Obituaries

JEAN MARIE PARKER Dec. 11, 1922 – Oct. 25, 2014

Mrs. Jean Marie Parker (née Norman), a 52 year resident of Marietta, Georgia, died peacefully in Kennesaw, Georgia, on October 25, 2014, at the age of 91. Jean always considered her life a “joyful journey”.

Jean was born on December 11, 1922, in Hitterdal, Minnesota, to Clara Charlotte Sanders and Henning Rogatious Norman. She grew up on their farm in Hawley, Minnesota, with her three sisters and three brothers. She graduated from Hawley High School in 1940, and moved to Grant, Nebraska, to help with her Aunt Annie and Uncle Merle’s restaurant, subsequently Read More

MARTHA LOU DAVIS Aug. 20, 1953 – Oct. 8, 2014

Martha Lou Davis was a relative newcomer to Los Alamos, but quickly adapted her gardening style to the Southwest, practicing xeriscaping and permaculture. On a small number of fruit trees in her backyard she grafted over 100 fruit varieties including apples, pears, and apricots. It’s been said that her yard is one of the most fertile parts of Los Alamos.

Martha was born on August 20, 1953 in Dallas, OR to Crystalle and Paul Davis. The family moved to Corvallis, OR where she completed high school. After a year at Earlham College, she returned to the University Read More

FAYE HAND Feb. 16, 1932 – Oct. 3, 2014

Fay Hand was an amazing woman. She loved cooking large fancy holiday dinners, shopping, time with her family, gardening, kitty-cats, and (surprisingly) the Phoenix Suns basketball team. For those of us that knew her, it is with fond memories that we look back on her life. For those of you that didn’t know her quite as well, this is the story of her life. 

Wanda Fay Clark was born on February 16, 1932. She grew up with two sisters, Iris and Patsy. Their young lives were filled with wild adventures that she loved to tell stories about. She met her husband, Read More

ROLAND ARTHUR JALBERT Oct. 19, 2014

Roland Arthur Jalbert, 90, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away peacefully at home from a broken heart early Sunday morning following the death of his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth, who died October 9.

He is survived by their children and their spouses and grandchildren, Marc Jalbert, (Darby and Maddy) from Longmont Colorado; Louis and Dawn Jalbert (Elyse and Amanda) from Los Alamos; Marie-Louise Jalbert Hadden and Blaine Hadden from El Rito; and Christophe and Connie Jalbert (Connor) of Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Read More

PEGGY CODY STEIN July 5, 1928 – Oct. 11, 2014          

Peggy Cody Stein passed away on October 11, 2014, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. She was 86. 

Peggy was born on July 5, 1928 to Orvel and Vera Cody in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Peggy had a large extended family, and she loved to tell stories about the flamboyant characters from her family history. 

In 1947, Peggy met and married William (Bill) Stein. The young couple moved to Los Alamos in 1949, and together they raised four children. Peggy drove generations of Los Alamos school children Read More

ELIZABETH ANNE JALBERT Oct. 9, 2014

Elizabeth Anne Jalbert, 83, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away peacefully at home Thursday, October 9, after a lengthy illness.

She is survived  by her husband of 57 years, Roland A Jalbert. She is also survived by her children and their spouses and grandchildren: Marc Jalbert, Darby and Maddy  from Longmont, Colorado; Louis and Dawn Jalbert, Elyse and Amanda from Los Alamos; Marie-Louise Jalbert Hadden and Blaine Hadden from El Rito; and Christophe and Connie Jalbert and Connor of Seattle, Washington.

Mrs. Jalbert was born in 1931 Read More

William Earl Stein May 30, 1924 – Sept. 17, 2014

William Earl Stein (Bill) passed away on September 17, 2014 after a brief illness.

Bill was born on May 30, 1924 to David and Phoebe Stein in Rochester, New York. Bill was dedicated to serving his country. Bill’s father had served in the U.S. Navy during WWI, and Bill followed his example by enlisting in the Navy at the end of WWII. He served on the cruiser USS Cleveland, and then was sent to study electrical engineering at the University of Virginia by the Navy. 

While at the University of Virginia, Bill was a distinguished scholar and earned many Read More

HELENE M. EMERY Oct. 6, 2014

Helene M. Emery, 91, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, died at Sombrillo Nursing Home in Los Alamos on October 6, 2014 of natural causes.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Emery in 2001. She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Deborah Heath of Las Cruces, and DyAnne Short and her husband Tom of Los Alamos. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Olivia Heath, Camille Heath, Kermit Short and his wife Lucia, and great-grandson Alexander Short.

Mrs. Emery moved to Los Alamos from Carlsbad in 1951 and made it her home for the remainder of her life. She cherished Read More

GILBERT RICHARD NARANJO Oct. 2, 2014

Gilbert Richard Naranjo, 86, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, passed into the arms of the Lord on October 2, 2014, with his loving family at his side. Gilbert was preceded in death by his devoted wife Helen, parents Ted and Ellen Naranjo and sister Flora Miakos.

Although Gilbert suffered many health conditions throughout the years he always accepted his difficulties courageously and without complaint. He was a strong man of faith and integrity who found joy, humor, and laughter in every day, touching the lives of all Read More

BERNARD “BUN” RYAN Dec. 23, 1923 – Sept. 29, 2014

Bernard “Bun” Ryan, 90, of Los Alamos, passed away on September 29, 2014. He had been a resident of Los Alamos since 1949.

Bun was born on December 23, 1923 in Leadville, CO, the youngest son of James and Bridget Ryan. Following graduation from Leadville High School in 1941, he worked for the JC Penney Corporation.

In 1943, he was drafted in the U.S. Army. He served in Field Artillery during the Pacific campaign of WWII until his discharge in 1946 and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service and promoted to the rank of Master Read More

Dr. JAMES S. BROOKS Sept. 27, 2014

Dr. James S. Brooks, 70, of Alligator Point, Fla., passed away on September 27, 2014 of natural causes.

He was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physics at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. In addition, he was one of the early experimental faculty members to join the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory where he carried out a prolific research program with colleagues both in the United States and around the world. At the laboratory he was Director of the Condensed Matter Science and Experimental Group.

Prior to moving to Florida he was Read More

TWILLA RUTH FEIERTAG Nov. 12, 1933 – Sept. 26, 2014

Twilla Ruth Feiertag was born on November 12, 1933, to Sylvia and Wilbur Gray in Chillicothe, Missouri, and returned to her Lord on Friday, September 26, 2014. 

She attended the Chillicothe elementary and high schools and graduated from Chillicothe Business College with a secretarial degree. After filling several positions, she ended her career with a 12 year stint as a Group Secretary in H Division. 

During this time, she met Tom Feiertag while assisting as a ballroom dance instructor, and they soon married. They were blessed Read More

DAVID KORKOS Sept. 28, 2014

David Korkos died on September 28, at home, of cancer. He was 67 years old.

David grew up in Oshkosh, Wisc. and Santa Clara, Calif. After graduation from high school, he entered the Marine Corps, where he went on to serve in Vietnam.

Returning home he devoted himself to music and cooking. He played pedal steel guitar in a successful dance band, but he found that playing gigs was taking time away from his other love, cooking, and left the band. He got a job at Scopazzi’s Restaurant in Boulder Creek, Calif., which is where he and his wife met.

He was the chef-owner of Katherine’s Read More

JANICE NOREEN MILLER Aug. 21, 1939 – Aug. 4, 2014

Janice Noreen Miller died Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, in Ft. Collins, Colo. Janice died while in hospice care for metastatic breast cancer at the home of her daughter, Mara Miller. Janice donated her body to the University of Colorado in Denver for medical research.

Janice was born at home in Norman, Oklahoma, to Roy Virgil and Eva Geraldine Miller on August 21, 1939. Janice was the sixth child of seven. She is survived by her two older sisters Donna Mears of Friona, Texas and Linda Tims of Sunray, Texas, along with sisters-in-law, Glenda Miller of Denton, Read More

JILL A. MAYO (KAVE) May 31, 1968–Sept. 22, 2014

Jill Mayo of Espanola, N.M. passed away on September 22, 2014 at the age of 46. She was born in Allentown, Pa. on May 31, 1968.

A longtime resident of Los Alamos, she worked as an accountant.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Gilda M Kave. She is survived by her father, Elmer C. Kave, her sister Gina Smith, her brothers Anthony Kave and Dominic Kave, her children, Alissa Dison and Kailee Mayo, and her beloved grandchildren, Shana and Ethan Wallington.

The family would like to thank Jimmy and Dorthy Romero of Nambe and David and Judy Roybal of El Rancho Read More

FRANCES (FRAN) NELSON ROGERS Jan. 10, 1922 – Sept. 23, 2014

Frances (Fran) Nelson Rogers, 92, a beloved Los Alamos Living Treasure (2007) passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

She is preceded in death by her first husband Warren Haas; parents Anne and Iver Nelson; brothers, Adrian and Leland Nelson; and her husband of 51 years, Walter LaVerne “Vern” Rogers. Fran is survived by her sister Mary Lee (Bismarck, ND), children; Kelly (Durango, CO); Rick and wife Rebecca (Dylan & Dustin Arbuckle and family) (Los Alamos); Tracy and husband Ben Lea (Rose & Katherine Read More

GILBERT WAYNE BUTLER Feb. 22, 1941 – Aug. 9, 2014

Avid runner and Rotarian Gilbert Wayne Butler was born February 22, 1941 in Fort Collins, Colorado to John Lafayette Butler (Lafe) and Phyllis Elizabeth (Hunter) Butler.  He was raised in Boise, Idaho and graduated from Borah High School in 1959. 

In 1963 he received his B.S. in Chemistry from Oregon State University, Corvalis. Bypassing a master’s degree, he went directly into the doctoral program at the University of California, Berkley, receiving his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry in 1967. Gil performed post-doctoral research at Read More

JACK B. TUCKER Aug. 21, 2014

Jack B. Tucker, 82, longtime resident of Los Alamos and Espanola passed away at home on August 21, 2014.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hugh and Emma Sue Tucker. He is survived by Gwen, his loving wife of 55 years; his children Tad Tucker, Tim and Audra Tucker, Tammy Tucker and Lisa Woodrow, and Tracy and Rick Conner. He is also survived by his grandchildren Chloe, Tristan, Milo, Josh, Justin, Jayde, and Jorda. He is also survived by sister and brothers’ in-law, nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Jack’s early years were spent in Kentucky. Toward the Read More

MARY ELLEN COUSINS Jan. 20, 1934 – Sept. 5, 2014

Mary Ellen Cousins, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2014.

Mary Ellen Cousins was born on the 20^th of January, 1934 to Leo and Frieda Nordberg in St. Louis, MO.  She was the only daughter out of five children. She spent her early years growing up in St. Louis and moved to Sparta, IL before Jr. High. She and all of her brothers graduated from Sparta High. She then followed in the family tradition of attending Southern Illinois University.

She returned to St. Louis and there she met her future husband, Bob. They were married Read More

LOU ANN PILKINGTON April 2, 1924 – Aug. 31, 2014

Dr. Lou Ann Pilkington, 90, of New York City and lately of Los Alamos, NM, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014.

She was born April 2, 1924 in Wichita, Kansas, the second daughter of Le Roy Ruben Pilkington and Gertrude Fern Hunt Pilkington. She was an excellent swimmer and excelled in table tennis.

The family later moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma where she graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1942. Lou Ann attended Okmulgee Junior College and worked as a sports reporter on The Okmulgee Daily Times, the first daily in Oklahoma’s history to entrust its Read More

MICHELE “MICKI” LEGER June 27, 1942 – Sept. 6, 2014

Michele “Micki” Leger, 72, a longtime resident of Sapello, NM, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Christus St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, NM.

She was born in Albuquerque, NM in June 27, 1942 to Arthur Naylon Morgan, Jr. and Dorothy Jamison. She first lived in Santa Fe then eventually moved up the “Hill” to Los Alamos, NM. She and her siblings grew up with the many canyons of Los Alamos as their backyard and playground. She graduated from Los Alamos High as a Hilltopper in 1960. She then went on to Mercy School of Nursing in Davenport, Read More

FRED ROACH Oct. 5, 1946 – Sept. 2, 2014

Fred Roach, age 67, completed his final journey among us on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 in Los Alamos. Fred accepted the challenges caused by Glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer with grace and courage.

Fred was born to James Maurice Roach and Mary Glendon King Roach on October 5, 1946 in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was officially named James Fredric Roach, but was always called Fred. Fred was big brother to Steve, Cydne, David and Jacque. His family moved often during his youth, but the time he spent in Bloomington, Minnesota during junior high school and high Read More

SALLY A. MILLIGAN Oct. 16, 1939 – Aug. 29, 2014

On August 29, 2014 Sally E. Milligan, 74, of Los Alamos, N.M., was called home to be with the Lord. 

Sally died peacefully at home surrounded by her family. She was born on October 16, 1939 in Long Beach, Calif., to Victor P. Waters and Ethel V. Waters. Sally married Donald F. Milligan on November 25, 1959 in San Diego, Calif., She studied at UNM-LA and enjoyed working for Los Alamos Schools.

Sally was a compassionate woman who believed in taking care of people and especially enjoyed all of the children she had in her life. Whether it was as a Cub Scout Read More

TORIN DEAN MCWHORTER Aug. 25, 2014 – Aug. 25, 2014

Torin Dean McWhorter passed away Monday Aug. 25, 2014.

Torin is survived by his parents Shawn McWhorter and Carrie Mann-Adair, five sisters, Jessie, Cora, Leah, Ana and Teagan, Uncle Kevin Mann, grandparents Lewis McWhorter, David and Antoinette Mann, Tom and Sue Garcia, and Connie Middleton.

Services will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday Sept. 4 at The Christian Church, 92 East Road in Los Alamos, N.M.
A private burial will follow shortly after service.

If love is all he ever needed, he would have lived forever. Read More

JOHN WILLIAM STANHOPE Oct. 2, 1919–Aug. 26, 2014

John William Stanhope passed away peacefully on August 26, 2014, after a brief illness, he was 94 year old. He was born in Cedar, Kansas to John and Elise Stanhope, on October 2, 1919.

John met the love of his life, Natalie in 1939 and were married on December 24, 1942. They were married for 70 ½ years until she passed away on July 12, 2012.

John was a Pearl Harbor Survivor during WWII, and was a Chief Machinist Mate on the U.S.S. Tennessee Battleship. He served in the Navy for 6 years and then moved to Ellsworth, Kansas. In 1951, he got a job at Zia Company working Read More

ANTHONY (TONY) PASQUARIELLO Aug. 20, 2014

Anthony (Tony) Pasquariello, 61, of Santa Fe, passed away at home surrounded by family on Aug. 20, 2014 from cancer.

He is survived by his wife Debra, his daughter Nicole, his son Blaise and his sister Roseann.

He worked at Los Alamos Laboratory as a nachinist from 1979 – 2007 and at Yeamans Machine shop until 2013.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for  2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Santa Fe Capital Grill. Read More

JAMES F. TAYLOR Sept. 4, 1934 – Aug. 9, 2014

A graveside funeral service for James Taylor, age 79, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014 in the Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mr. Taylor died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 in Abilene Regional Medical Center of congestive heart failure.

Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.

James Franklin Taylor was born Sept. 4, 1934 in Brownwood, Texas to Frank and Lois Koger Taylor. James graduated from Brownwood High School in 1952 and attended Texas Tech University and Dallas College of Southern Methodist University. Read More

EDRA L. CHILDERS Jan. 10, 1924 – Aug. 8, 2014

A funeral service will be held for Edra L. Childers, 90, of Roswell at 11:15 a.m., Wednesday, August 13, 2014 in the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. He passed away on Friday, August 8, 2014.

Edra was born January 10, 1924 to A.N. Childers and Ruby B. McNeil in Rencona, NM. He was a very kindhearted and giving person, retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1982 and moved to Roswell.

He is survived by a brother, Johnny Childers, a sister, Bonnie French and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Childers; his parents Read More

EDITH SHEARER POTTER OCT. 27, 1920 – Aug. 3, 2014

Edith Potter passed away on August 3rd, 2014 in Santa Fe, NM after a brief illness. She had been a sixty-seven year resident of Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Edith was born October 27, 1920. Although raised on a farm near Goobertown, Arkansas, she followed a family tradition of education, teaching schoolchildren of all ages and coaching girl’s basketball until she volunteered to serve in the Dept. of the Navy in Washington, DC during WWII.

Edith had her eye on her future husband, Donald Potter when they sang in the choir of the Paragould, Arkansas Read More

WALTON P. ELLIS July 30, 2014

Walton P. Ellis, PhD, 82, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 after a courageous fight with Leukemia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Lou (Grove) Ellis; parents, Dan and Alpha Ellis; brothers, Joe and Oris Ellis and nephew, Jim Ellis.

Walt graduated with a Bachelors in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1953. He was awarded his PhD in Chemistry by the University of Chicago in 1957. He and Martha Lou married on November 4, 1956 and moved to Los Alamos in July of 1957 to start their lives together. Walt was a research Read More

KRYSTAL RAE FINNEY VERNON May 20, 1982 – July 21, 2014

Krystal Rae Finney (Kryssie Vernon) of Los Alamos (formerly of Roswell, NM) passed away in her sleep July 21, 2014.

Born May 20, 1982 in Lawton, Okla., she is survived by her husband Mark Vernon; her mother and father, Leandra and Herb Finney; brother, Andrew Finney; sister, Adair Buck; niece Ashlee Marie Buck, brother in-law Roger Buck; grandparents, Clif and Billie Mann; aunt and uncle, Gae and Sonny Mann, and niece Sunny Leanne Mann; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Joyce and Carl Vernon, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Tracey Read More

WILLIAM FRANK HICKS Oct. 11, 1925 – July 16, 2014

William Frank Hicks, 88, died Wednesday July 16, 2014 at his Montrose, Colo., home.  Bill was born Oct. 11, 1925 in Hollis, Okla., to Homer and Lottie Hicks. 

In 1943 Bill enlisted in the Air Force and served in the European Theater during WWII. In 1949 he married his wife Mickie and moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where he made careers as a firefighter and a laboratory technician. Bill was a Past Master of the Los Alamos Masonic Lodge. 

Bill is survived by his wife Mickie, daughter Deb (Steve) Vining, son Les (Charlotte) Hicks, four grand Read More

EMILY MARES-LANG July 21, 2014

My beloved Wife, Emily Mares-Lang, 73, a native of Taos, NM, went to be with the Lord on July 21, 2014.

She died at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico of a head trauma after a reckless driver hit her while she was walking.

Emily grew up on La Loma in Taos surrounded by her three sisters, Mom and Dad and neighbors who were all called Tio and Tia. As a young woman Emily was a talented seamstress who taught herself ine tecnniques of making her own cloths.

Family and friends knew her as a person who was totally generous, kind, thoughtful, and charitable. She cherished her Read More

MAX BRINKMAN (aka Maxene Beckman) Dec. 20, 1925 – June 30, 2014

Max Brinkman of Eagle, Idaho passed away peacefully on Monday, June 30, 2014 at the age of 88. She was born in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 20, 1925.

She was a longtime resident of Los Alamos and worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for more than 20 years.

Max was an avid tennis player. Once during a tennis match, Max fell and hurt her wrist but didn’t stop playing until she had won the match. Later she discovered she’d broken her wrist. She also loved to ski and taught her two granddaughters ages 2 and 4 to ski.

Max is survived by her three children, Read More