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The world lost a giant among men June 6, 2023.

David Leslie Gardner passed away after what should have been routine surgery, but Dave had worked his body so hard his whole life, this became the last straw.

Dave found his soulmate and was married to Christianne Wendt Gray January 15, 2021.

Dave was an amazing dad to Scott David (Lia Joy), Cristin Lynn (Aaron Michael Aguilar) and Paul James (Katie Marie), as well as Christianne’s children, Shannon, Brianne, Casey (Christi), Whitney (Todd), Tess (Dustin), Caitlin (Curtis) and Hannah (Zak). Being a grandpa brought him great joy, he had 21 grandchildren who loved him dearly.

David Leslie Gardner was born September 24, 1957, in Mesa, Arizona, the seventh child of James Elden and Ellen Christin Gardner. He attended Westwood High School where he played football and served as student body president. He returned to Westwood as a Theatre Arts Teacher (1988-2001), then Mountain View High School (2001-2013). He retired after 25 years of teaching. He put on “some of the best productions” (acting as well as scenery) many had ever seen. Dave didn’t know how to ONLY give 100% to anything he did.

In 2016 Dave re-invented himself, working in sales for Texas Capitol Semiconductor; a company that sells and services equipment for semiconductor clean rooms. It was his innate ability to be a listener, and serve others, that helped him be very successful there as well.

Dave loved deeply – his family, his friends, teaching, singing, building, cooking, baking (cinnamon rolls), swimming – to list a few. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was the foundation of Dave’s life, a life well-lived. He will be missed greatly.

You will be able to watch the funeral service at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKc_wT_U0NM

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Rod, Rodrigo, Rodney Reginald Jones

I was the second son of Reginald Charles Jones, from a pioneer, California family, and Gunhild Albertina Karlsson. Mom was born and lived in Sweden until about the age of 16. She and her family immigrated to the US through Ellis Island and the immigration people changed her name to Helen Alberta Carlson.

I was born March 11, 1936. I was raised in Avra Valley, about 25 miles South of Marana, Arizona. My older brother was Rollin Clayton Jones and my younger brother was Colby Charles Jones. I returned home to my Heavenly Father, I hope, on June 8th 2023.

In the Valley, Dad owned a cotton and cattle operation. We lived in a house on a full section of land, overlooking the ranch, and the beautiful Valley with its lovely mountains, just West of the Tucson Mountains. Dad also had farming operations in Yuma and Nyland, California, and would take off in his plane to supervise the other farms. Milewide road was his dirt landing strip! Summers were spent working as a Zanjero or with the feedlot. Winters: picking, stomping, or hauling trailers of cotton to the gin at Marana.

Obituaries seem mostly to be about the deceased ‘s history and accomplishments, so to continue: I graduated from Marana High School, about 25 miles from the ranch, in 1954, with the largest graduating class in its history, 23!

I wanted to spend the rest of my life on the ranch, but my folks packed my bags and sent me to the University of Arizona to become educated and possibly… Civilized. My second year at U of A, I decided to join a fraternity, but the “Hick from the sticks”, always wearing Levi’s, boots, and cowboy shirts received no offers to join any fraternity. I decided to conform the next semester and bought light blue trousers, a white, button-down shirt to match my white, suede shoes that I had used as a drum major in high school, and a yellow, v-neck sweater. I became a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and later was elected president for two terms. Any leadership skills I began to acquire, I attribute to my membership in Theta Chi.

Too much leadership at Theta Chi and too little scholarship led to my dropping out of U of A and going to work for Phoenix Title and Trust in Tucson as an escrow officer trainee, and Escrow Officer for a couple of years.

My life took a real turn from working in the title insurance and escrow, when I was called to be a missionary for the church, The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, I was called to serve in Mexico for 2 1/2 years. Words can never express the joy and happiness and gratitude I still feel these many years later for having had the opportunity to serve as a missionary of my Heavenly Father’s.

After my mission I returned home to my parents in Marana and searched for work in Tucson. No luck! Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun were enemy territory since I was a U A Wildcat, but hunger forced me to humble myself and look to find work in Tempe, under the foreboding shadow of ASU.

Escrow and real estate were my main careers for many years. When times were rough, as in the late 1980s and early 90s I became a teacher; The most satisfying work I ever engaged in.

Living in Tempe, I began attending the young adult dances at ASU and met the most beautiful, best dancer and most popular girl attending the LDS institute and soon married Joy Christensen in the Arizona Temple, in Mesa. During our 35-year marriage we had seven children together: Joy “Victoria” (Harold), Sarah “Jane” (Chris), Rodney “Bruce” (Lynell), “Aaron” Christensen (Alicia), “Julia” Alice, “Maria” Elena (Travis), and Gary Carlos. I am survived by 33 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. My other, adopted children are Israel Rodrigo Jones and Omar Rodrigo Jones.

Growing years for the children were years of boating, camping, trips to Mexico, and always, a backyard pool.

During my marriage to Joy, and while having beautiful, intelligent and fun-loving, faithful children; I managed to attend one year of law school at ASU, earn a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Latin-American Area Studies from ASU and a Master’s degree in Bilingual Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University. I’ve always felt proud of having been able to study at all three of our state’s universities.

After my divorce from Joy in 1999, I continued teaching for a short time and then began in real estate again. I also formed Sign On Time, mobile signers, a mobile notary public service.

In 2002 I met Jerry Jones, who had just moved to Arizona from San Antonio, Texas. We had our wedding ceremony at home in Mesa. Later, in 2008 we were married in Palm Springs, California, where same sex marriages were legal. We have worked together as owners of Sign On time, in real estate, traveled together and enjoyed each other’s love and companionship. Jerry has been my greatest strength, friend, and love since we first met.

Life has been a series of beautiful experiences, learning, growing, helping others through church work, and opening our home to others who have needed a place to stay while they formed a foundation for their lives. The hard times, few, the joyful times many! I know that my Redeemer lives.

Rod passed away on June 8, 2023 after a short illness. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 10am for visiting and at 11am for a funeral at 2334 E. Pueblo Ave. Mesa 85204. You may also join us via zoom for the live service at 11am  https://zoom.us/j/95219044267

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

John Duane Moody, age 91, passed through the veil May 10, 2023 to return to his heavenly home. There to welcome him were his parents Laverne Wright and Bryant Moody and 5 brothers and sisters Myrlene, Dwight, Venor, Carol and Mary. He left behind his wife Kay, children Lisa Burton, Jan DeWitt, Brent Moody and Andrea Rubio, 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

John was born in Hinckley UT, where he lived until joining the Air force in 1952. John went to college at BYU where he met his wife Kay. They made a final move to Scottsdale Arizona where  John taught grade school until he retired. They spent every summer since living in Scottsdale enjoying the beautiful mountains in Lakeside, Az.

Those who knew him are privileged to the legacy he left behind.. The family bonds created while experiencing his love of the outdoors and our beautiful world. From respecting a single flower growing on the forest floor to climbing Mount Baldy and looking at the world from the highest mountain. He enjoyed fishing in streams and lakes, camping in the mountains and camping on the beaches in Mexico. Many adventures during which he made good solid friendships that lasted a lifetime. He was a storyteller, he often included times of his work as forest ranger, or his life growing up and always with a touch of his famous sarcastic humor.  Luckily he passed this humor on to his children. And last his love and faith in the savior Jesus Christ and dedication to his gospel.

John was an honorable man, looked up to and respected by all.  We cherish the memories we are blessed with and will hold them close until we meet again.

Servicing will be Saturday June 17th

Viewing 10;00:-1100 am

Service 11:00 am

at

Church of Latter day saints

1249 S. 48th St

   Mesa AZ 85206

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Lela May Zimmerman passed away June 9, 2023, in her home in Mesa Arizona. She was born to Thomas Elmer Donaldson and Hazel Reatha Carlin at Peru Township, Miami County, Indiana. Her death was the result of numerous old age medical issues with which she dealt. She was the second child of seven children; the other six were all boys; Norman Lee, Kenneth Leroy, Keith E., Elmer Leon, Larry Dean and Glen Edward. Sole-survivors are: Kenneth and Larry. Lela graduated from Chippewa High School in 1950.

Following graduation, Lela and a girlfriend of hers from Wabash, Indiana chose to take a trip to California. They eventually made it to El Paso Texas, where she eventually ended up as secretary to the chief nurse’s office at William Beaumont Army Hospital. It was during this time (1954), Lela and Walter Zimmerman met, eventually marrying in February of 1955. They eventually had six children: Kathryn, Daniel, Eric (Deceased), Lisa, Jan and Dennis, 17 grandchildren, and 22 great­ grandchildren.

In addition to her great dedication as wife and mother for 68 years, she served for over 28 years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints as a young woman’s teacher and advisor, occasionally interrupted by calls to serve such as relief Society president and an additional term as councilor to the Relief Society President. She was dearly loved by the young women she taught. Over the years Lela and her family lived in El Paso, Texas, Philadelphia, PA, Tempe, AZ, and finally, Mesa, AZ.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Cal was born to parents Calvin Henry Shults and Pauline Simmons, and raised in “the great state of Texas”.

Through difficult times he and his brother Wayne and sister Nelra were raised to adulthood in the Texas State Home in Waco  TX.  Cal served 6 years in the Air Force where he was trasferred to Williams Air Force base. He then went to work for AirResearch and retired after 38 years from what is now Honeywell.

He was married to the love of his life Fannie Mae Shults for 67 years.  Cal and Fannie had 4 children, 16 grand-children,  23 great-grand children, and 2 great-great-grand children.

Cal was best known for his jokes, stories and amazingly strong handshake.

Cal was 93 and proceeded in death by his parents, brother, sister and son Calvin Wayne Shults.

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

On June 8, 2023, We lost our modern day Pollyanna, after a brave journey fighting cancer.

Jerilyn Flake was born on March 21, 1951 in Mesa, Arizona to Charles and Ethel Flake.  Jeri grew up with her older sister Cindy and her younger brother Chuck. Many years later, their family was blessed with their brother, Jim.

Jeri had a wonderful childhood, putting on plays, making mud pies, riding bikes with her siblings and spending time in her dad’s Yellowfront store. She was a cheerleader, and was very popular because she was beautiful both inside and out. After graduating from Westwood High School, she moved to Provo, Utah for a bit, and had lots of fun with friends. She later moved to California because she loved the beach, but came back home to be near her brother Jim. She stayed in Arizona working in the dental field for many years and then opened a Mexican Restaurant called Jerilitas in the Tri City Mall.  It ultimately closed because of her generous heart… she gave way too big of portions!

Everyone knows the shining star in her life is her daughter Staci. Together they were a dynamic duo. They moved to Port Orchard, Washington to live near her sister for a few years, and then followed them to Utah when Staci was 5. Jeri gave her all to being a mom to Staci and all her friends. She worked full time in a dental office and had dear friends in the workplace, many who became like family.  She made lifelong friends throughout her life because of her love, acceptance and kindness towards others.

In 2000, she packed up a Uhaul and moved back to Mesa to care for her elderly parents. She gave many years serving them. After they passed, Jeri followed Staci and her “spirited bunch” from Texas, to Southern Utah, to Hawaii, then settled in Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert, Arizona. Here she was a caregiver for many years, caring for someone else, while going through cancer herself. She was selfless. She loved spending all her free time with her grandkids. She loved her ward family so much, they were home to her.  Jeri spent the last months of her life in her “Jerilita(Mema) Suite” at the Jardine home, with Staci, Seth and their children who she loved with all her heart. She had hundreds of people come and share their love with her at this time and let her love on them!

Jeri is survived by her gregarious loving daughter Staci and husband Seth, and her precious grandchildren who were her everything, Alissa(Trent), Kenzie, Taft, Emily, Kayli, Amaya, Havyn and Tyson. Her great grandson, Tobias. Her sister Cindy(Bob) Patten, brothers Chuck(Dori) Flake, Jim(Hope) Flake, and many nieces and nephews who had the very best Aunt Jer!

Jeri was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Ethel, and her nephew Jordan Jay Patten.

A special thank you to the many nurses and caregivers who have loved, served and cared for Jeri these past many months. Especially to her very best friend Donna, her niece Heather, her friend Patty, and to Sam, Kathy, Amy, Nas, Kristy, Nicki, Cliff and Mike.

Services will be held on June 19, 2023 at 10:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1005 N. Voyager Dr. Gilbert, AZ 85234.

Virtual Link:   https://youtube.com/live/d_jcw1tjnTU?feature=share

The Interment will take place following the funeral at the Mesa Cemetary, 1212 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201.

May we never forget the way she made us feel, and try to spread that love and light with others!! Not everyone could touch others lives as she has. She was affectionately everyone’s Mema.  She lived “The Glad Game” and found the good in everyone. Jeri would give a loud “coo da coo” to greet loved ones. Let’s make the world better by doing the same. Coo da coo!

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Gordon Montierth, Jr., 55, also known as Gordie, passed away on June 4, 2023, in Mesa, Arizona.  He was born on February 14, 1968, in Phoenix, Arizona.  Gordie was a fun-loving, charming, and kind-hearted person who loved being the center of attention.  He was a good friend and loved by many.  Gordie earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.  Most recently he worked in the financial services industry.

Gordie enjoyed participating in a variety of sports and attending sporting events.  In his youth, he loved to fish and ride his dirt bike at the family cabin in Greer.  He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended the Fiesta Ward.  He served the church for two years in the California Ventura Mission.

Gordie is survived by his children Gordon “Trey” (Kendra), Regan Smithson (Harvey), Houston, and Brighton, his former wife Sylvia (nee Lee), his grandchildren Braelynn and Remington, his mother Edna Rae Montierth (nee Clawson), sisters Sheri Skousen (Lynn), Shauna Hart (Rob), and Tamara Whitmer (Joe), and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father, Gordon Leon Montierth.

A closed-casket viewing will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2300 W. Javelina Avenue, Mesa, Arizona.  Services will also be available remotely at https://zoom.us/j/98672840341.

The greatest man I have ever known has left us.

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Neldon Nichols, Jr., known as Nick to his friends.  He completed his earthly mission on May 31, 2023.  Nick was born on May 15, 1947 in Mesa, AZ where he resided his entire life.  He was the eldest son of the late Neldon and Janell Nichols.  He was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Nick was a man who lived his life with a passion for making a difference in the lives of others. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America for 65 years in every capacity.  He worked tirelessly to improve his community through service to countless young men and adult leaders.  Nick was known for his kindness, generosity, and willingness to lend a helping hand.  He was full of patience, especially towards his children.  As an accomplished carpenter and draftsman, he designed and/or built hundreds of homes in the state throughout his life. He was a huge ASU supporter and held football season tickets with his family and friends for the past 50 years.  He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving a mission in Toronto Canada, and in a multitude of callings after.

He is survived by his wife of over 52 years, Linda, and children Nathan (Jessie), Kara (Todd Bowman), Lorette (David Haynes), Ryan (Amber), Brandon (Olena), Kendon (Jenn), and 27 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He is also survived by his brothers David, Jack, Jim, Tom, Alan and sister Linda Petersen. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Peggy Hipps and Barbara Gibson.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 9th at 10am with a viewing starting at 9am at the LDS chapel located at 2618 N Lindsay Rd in Mesa. (Lindsay Rd north of Mckellips)

He was truly a great man and his legacy will continue to inspire others for generations to come.

Viewing, Funeral, and Burial Services

June 16, 2023

There will be a viewing and visitation with Ray’s Family from 6-8pm at Bunker Garden Chapel at 33 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 8520.

June 17, 2023

There will also be a viewing and visitation with Ray’s family from 9-9:45am with the funeral service following afterwards starting at 10am. The viewing & funeral service location is at The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints church building at 1050 S Hobson, Mesa, AZ 85355.

The services may be live streamed at bit.ly/mesastake

The burial service will be at the Mountain View Memorial Gardens at 7900 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85207 following the funeral service.

Raymond Gene McCrite, 76, of Mesa, AZ passed away on May 28, 2023 surrounded by his loved ones.

Ray was born March 24,1947 in Pomerene, AZ to Garland and Nell Burton. He was born in his great-grandmother Fenn’s maternity home surrounded and welcomed by four of his grandmothers. He was two years old when his father passed away in a work accident. When he was six years old his mother remarried Luther Thomas McCrite who then adopted Ray and his sister Garlyn. That’s when he became Raymond Gene McCrite.

He was raised in Gilbert, AZ and attended Gilbert elementary, middle school, and high school. Ray ran around with a group of boys that became lifelong friends. He was part of the varsity basketball team at Gilbert High School. He had a great love of basketball and a great talent for it. He attended college at different times for an accumulation of two years.

Ray loved to dance, and performed professionally in ballroom and Latin dance from his childhood. He performed at the Arizona State Fair and on the Lou King Ranger local television show. Dancing was one of the things he most enjoyed.

The summer he was twelve, he lived on the Sells Reservation and went out everyday hunting rattlesnakes. He would shoot the rattlesnake, cut and bury its head, and then he would cut off the rattles and add them to one of the two cigar boxes he filled to the brim that summer.

Ray started raising and raced homing pigeons as a teenager. He had multiple lofts over his lifetime. He loved his birds. He enjoyed watching them fly and waiting for his birds to come home to see how well they ranked up against the other birds in their race.

In 1966, he was called to serve in the Andes Mission serving in Peru. He became fluent in Spanish, and loved the Peruvian people. He came home from his mission in September of 1968. At Ray’s homecoming, he was introduced to a new girl, Renée Palmer, his forever sweetheart. A few months later, Ray and Renée started dating, and after seven dates in nine days, they were engaged. They were married April 18, 1969 in the Mesa, AZ Temple and have been married for 54 years.

Ray and Renée had their first daughter, Janet, the next year, and soon after had three more children, Chad, Darbi, and Wade, within the first five years of marriage. Then, five years later, they had three little girls, Erin, Julie, and Tana, about eighteen months apart. One of his favorite things was hearing his children’s excitement for him when he would come home and they would run and say, “Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!” Ray and Renée have 32 grandchildren and 17 ¼ great-grandchildren.

Ray was extremely hard working and firmly believed that a job worth doing was a job worth doing well no matter how small. He valued quality, precision, and efficiency. Because this was his personal motto and work ethic, he was assigned to manage groups of workers at a very young age. He could be counted on to make sure the work was of highest quality. In so many areas of work, he’d start at the bottom and quickly work his way up because of his work ethic and a keen eye. He was a salesman, block layer, supervisor, and systems and procedure developer. He started out as a framer, and in less than a year, became a finish carpenter. He was a building inspector and pool maintenance man. He calculated drywall to use it to its fullest. Because Ray did so well, he received and accepted a job offer at a drywall supply company that he stayed at for the last thirty years before retiring. There he was a salesman, dispatcher, and manager. The longest position he had was the regional credit manager. He excelled at everything he did and was a wellspring of knowledge that he was always willing to share with others. He enjoyed helping them save their businesses and learn how to successfully do their personal finances.

Ray had 3 strokes and brain surgery within 9 years, starting at the age 29. As a result, he was permanently paralyzed on his left side. He lost the ability to do some of his favorite things, including his ability to play basketball and dance. He had many miracles in this life and was given the gift of staying with his loved ones and chose to live a full life. It wasn’t always easy for him. There were times he was frustrated, but for the majority of the time he intentionally chose to be optimistic, laugh, tease, have fun, joke, and enjoy life. He focused on the things he could do. One of his famous sayings is, “It will feel better when it stops hurting.” He modeled how to do hard things well and inspired so many that loved him and knew him.

He was determined to walk, do, and work. He did things that two-armed and two-legged men couldn’t manage. He never turned down a church calling. He continued to work and provide for his family even after his strokes and being partially paralyzed. Three weeks after his brain surgery, he went back to work with the help of a friend driving him to and from the office. On his 70th birthday, he retired with the mentality of “I may be doing something else, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop working and achieving.”

Within Ray’s lifetime he lived most of his life in Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona and about thirteen years in a combination of Bakersfield, Modesto, Ramona, and Santee, California.

Ray served in many church callings, including young mens, stake missionary, in multiple bishoprics, executive secretary, a nursery leader, high council member, temple worker, and as a patriarch to Spanish speaking members.

In February of 2018, Ray and Renée served as senior missionaries in the Kansas Wichita Mission. He was called to serve as the mission finance secretary. The missionaries loved him and they congregated in his office to glean from him. He would teach them about credit cards and how to use them to their advantage. He’d teach them about finances, budgeting, savings accounts, and how to effectively find people with whom to share the gospel.

After his mission, Ray was so excited to get another Britney Spaniel. Penny loves him and misses him as much as anyone.

Now, he’s running in the fields and dancing along the way to heaven. He’s gone on ahead, paving the way home for his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, mother, brothers, and sisters.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Scott was born in Neodesha, Kansas. When Scott was 5 years old, his father’s career moved the Hays family from Kansas to Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. After almost 3 years in Australia, the Hays family moved back to the United States. Later, Scott’s family relocated to Singapore for several years, where Scott attended high school.

Scott developed an interest in photography as a teenager. Before college, he spent a year as a forensic investigator and evidence photographer in the Chicago suburbs. He graduated from the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. He pursued a career in various types of photography (e.g., advertising, commercial, industrial and fashion/glamour) across Santa Barbara, San Diego, and the Phoenix Metro area. He became a tenured photography instructor for 13 years in Tempe, Arizona, leaving a lasting positive impact on his students. In approximately 1985, he founded Scott Hays Photography and Media Production. In his later years his clientele boomed like never before as he specialized in head shots and lifestyle images. This he truly loved to do. His camera, he considered his third child.

Scott was a dog lover and a lifetime Kansas City Chiefs football fan. He was known for his wit and humor, but most of all, his kindness. He was a respected mentor and impacted many in the film and photography fields. In 2017, he joined Kids in Focus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering at-risk youth through photography.

Scott was predeceased by his parents, Mr. Leonard Allen Hays and Mrs. Tempie Park Hays of Scottdale, Arizona. He is survived by his daughter, Sierra Hays Dzafic (Izzy), his son, Maxx Hays, and his two grandchildren, Tarik and Razia. Scott was a dedicated father and grandfather; he was deeply loved by his family. Also left to cherish his memory are his three sisters, Carol Freitas (Mike), Marcia Hays, and Rebecca Chambliss (Steve) and many nephews and nieces.

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

MONICA NOSS NICHOLS OBITUARY: 11/7/1941 – 4/30/2023

We are sad to announce the passing of Monica Noss Nichols of Mesa, AZ. She passed quietly at the age of 81, on April 30, 2023. Monica was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints and a member of the Dana Ranch Ward from 1989 until her passing.

The life story of Monica Noss Nichols, starts on November 7, 1941 in Rostock, Mecklenburg, Germany, during an air raid. Rostock is a coastal city on the shores of the Baltic Sea. She was born to Martha E. Schwarz Noss and Rudolf A. Noss. By 1945, Monica and her family were able to get to Berlin and then to Frankfurt, Germany. The Noss family were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints during WWII.  The Noss family immigrated to the United States in 1955 aboard the S.S. United States where they settled in Salt Lake City, UT. Monica attended South High in SLC, UT. In 1960, Monica met Byron Veron Nichols. Monica and Byron married on March 11, 1961. They lived most of their married life in Marin County, CA. On Sept. 16, 1961, their eldest son, Scott Byron Nichols, was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in downtown San Francisco. On December 25, 1962, their son Collin Veron Nichols was born at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, UT. She then moved back to Northern California after Collin’s birth where she lived until 1983.

Monica received an Associates degree from Indian Valley Community College. She then went on to receive a BS in Nursing from the University of Utah.

Monica worked her early years for Bank of America where she was a teller. She loved serving others and that led her into the nursing field. In 1988, Monica moved to Mesa, AZ. She worked as a nurse for Mesa General Hospital, for a dentist as his RN, for United Blood Services – Now Vitalant, and the last 12 years of her working career, caring for those ready to pass this life as a hospice nurse at Hospice of the Valley. Monica had a special gift for helping those towards the end of their lives as they grew closer to meeting their Maker. Monica had a very strong testimony of our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation and she knew it was true and that gave her great hope for those she helped.

After retirement, Monica served two missions for her church. The first in Salt Lake City as a Family History Missionary. As an immigrant from Europe, she really enjoyed helping others to find where they came from and she loved being near Temple Square. She served her second mission in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission as a Record Preservation Specialist, scanning documents for the county to be used on Family Search. She learned so much of early American history reading about peoples lives.

Monica is best known for her love of service. She truly believed in Mosiah 2:17 “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” She served in so many ways in the way that only she could. Whether teaching in the moment, encouraging others, babysitting, making bread – she made the best wheat bread, or making meals to help someone, she always was able to find a need and help.

Monica is preceded in death by her parents Martha and Rudolf and her sister Christel Doris Noss Sandberg. Monica is survived by her older sister Norma Mod Noss of Magna, UT and brother Michael Noss of Granger, UT. Monica is survived by her two sons; Scott and Carolee L. Nichols and their 3 children: Trevor and Alyssa G. Nichols and their 4 boys – Brody (10), Jace (10), Maxon (8) and Beckam (5); Travis and Janessa T. Nichols and their children Krew (7) and Livi (5); and Tracie Lynn Nichols; Monica’s youngest son Collin and Emily S. Nichols and their two boys – Connor Jacob Nichols and Bennett Slater Nichols.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1266 S. 32nd St., Mesa, AZ  85204 at 11:00 am. Visitation will start at 9:30 am.

Monica will be laid to rest at Memorial Redwood Mortuary & Cemetery on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 2:00 pm, located at 6500 S. Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City, UT  84123.

All are invited to both the funeral and burial.

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Former Graham County Superior Court Judge Dudley Struan Welker died May 22, 2023, at his home in Mesa at age 90. Dudley was born October 11, 1932, in Safford, the son of Struan and Zella (Moody) Welker, who both came from pioneering Gila Valley families. After his mother was killed when he was three years old, Dudley was raised by his grandparents, J.R. and Louisa Welker and Edward and Hazel Moody.

He graduated from Thatcher High School in 1950, Eastern Arizona College in 1952, Brigham Young University in 1954 with an accounting degree, and the University of Arizona College of Law in 1959. After passing the Arizona bar exam in 1959, he joined prominent Graham County attorney Guy Anderson in practicing law in Safford.

Dudley met his wife, Marilyn Post, a Tucson native, while attending the University of Arizona. They were married on September 16, 1960, in the Mesa, Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and settled in Thatcher. They remained in Thatcher until 2006, when Dudley retired from practicing law and they moved to Tucson. Marilyn died in 2010, and Dudley moved to Mesa in 2011.

Deeply appreciative of his heritage, Dudley’s contributions to the Gila Valley were numerous. During 40+ years of private legal practice, he represented many prominent Gila Valley business and enterprises, including the Graham County Electric Co-op, Valley Telephone Cooperative and the Gila Valley Irrigation District.  In 1988, he was elected as Superior Court judge, a position he held for a decade.  From 1959 to 2012, except for those 10 years on the bench, Dudley was the town attorney for Thatcher. He and Marilyn also owned and operated Consolidated Title Agency (now Pioneer Title) from 1972 to 2003.

A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dudley served a church mission in the Northwest States from 1954 to 1956 and taught the adult Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class for years. He served as president of both the EAC Alumni Association and the EAC Foundation and gave more than 40 years of service to the two organizations.  Dudley was active in the Mt. Graham Cabin Owners’ Association and enjoyed working on the Welker cabin at Turkey Flat, owned by the family since the 1930s.  He was an avid reader interested in all types of history—legal, military, church, family and local.

Dudley is survived by his children, Susan (Carl) Turley of Huachuca City; Holly Welker of Mesa; Kathryn (Matthew) Hess of Bountiful, Utah; LoraLee (Spencer) Jesperson of Mesa; and John Welker of Tucson; 15 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Friday, June 2, at 10 a.m. in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 2220 N. Harris Drive, Mesa, with burial at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, in the Tucson Binghampton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to a scholarship established last year at EAC in Dudley’s honor. Donations can be made by sending a check to the EAC Foundation, 615 N. Stadium Ave., Thatcher, AZ 85552, or online at eacalumni.org/donate, with a designation for the Dudley S. Welker Memorial Scholarship.  Bunker Funeral Home, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, is handling arrangements.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Matthew Thomas Fortuna, 29, passed away on May 19, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona.  He greatly loved and cherished his wife, Mariafe (Montalvan) Fortuna, and two daughters, Mia (age 4) and Maddie (age 3), who survive him.  He is loved and adored by them, in return. He is survived by parents, Randall S. Fortuna and Julie M. Fortuna, his mother-in-law Gloria Alva, his siblings Christopher, Jonathan, Amy, Stephen, Peter and Emily, as well as his grandmothers Marta Moore and Karen Fortuna. He is preceded in death by his grandfathers Eugene Fortuna and Samuel Moore, and a younger brother Edwin Fortuna.

Words cannot express the sadness and loss family and friends feel at his passing.  Matthew was a true friend to so many.  He was a compassionate and caring individual who always had a kind and listening ear.  He could make people feel important and was easy to talk to.  For many, he felt like a best friend with his kind and soft-spoken ways. He made ordinary settings fun for his wife, children, and extended family.

Matthew was good at fixing things, and could assemble just about anything.  After attending Illinois Central College, and BYU Idaho, he found real satisfaction in working as an Electrician.  He had a natural talent and gift for this, and was rapidly promoted.  He enjoyed hikes with his family, pulling his daughters around in a wagon, pushing them on the swing, riding bikes with them, listening to music with head phones, repairing electronics, watching Studio Ghibli films, playing video games, eating pistachios and avocados, and especially living life with his sweetheart Mariafe. His whole life greatly increased in happiness when he met and married her in the Mesa, Arizona Temple August 5, 2017.  The last month of his life was among his happiest times ever.  He had just started a job he loved.  He had moved back to his favorite state of Arizona and was enjoying outings every weekend with his family.  His accidental death took him far too soon.  He will be missed dearly every day.

A Visitation will be held Friday, May 26, 2023 from 5-7pm at the Bunker Family University Chapel (3529 East University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85213).  Funeral Services are Saturday, May 27, 2023, beginning at 9am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1720 South Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction, AZ, 85120).  There will also be a Visitation at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the same address from 8-8:45am, immediately prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations to GoFundMe are suggested.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-matthew-fortuna?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Michelle A. Hall, passed away on May 18, 2023 in Mesa, AZ.

Shelly lived a fulfilled life as wife, daughter, sister, and friend. She loved to read, helping rescue animals, traveling, and hanging out with friends.

In honoring her wishes, viewing service are private to Immediate family and close friends.

Those wishing to honor her life can make a donation in her name to Best Friends.org at Make a gift in memory – Best Friends Animal Society

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Michael Lee Pickrel passed away peacefully on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Mesa, Arizona.

He was the second child born to Everett Clayton and Helen Maude Turnbull Pickrel in Galesburg, Illinois in 1938. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, his wife of 52 years, Patricia Gail Montgomery, his older brother James Alan, a grandson, Braydon Adair Pickrel, and a great grandson, Eldon Adair Pickrel. He was a huge sports fan and a long-time season ticket holder of the Phoenix Suns. He adored cats! He loved a good ball-cap and an all-beef hotdog. He hated any and all vegetables. His posterity is his most prized possession.

He leaves behind a son, Randy (Sheri) Pickrel, grand-daughter Shohni (Travis) Christensen, grandson Braylon (Danielle) Pickrel, grand-daughter Sheli Bennett, grandson Brendon (Jessica) Pickrel with 11 great-grandchildren, Kamdyn Christensen, Decklan Pickrel, Brooklyn Christensen, Kailyn Christensen, Ellerie Pickrel, Kaysen Christensen, Brigdyn Christensen, Leland Pickrel, Blake Bennett, Parker Pickrel and Rhett Pickrel.

Funeral Services are Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10AM, preceded by a visitation at 9AM at the LDS Chapel at 1345 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ. He will be buried at the VA Cemetery in Phoenix AZ. Bunker’s University Chapel is handling the funeral arrangements. 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ.

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

Franklin Arnold Tau, 89, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona, surrounded by family. Frank enjoyed spending time with family, being involved in his church community and ministries, playing golf, watching all kinds of sports and attending games. He was married to Marjorie (Marge) Alward, in Pennsylvania, on June 6, 1953. They and their 4 children moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1968.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marge of 70 years, his four children and their spouses, Mark (Anne Marie), Fred (Marcella), Phil (Julie), and April McElrath (Steve), 13 Grandchildren, 25 Great Grandchildren and his brother John. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Rita Tau, three sisters, Ruth Williams, Pauline Donnell, and Elsie Batchelor, four brothers, James, Paul, Everett, and Elmer and great grandchild, Elijah Marks.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 4^th at 4:00 P.M. at Journey of Grace Nazarene Church, 955 E University, Mesa, AZ, 85203. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Journey+of+Grace+Church+of+the+Nazarene/@33.4218448,-111.8123129,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x872ba7ccc72ffe89:0xb1b66b54a2c84417!8m2!3d33.4218448!4d-111.8101242!16s%2Fg%2F1tdzx5pd

Flowers may be sent to the church or Donations “In the memory of Frank Tau” may be made to Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Mesa, AZ by mail to 3405 N Higley Rd. Mesa, AZ 85215 or online at https://sunshineacres.org/donate/ ( leave “In memory of Frank Tau” in the special instructions during payment.)

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.