Twentieth Century Fox Studios before WWII and supervising finish carpentry work for Farnsworth Construction Company.

Jack’s hobbies included reading and studying the scriptures, hunting for arrowheads and pottery, and while in Hawaii, searching for glass floats. He served in the Navy for four years during World War II, and was honorably discharged as a Chief Petty Officer. He held and magnified many callings in the LDS Church, including Bishop, High Councilman, and served many missions throughout his life. He was called on a Building mission for the LDS church to Hawaii in 1960. He served as the Chief carpenter for the building of the Polynesian Cultural Center and the dormitories for Brigham Young University in Hawaii.

Jack was a devoted husband, wonderful father, and grandfather. He was a loving son, brother, and uncle. Even though he is away from us for now, his love, service and example will be forever with us. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Services will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11 AM at the LDS Lazona Building, 1345 East University Drive in Mesa, Arizona. There will be a visitation from 9:30-10:30 AM, prior to the service.

Beverley June (Dana) Goebel died peacefully in her home in Paradise Valley, 15 May 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer. June, as she was called, was born 11 August 1926, in Mesa, Arizona, the first born child of Gail Alexander Dana and Nedra Lee (Vance) Dana. She grew up in Mesa and lived there until she met the love of her life, August John Goebel, at a dance at the Mezona. They were married 31 December 1945 in Mesa, and then moved to California where her husband, August, was completing his law degree. From this union, three children were born. Stephen Dana Goebel, August John Goebel Jr., and Debra Christin Goebel.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband August, who died in 1983, one sister Elladene, and her son August John Jr., who lived only one day.
She is survived by her son Stephen and wife Kristen (Peterson) Goebel who reside in Mesa. Her daughter, Christin and husband Michael Seals of Chandler. One brother, Curtis and wife Lola (Gylling) Dana, and two sisters, Bonnie and husband William Workman, and Leann Hogle, known as Lanny, all of Mesa. She is also survived by seven grandchildren. August and wife, Melissa (Smith) Goebel, Courtney and husband Greg Noel, Alexander and wife Ashley (Goodman) Goebel and Elise Goebel, John Michael and wife Nauni (Bredsguard) Seals, Stefani (Seals) and husband Eldon Larson, and Christopher Seals.
She is also survived by six great-grandchildren. Reed, Ridge and Jade Goebel, Xander and Zane Larson, and Olivia Seals with one more great-granddaughter due in August.
June was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active in the Chaparral Ward in Paradise Valley. She was sealed to her husband, August, in the Mesa Arizona Temple, 22 February 2005.
Interment will be in the Mesa City Cemetery on Friday, the 23 of May 2014 at 10:30 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, 85201.

Daniel Martinez peacefully passed away on May 16, 2014. He was born September 14, 1952, to Pedro Candido and Adelaide E. Martinez, the youngest of 8 children. Daniel graduated from Westwood High School in 1971 and married his high school sweetheart, Barbara J. Martinez. They were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1993. They raised 4 sons, Mark (Julie), Jr. (Laura), Jim (Wendy), and Mikel. He is survived by his wife, sons, 10 grandchildren, and 7 siblings. Funeral services will be Friday, May 23, 2014 at 10 AM at the Kimball Stake Center, 1266 S. 32nd St., Mesa, AZ, preceded by a visitation from 8-10 AM at the same location. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Ruby Joy Stephenson Coombs Parratt, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt passed away peacefully in Scottsdale, AZ on May, 17th at 2:45 AM. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lived most of her life in Mesa, AZ. She was the thread that kept us all together. Ruby is finally dancing in heaven with the love of her life Arthur Parratt. She could not wait until her and Artie could dance once again. Ruby had several jobs during her lifetime and the one she loved the most was working within the court system. She started out working for Judge Mulleneaux in Mesa and, for several years, state judges in Phoenix, and Gov. Rose Mofford for several years prior to retirement. Her mother felt that if she was old enough to marry at age eighteen, she could make her own outfit to go on her honeymoon. Her mother taught her well as she became a wonderful seamstress. She also excelled at the piano and organ via her mother’s teaching. For a number of years she was organist for her ward. Ruby was a good cook and loved to enter pie baking contests which she usually won. Her pancakes were also the best and every child who entered her life will remember those wonderful pancakes. In her later years, she started making afghans; everyone had to have at least one. During her last years, after suffering a stroke in 2001 that left her paralyzed on her left side and several operations later, she spent her time in a nursing home reading and working crossword puzzles. She kept a sharp mind right up to the end. Everyone will tell you she ran the nursing home and later the group home she was in. Ruby had a two month battle of severe pain, later diagnosed as blood clots. The Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center provided excellent and caring service. We especially want to thank three of her grandchildren Tammy Coombs, Sharon Coombs and Robert Kelleher for their great assistance in her final days. She is now free of pain and has returned home to the loving arms of God. We will miss her forever. Ruby Joy Stephenson was born in Delta, UT to Ormus William and Ezel Phebe Benson Stephenson on Sept. 28, 1924. Her siblings were: Donald William Stephenson (Leona), Nels Anthony Stephenson (Dorothy), Mary June Stephenson Hemphill (William Stanley) and a cousin, Earl John Steiger (Marilyn), who her parents raised. She had the following children: Tonya Coombs Himes (David), Lynda Coombs Kelleher, Steve Coombs, Russell Coombs (Debbie), and Daron Coombs (Mary). Three infant children preceded her in death: Ormus Wendell Coombs, Elyse Marie Coombs, and Aaron Coombs. Ruby was grandmother and great-grandmother to many.

Donna Mae Merrill Magnusson, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother died on May 19, 2014. She was born in Southgate, CA on January 23, 1927 to Charles and Lenore Merrill.

Donna was raised in California. In 1944 she married Eldon Magnusson in the Mesa Arizona Temple and Eldon was assigned overseas shortly after. They were gratefully reunited in 1946 and in 1955 moved to Mesa, Arizona. They dedicated their lives to the service of their family and the Lord.

Donna became the mother of seven children and created a home that seeped goodness and warmth. She was devoted to her callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but Primary was her favorite, serving many years as both a ward and stake Primary president with a special love of Primary music. Donna also cherished her twenty years of service as a temple worker.

Donna became Grandma in 1967 and eventually the grandmother of 31, great-grandmother to 58 and great-great grandma to five. Grandma’s home was the hub of an expanding family and a favorite place to be. She was Grandma with a capital “G” and adored by her grandchildren.

Grandma had a generous, caring heart and an unstoppable enthusiasm for her family. She loved good conversation and an evening around the piano. Christmas Eve’s at Grandma’s house are legendary.

Every member of Grandma’s posterity owns at least one treasured quilt that she stitched herself, but Grandma’s greatest masterpiece as a quilter was her family. We thought she was just making quilts, but she was really stitching, and binding us together as individuals and as a family. The binding she cared most about were her covenants and the eternal layers of Grandma’s quilt were faith, God and family. This is her priceless legacy to us.

Donna is survived by her children, Pennie Scadlock, Kevin Magnusson (Judy), Donell Heywood (Alan), Keith Magnusson (LaDonna), Wayne Magnusson (Heather), Maureen Magnusson, her brothers, Paul and Norman Merrill, and her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband; son, Carl; her parents; and brothers, Charles and Gale Merrill.

Grandma had a wonderful sense of humor and always told us she intended to “Sing Her Way Home.” We think she did just that.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Mesa North Stake Center, 933 E Brown Rd. in Mesa. Viewing one hour prior to the service.
Interment at Mesa Cemetery. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Abigail Lyn Biro, 31, passed away May 19, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. Funeral services are Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at the LDS Red Mountain Institute Building, 7126 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, AZ 85207. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Alfredo V. Daniel, 88, passed away May 20, 2014 in Mesa, Arizona. Visitation is Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 11 AM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201.

Ella Farnsworth was a farm girl from Whitney, Idaho. Born on September 9, 1925, she was the youngest child of A.C. and Ella Hull with one sister (Lorna) and six brothers (A.C, Tom, Tuff, Keith, Russell and Dean). She was variously Ella, Ella Louise or sometimes just Pinky or Queenie. She was a freckle-faced, red-headed rodeo queen who went to Idaho State University and then, on a dare, taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in Treasureton, Idaho. She graduated from the Brigham Young University where she met and was engaged to Wilford “Bill” Farnsworth, the love of her life. When Bill was called to serve a mission for the LDS church, Ella taught school and served a mission in Hawaii. Following their missions, she and Bill were married in the Logan Temple and spent the next 40 years of their lives working, serving and raising their family in various corners of the world. Nonetheless, whether in Montevideo, Rio, Mexico City, Summit, Frankfurt, Manila, London, Los Angeles, San Juan or Arizona, Whitney, Idaho was never far from her heart.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ella served alongside of Bill on missions for their church in Puerto Rico, and Mexico. She had a great (and jealous) passion for the Relief Society and served her sisters in Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, England, Germany, the Philippines and even in the United States. Ella was always deeply enmeshed in the community, whether establishing book clubs, volunteering in hospitals, serving on PTA and school boards, or raising funds for scholarships, hospitals and orphanages. She had a gift of making others feel comfortable in her presence – friends, family, the discouraged and downtrodden or the little child. She loved God, she loved those she served and those she served with, loved her brothers and sisters and loved Bill, her children and their families. She is survived by her three children, Deney (Ric Paul), Marty (Marci) and Craig (Carla), and by her 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Mesa Kimball East Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (4640 E. Holmes Avenue, Mesa, Arizona 85206) at 10:30 am on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage donations either to Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ or The Perpetual Education Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Elizabeth Ellen (Sawyer) Heagren passed away May 21, 2014. She was born October 17, 1909 on the Norton Ranch in Gilbert, halfway between Guadalupe and Baseline on Cooper Rd. Her parents were Hubert Wade and Elsie Ann Sawyer. She did most of her schooling in Gilbert but finished high school in Indiana. She graduated from Whittier College in 1932 with a degree in Math. While in California she met her husband, Art Heagren, and they were married in 1933. During WWII she was a tool design engineer for Douglas Aircraft. Later on she worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for an electronics company. In 1972 she and Art both retired and they moved back to Arizona. After Art died in 1975 she wanted to stay busy volunteering for many things in Gilbert. She did quilting, knitting and crocheting to support the Church and town activities. She enjoyed her time at the Gilbert Museum and Historical Society. She was volunteer Treasurer for the Museum for many years. She loved the Gilbert United Methodist Church. She renewed old friendships and made many new friends in the women’s groups and especially the lunch at Chat and Chew. High on her list of fun was her bowling league. She spent her last years at the Pasadena Group Home in Chandler where she celebrated her last 5 birthday parties. She made many friends there. She was preceded in death by her husband Art and her brother John Sawyer and his wife Ola. She leaves 3 nephews, Darrell Sawyer (Dorothy), Keith Sawyer (Amy Jo) and John Dean Sawyer, many grand nephews and nieces, many great grand nephews and nieces, and 1 great-great grandniece. We all respectively and lovingly call her “Aunt Elizabeth.” Visitation is Sunday, June 1, 2014 from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa. Graveside service is Monday, June 2, 2014 at 10 AM at the City of Mesa Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Gilbert United Methodist Church or the Gilbert Museum.