Obituaries

STELLA CHÁVEZ USNER Nov. 25, 1922 – June 24, 2022

Stella Chávez Usner passed away on June 24, 2022. She was born Maria Estela Chávez on November 25, 1922, to Abedón Chávez and Benigna Ortega in Durango, Colorado.

In 1928, “Stella” moved with her parents and new little brother, Leo, to Chimayó, where her parents were originally from. She entered the John Hyson mission school, where she was one of the few second-graders fluent and literate in both Spanish and English. Ever precocious, Stella left Chimayó when she was only 12—soon after her second brother, Robert, was born—to attend the Allison James Read More

ROGER WILLIAM TAYLOR Dec. 25, 1937 – Oct. 12, 2020

Roger William Taylor was born December 25, 1937 in St. Johns, Michigan. He passed away on October 12, 2020, at the age of 82.

Roger was a beloved resident of Albuquerque and Los Alamos. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Rob Jagger Campground near Capitan, New Mexico. (Proceed east on highway 380 past Capitan to highway 220. Head south one mile on highway 220 to Rob Jagger Campground /Ft. Stanton.

The celebration will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial Read More

PEGGY JEANETTE HUME Dec. 20, 1948 – June 26, 2022

Longtime Los Alamos resident, Peggy (“Peg”) Jeanette Hume, age 73, passed away on June 26, 2022, in Albuquerque, NM, after a valiant fight with cancer.

She was born December 20, 1948, in Renton, WA.

Peg is survived by four siblings: Vikki (Conrad Smith) Kestell of Albuquerque, NM; Ken (Susan) Kestell of Albuquerque, NM; Pat (Susan) Kestell of Los Alamos, NM; and Laura Lea (Carlo “Moose”) Heath of Bernalillo, NM. She is also survived by thirteen nieces and nephews and a large and growing number of great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded Read More

JOHN H. KOTTMANN May 14, 1935 – June 25, 2022

John H. Kottmann, Age 87 was born May 14, 1935, in Davenport, IA and passed away June 25, 2022, at his home in White Rock, surrounded by family.

Preceded in death by: parents Oscar Kottmann Sr. and Anna M. Custead, Brothers Arthur R. Kottmann, and Oscar Kottmann Jr. Sisters Margaret B.W. Miller, and Faye G. Kottong and Son Gerald E. Kottmann.

John was a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He was a devoted father. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 1957 until July 1963 as a submariner on the U.S.S. George Washington. Read More

CHARLES (CHUCK) ANDREW FOREST July 3, 1938 – Nov 20, 2021

Charles Andrew Forest (Chuck) had a unique physical presence, a very memorable personality and a distinctive jolly laugh.

He died suddenly of a heart attack in Santa Fe at the age of 83.38356 years. A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, July 9, at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos. 

Vaccinations and masks are required in the church. 

Chuck was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Margaret Dahlgren (1903-1979) and Joseph (Schnitzmeier) Forest (1898-1958). He was the youngest of their 4 children, all of whom preceded him in death: Read More

MARY JO PARKER June 14, 2022

Mary knew it was time to go. In the early morning of June 14, 2022, Mary peacefully left this Earth to join her beloved Paul in heaven.

The saying goes, “Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much,” this easily describes Mary’s life. Mary Jo was born in Owensville, Missouri to William and Mae Moses. She was the first girl after a string of four boys. She was followed by another brother and sister.

She spoke with great fondness when she told stories of growing up in Missouri with a house full of siblings and cousins. She loved God and family above all else. She loved deeply and completely. Read More

LUCILLE BONNER Oct. 21, 1931 – June 9, 2022

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Lucille Bonner, loving and devoted great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and friend to all whose lives she touched.

Lucille Bonner, 90, a 67-year resident of Los Alamos, died peacefully in her sleep at home and was welcomed into Heaven by Jesus Christ, her Savior and Lord June 9, 2022.  

Lucille was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Houston, TX, the daughter of Ben and Lucille Chambers. She was raised in Texas and moved with her parents to Santa Fe, in 1950, while continuing to attend Hardin-Simmons University Read More

LENORE JEAN CRISLER Dec. 17, 1929 – June 21, 2021

Lenore Jean “Jeanie” Crisler passed away peacefully on Monday June 21, 2021 at the age of 91, at her home in Los Alamos, NM.

Jeanie was born in Dalhart, TX to Joe and Addie Young, the youngest of 5 children. She was the last survivor of her family.  

Jeanie met the love of her life, Leo Crisler, in the 8th grade and they were married in 1948 after Leo returned home from serving in the Navy. Their precious daughter Mary was born a year later. The Crislers moved to Los Alamos in 1951 where they lived the rest of their lives.

Jeanie was preceded in death by her daughter Read More

RUBY MAGDALENA VIGIL JOHNSON April 25, 1926 – June 6, 2022

Ruby Magdalena Vigil Johnson passed away peacefully June 6, 2022, on the anniversary of her father’s birth.

Her sister and her daughter were at her side.

Ruby was born in Cundiyo, New Mexico April 25, 1926 to Noberto Vigil and Elena Trujillo Vigil. Ruby spent her childhood at home taking care of the livestock, fruit trees, beans, and chile alongside her parents, her brother, and her three sisters.

Subsistence farming in an isolated village teaches one strength, resilience, resourcefulness, and responsibility, all of which Ruby exhibited Read More

ELDA MAE STEURY Dec. 29, 1927 – June 4, 2022

Elda Mae Steury danced her way into heaven the morning of June 4, 2022, after spending 34,490 days (94+ years) bringing light and joy to others during her temporary assignment here on earth. Throughout her life, she faithfully served God, worked hard, loved to have fun, and viewed life as an adventure.

Elda was born in an upstairs apartment on National Street in Springfield, Missouri on December 29, 1927, the eldest child of Dossie and Opal Farris. She was 22 months old when the stock market crashed in 1929. As a child of the Great Depression, Elda grew up very Read More

ROBERT (BOB) WILLIAM STOKES Sept. 19, 1932 – May 9, 2022

Robert (Bob) William Stokes, 89, was surrounded by his loving family when he passed away May 9, 2022. We lost him suddenly and are incredibly heart broken. He was still so vibrant and full of life. His compassion and kindness was unmatched and something we’ll always remember. His support and unconditional love for his children, grandchildren and beautiful bride of 60 years, his wife and our Mom, never wavered. You felt it. Always.

He was born September 19, 1932, in Wheat Ridge, CO to Naomi E. (Bailey) and George W. Stokes. He grew up there and Read More

DEVAUN DALE ALLEN Feb. 28, 1932 – June 3, 2022

Celeste Devaun Dale Allen passed away on June 3, 2022, at the age of 90. 

She was born February 28, 1932 in Capitan, New Mexico to Charlie Taylor Dale and Bessie Eugenia Mobley Dale. Devaun grew up in Capitan and Lincoln County, New Mexico. She briefly lived with her sister Ruby in Los Alamos, New Mexico where she attended high school.  Devaun then moved to El Paso, Texas to live with her sister Gladys, where she graduated from Austin High School in 1953.

Devaun returned to Los Alamos in 1955. She loved the mountains of Los Alamos and always considered that Read More

ADELINDA MARTINEZ Aug. 28, 1938 – June 7, 2022

Adelinda “Linda” Martinez, 83 of Espanola, passed away on June 7, 2022, after a lengthy illness.

She was born on August 28, 1938, in Coyote, NM to the late Delubina and Elias Garcia, Sr. She was raised on a ranch alongside her six sisters and three brothers. She graduated from Española High School in 1957. She attended Business College in Albuquerque in 1958.

She went on to work for the State of New Mexico. Once she became a mother, she began her career with the Española Public Schools working as a teacher’s aide, allowing her time with her children. When Read More

HOWARD LEON STACY March 12, 1948 – Feb. 20, 2022

Howard Leon Stacy, 73, died peacefully on February 20, 2022, surrounded by his wife, brother, children, and grandchildren. Howard was born in Princeton, MO., on March 12, 1948, to Howard and Dixie Boggs. He was later adopted by Willis Stacy and Dixie Stacy.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents.

Howard graduated from Gresham Union High School in 1966 and joined the Marine Corps and served from 1967 until 1971 and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. After his time in the service, he attended Mount Hood Community College in Portland, OR., where he earned Read More

Kenneth Vernon Bostick October 2, 1942 – May 28, 2022

On May 28, 2022, Kenneth Vernon Bostick, loving husband, father, and grandfather peacefully passed away at home after battling cancer.

Ken’s cremains will be interred at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery on July 29, 2022 at 11:00 am. After the memorial service there will be a reception at his brother, Darwin’s home in Mimbres, NM.

Kenneth was born on October 2, 1942 in Albuquerque, NM to Maurine Elizabeth Judd Bostick and Vernon Brower Bostick. Kenneth attended college at New Mexico State University and The College of Santa Fe.

He served in Read More

ISABEL (LUCERO) CUMMINGS June 19, 1935 – June 4, 2022

Isabel (Lucero) Cummings, 86, a loving and dedicated mother.

Born in La Joya, NM. She grew up in Santa Fe, NM. Resided in Los Alamos for over 60 years.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Young and her children’s father Charles Cummings, Her parents Procopio and Eusebia Lucero, her brother Luis Lucero, and her niece Angela Lucero.

She is survived by her sister Felonis Cortez, also her son Chuck and his wife Chelsea Nicola Cummings, son-in law Dan Young. She is also survived by many grandchildren Charlie and Matthew Young, also Aashkii, Read More

FRANK ALLAN WILLIAMS Dec. 26, 1936 – June 6, 2022

Frank Allan “Red” Williams December 25, 1936 – June 6, 2022, Frank was born near Honey Grove, TX to Phillip Bogan Williams and Holly Josephine “Jo” Bell Williams. He was the youngest of five children.

Frank’s mother passed away in 1942 when he was 6 years old. His father went to work as a carpenter at the Manhattan project (later to become Los Alamos). He lived with his Uncle Frank Williams and Aunt Lula Scroggins – brother and sister of his father’s in Selfs, TX.

At the age of 10, in 1946, he moved to Los Alamos, NM with his brother Ray and they Read More

MARY V. (Ginger) WELCH April 22, 1934 – May 27, 2022

Mary V. (Ginger) Welch, 88, of Sun City West, AZ and Los Alamos, NM, passed away May 27, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frank P. Welch, infant son Mark Stephen Welch, her infant great grandson Maddox Melton, parents Cornelius and Jean Milliken, brothers Cornelius and William, sisters Kathleen, Helene, and Jean, and her sweet dog Sydney.

Ginger was born in Elmira, New York, April 22, 1934 and was one of 14 children. She graduated from Elmira Catholic High School in 1952, entered school at St. Josephs and spent an initial year in the convent. Read More

AMY OSVATH SWENNES Jan. 19, 2022

A Los Alamos native, Amy (Osvath) Swennes, 68, of Albuquerque, went home to be with her Lord January 19, 2022 after a brief illness.

Amy was predeceased by her parents Frank and Florence Osvath of White Rock. She is survived by her husband David and her younger sisters Ginger, Lisa and Mary. 

She was a shy and beautiful 1971 graduate of Los Alamos High School. She later earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of New Mexico and was fond of dancing and dressing up in costumes of the medieval, renaissance, Jane Austen, Victorian and  civil war eras. She also loved steampunk, Read More

GERVAISE REJANE PROVENCGER GUERETTE May 10, 1934 – May 19, 2022

Gervaise “Geri” Guerette, 88, a resident of Winthrop, Maine, and formerly of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on May 19, 2022.

Geri was born on May 10, 1934 in Lambton, Canada, a small rural town in Quebec. She was the eighth child of Wilfred and Rose-Anna Theberge. Shortly after Geri’s birth, Rose-Anna died. Knowing that Geri needed a full-time mother, Wilfred made the difficult decision to give Geri up for adoption to distant relatives, Lena and Willie Provencher of Lewiston, Maine.

Every Sunday Read More

ROBERT HENRY NEWELL Jan. 14, 1927 – May 13, 2022

Robert Henry Newell was born in Gardner, MA, Jan. 14, 1927, to Grace and William Newell.

He grew up in Athol, MA, and worked odd jobs as a kid and at Union Twist Drill after school. He was a known member of the Silver Lake Street Gang and was not part of any shenanigans in town. 

Robert (Bob) joined the Navy in April 1944 during World War II and became an aircraft electrician stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station in California.

After the war, Bob went back and forth between California and Massachusetts working different jobs. His passion was working on airplanes, Read More

ALICE JEAN (SNYDER) CARTER Oct. 5, 1931 – May 15, 2022 

Alice Jean (Snyder) Carter was born on Monday, October 5, 1931, to Ralph and Lillian Snyder, a Methodist minister and his wife, who were serving a small church in Newcastle, Wyoming. Alice was the youngest of three children, and she spent most of her childhood in small towns in Wyoming where she was involved in church activities, piano lessons, and Girl Scouts. She loved the outdoors, camping, bird watching, and crafts; loves that stayed with her for the rest of her life. 

After graduating from High School, she began her college career at the Colorado Read More

JOHN E. ‘JACK’ KILLEEN May 27, 2022

John E. ‘Jack’ Killeen, age 79, son of John J. & Frances (Germon) Killeen passed away peacefully among loving family members on Friday, May 27, 2022 at the U. of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.

Born in Atlantic City, NJ and raised in West Cape May, Jack became a “Man of All Seasons”, hunting, fishing, trapping, laboring on the docks, working at both the Taylor Farm & Rae’s Farm and working for Steger’s Beach Service run by Coach Steve Steger of Cape May.

He attended the original West Cape May Elementary School, and the original Cape May High School Read More

ELIZABETH BLAIR MACMILLAN April 26, 1960 – May 26, 2022

Elizabeth Blair MacMillan of Los Alamos, NM, passed away on May 26, 2022.

Liz was born April 26, 1960 in Los Alamos to Martha C. MacMillan and Donald P. MacMillan.

She was preceded in death by her parents (Martha, 2013, and Donald, 2012) and her brother, Alan (2001).

She is survived by her brother Daniel MacMillan (Juleann Fallgatter) of Washington, DC and her nephew, Kyle MacMillan of Chicago, IL.

Liz attended Los Alamos schools. She was born with Down’s Syndrome. Along with other mothers of similarly disabled children, her parents started Read More

GEORGE ‘BUTCH’ ROYER May 17, 2022

On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, George “Butch” Royer, loving partner, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away at age 80 in Oro Valley, AZ.

Butch was the first of 6 children and only son to Williard and Katherene Royer, born in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. His family moved several times, until settling on the “Hill” in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

Butch spent his high school years in the Secret City, then joined the Air Force where he served as a MP from 1959-1963. Upon the completion of his service, he returned to the Hill and began an extensive career, 39 years, at Los Alamos Read More

BENADITO/LUCIA ROYBAL Sept. 30, 1950 – April 25, 2021/April 22, 2022

Benadito A. and Lucia S. Roybal married Saturday, Sept. 30, 1950. Ben passed from this earth Sunday, April 25, 2021, and Lucy passed from this earth Friday, April 22, 2022.

Ben and Lucy were married 70 years, had three children and built their lives in Pojoaque, New Mexico with children Margaret Royball and husband David Sanchez; Joseph Roybal and wife Hope Roybal; Marci Vigil and partner David Kilgore.

Ben and Lucy also had four grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Emily Lopez and husband Daniel; Cameron Roybal; Kate Read More

JAMES PETER MARSH Feb. 18, 1953 – May 18, 2022

Jim, age 69, passed away the morning of May 18, at his home in South Jordan, UT attended by his family. After a diagnosis of cranial glioblastoma, Jim spent his final months with his wife, Jan, their six daughters and 16 grandchildren. He cherished them all.

He was born Feb. 18, 1953 in Logan, UT, to Nina Maughan and Stanley Peter Marsh, the second of five children. He grew up in Los Alamos, NM, graduating from LA High School in 1971 then on to Utah State to complete his BA degree in Music Education while running hurdles for the university, lettering every year, Read More

MARY ELLEN TALLERICO Oct. 11, 1940 – April 25, 2022

Mary Ellen Tallerico was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She passed away April 25, 2022, in Boulder, Colorado, after a heroic battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones.

Mary Ellen was born Oct. 11, 1940 in Milton, Massachusetts. She went to college first at Manhatanville and then at Tufts University and received her bachelor’s degree in teaching math.

While in college, Mary Ellen met the love of her life, Paul Tallerico. Paul was also studying in Boston at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mary Ellen Read More

DONNA PEMBERTON FELTHAUSER Sept. 5, 1927 – May 2, 2022

Donna Felthauser passed away at home May 2, 2022. She was 94.

Donna was born in Los Angeles, CA Sept. 5, 1927 to Mr. and Mrs. James E. and Marth A. Pemberton. She was born at the French Hospital in Los Angeles because her mother’s doctor said they could not trust the ‘country’ hospital in Alhambra.

In Alhambra she gained her beloved baby sister, Arden. She remembers her father building a dressing table for her out of orange crates that were leftover from the nearby orange groves. She also remembered walking to kindergarten with her friend Theresa Read More

GILBERT ANTHONY ‘TONY’ MIRANDA Nov 10, 1964 – May 1, 2022

Gilbert Anthony ‘Tony’ Miranda, ultra-dedicated believer in the sacred mission of the Catholic Church, who, in his own words, was a Scorpio who could never walk away from a fight, died on Sunday May 1, 2022, of complications resulting from a massive hemorrhagic stroke in Yerevan, capitol city of Armenia, the country that had been one of the great loves of his life.

Tony’s parents moved, in 1972, from Los Angeles, where he was born, to Los Alamos, N.M. He attended classes at Chamisa Elementary School and Cumbres Junior High, graduating from Read More

GREGORY JOSEPH NUNZ 1934 – May 10, 2022

Gregory Joseph Nunz, 87, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and teacher, passed away peacefully May 10, 2022.

He was born in Batavia, New York in 1934 to Sylvester Nunz, and Elizabeth Loselle-Nunz.

He graduated from Cooper Union, as a Chemical Engineer, and was a leading Hydrazine Engine specialist at Rocketdyne, Jet Propulsion Laboratories, and Bell Aerospace, Inc. He went on to work and retire from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of New Mexico.

Greg authored two books, “Mathematics and Electronics,” published Read More

WILMA GRACE KATKO March 11, 1934 – May 17, 2022

Wilma Grace Katko, age 88, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2022.

On March 11, 1934, she was born in the backroom of an adobe home in Fort Garland, CO. Wilma was the last Chavez to pass from her family of seven children.

Wilma married the love of her life, Francis Joseph Katko, in Denver, CO., in 1955. She was a devoted wife and mother who divided her valuable time between family, work, and the Catholic Church.

After 26 years of devoted service in the Dietary Department, she retired from the Los Alamos Medical Center.

She had a love of music and enjoyed playing Read More

BONNIE JOY DITLEVSEN PARKINSON Nov. 17, 1932 – May 11, 2022

Bonnie Joy Parkinson, 89, passed away May 11, 2022, in Washington City, Utah. It is with both sorrow and gratitude that we announce the departure of our beloved Joy who, in death, found refuge from the suffering brought upon her by congestive heart failure. The burden of our sorrow, which by definition is the loss of “joy”, was lightened significantly knowing that the beautiful soul we lost had found her everlasting peace. 

She was born Nov. 17, 1932 in Salina, Utah to Hans Peter Ditlevsen and Narvella Jensen. She married Joseph Lynn Parkinson Read More

CLAIRE LADISH June 7, 1943 – May 8, 2022

Claire Ladish, born June 7, 1943, passed away surrounded by her immediate family May 8, 2022. She was 78 years old. 

Claire was born in Central Falls, Rhode Island to parents Charles August Prairie and Estelle Prairie (née Guillette). She was the youngest of 7 children.

Claire was married to Joseph Ladish June 6, 1964 and the two raised their family in New Haven, Connecticut before moving to Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1974. 

Throughout her life Claire was a friend to all and touched all she met with  her motherly wisdom, deep love, incredible care and sharp humor. Read More