Obituaries
Bruno Lopez Jr., Deane Creamer Close, Jearuld D. Firman, Lois M. Lindsey, Madge Elaine (Page) Williams
---BRUNO LOPEZ JR.---
Bruno Lopez Jr. passed to our Heavenly Father at his home on February 8, 2007, surrounded by his loving wife, children and grandchildren.
Bruno Lopez Jr. was the first born to Bruno Lopez Sr. and Salome Higuera Lopez, a Yuma pioneer family, on April 16, 1921 in Yuma. Bruno attended Yuma elementary schools and was a 1939 graduate of Yuma Union High School. Bruno excelled in the classroom and on the track field. He was a Luke Greenway State Champion for the 50 and 100-yard dash, and was the anchor of the 4 x 100. Bruno’s fast tracks wound up catching the love of his life and future wife, Socorro Marquez. Bruno and Socorro just celebrated their sixty-seventh wedding anniversary on January 7, 2007.
Together, Bruno and Socorro raised nine children, Mary Frances Valdez (Philip) of Flagstaff Arizona, Bruno A. Lopez, Edward Lopez (Maudie) of Morristown Arizona, John Lopez (Patti) of Peoria Arizona, Claudia Scarbrough (Donnie) of Yuma, Laura Arizaga (Steve) of Yuma, Robert Lopez (Becky) of Phoenix, Joseph Lopez, Catherine Korkosz (Troy) of Gilbert Arizona. Grandchildren, Mark Ceballos, Suzanne Borneman (Gary), Linda Morgan (Fred), Jason Lopez, Liann Lopez, Bryan Scarbrough (Annalee), Audrey Morton (Chad), Steven Arizaga, Christopher Arizaga, Aryca Marron (Danny), Jacklyn Sparks (Adam), Shana and Joseph Lopez, Tara and Lexi Korkosz.
While raising their family, Bruno and Socorro found time to go out on dates every Saturday night. During their younger years, they were known to be the couple to watch on the dance floor.
Bruno was a very caring, dedicated and hard working family man and his family was his pride and joy. Bruno was an inspiration and father figure to many extended family members and friends. He was looked up to by others for friendly advice and was depended upon to lend a helping hand. His wisdom and kind words were encouraging to to those who knew him. Bruno was a man of his word; his work ethic, honesty and old-fashioned values were taken to heart by many. He lived and served as an example as the complete family man.
Bruno was working at the Emporium and the Railroad when he was called to serve his country in World War II in 1945. He served as a Technical Sergeant in Japan. When he returned from the war, he returned to work at the Railroad. He later retired from Sears after twenty-two years in sales.
After his retirement, Bruno and Socorro spent summers in Parks, Arizona. This summer home became the meeting spot for many joyous family gatherings. As the family grew, many grandchildren and great grandchildren enjoyed spending time with Nana and Pop at Parks.
Bruno is survived by his loving wife, Socorro, nine children, sixteen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Sisters; Mary Palacios, Sally Lopez and Lorraine Yanes (Richard) all of Imperial Beach California and brother, Andy Lopez of Yuma.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Bruno and Salome Lopez, brothers, James, Robert, Charles, Octavio and Ernie and grandson, Michael Lopez.
In honor of celebrating Bruno’s happy life, a Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at the American Legion Hall, 2575 Virginia Drive from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. In honor of Bruno Lopez, donations may be made to Hospice of Yuma.
Miss you, love you, Pop.
---DEANE CREAMER CLOSE---
Deane Creamer Close lost her battle with cancer in the early morning hours of Monday, February 5, 2007. She was born August 30, 1959 in Bronxville, NY.
She attended local schools in Scarsdale, New York and Dobbs Ferry, New York.
Deane earned her BA in Education at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From there she followed a childhood desire to move to Arizona where she worked for the Crane School District as a Special Education teacher.
In 1985 she married her best friend, Gary Close, also a teacher, and began a new job at Yuma High School. Despite her illness she worked right up to the Christmas break of 2006. She was a dedicated, loving, caring teacher, counselor, mother, and mentor to so many, many students and fellow teachers. She will be sorely missed.
She and Gary continued their education by attending summer classes at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona where she earned an MA in Education as well as an MA in Multicultural Studies.
She was actively involve in the Yuma Moos 4-H Club, Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Chapter, a girl scout leader at Yuma Lutheran School and a member of the Arizona Education Association.
She and Gary were married on June 9, 1985 at First Presbyterian Church of Yuma where she also taught Sunday School while her children, Phoebe and Thomas, were younger.
Deane leaves behind her loving husband, Gary; daughter, Phoebe; and son, Thomas, all of Yuma; also, her mother, Phoebe Creamer, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; aunt, Jane Cross, of Oakland, California; sister, Janie Plank, of Weston, Massachusetts; half sister, Betsy Vinton, of Wellesley, Massachusetts; half brothers, Tom Creamer, of Somers, New York, and George Creamer, of Weston, Massachusetts; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Fishback Creamer; and her uncle, Bill Creamer.
Services will be at First Presbyterian Church, 598 S. 7th Avenue on Saturday, February 17, 2007 at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a celebration of her life at the home, 5443 Francis Street, Yuma.
Deane’s wish is that, instead of flowers, donations be made to the Deane Creamer Close Memorial Scholarship and Fund or the Close to the Heart Classroom Fund in care of the Library at Yuma High School.
---JEARULD D. FIRMAN---
Jearuld D. Firman (Jerry) went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 11, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. Jerry was born in Flint, Michigan on July 22, 1937 to Keith and Byrl Firman of Flushing, Michigan.
Jerry joined the U.S. Air Force after high school and served in Florida and Morocco for three years. He returned to Flushing where he married Viola (Sue) Paul. Jerry worked for the Buick Plant and Chevrolet Metal Fabricating for 32 years, at which time he lost Sue to cancer. After he retired he moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where he met Donna Bagwell and together they enjoyed 13 years of traveling throughout the United States and Canada, wintering in Yuma.
Jerry is preceded in death by father, Keith M. Firman; mother, Bryl M. Firman; brother, Keith Firman; and wife, Viola (Sue) Firman.
He is survived by brother; Earl Firman, of Flint, Michigan; sister, Alice (Don) Rogers of Arroyo Grande, California; wife, Donna Bagwell of Colorado; daughters, Terena (Kent) Terry of Harrison, Arkansas, Debra Griggs of Pueblo, Colorado; son, Duane Firman of Titusville, Florida; stepson, Derrick (Sissy) Bagwell of South Lyon, Michigan; and stepdaughter, Michelle (Greg) Bickelhaupt of Castle Rock, Colorado as well as eight grandchildren: Grey and Sheldon Terry, Dominic Firman, Joey Bagwell, Jessica Bickelhaupt, Tyler, Bailey, and Samantha Bagwell.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, February 15, 2007 at the Gila Mountain United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry’s name to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
---LOIS M. LINDSEY---
A celebration of the life of Lois M. Lindsey of Yuma will be held Friday, February 16, 2 p.m. at Sunset Vista Funeral Home. Lois passed from this life and entered heaven on Sunday, February 11, at the age of 79. She was born in Tipton, Kansas, and had 5 sisters. Lois married the love of her life, Gordon Lindsey, on April 17, 1948, in Vallejo, California. They lovingly raised three daughters together and were married 58 years.
Lois was a homemaker, or as she called it, a “domestic engineer”, putting the care of her family and home first in her life. During the years of raising her children, Lois was an accomplished seamstress, making almost all of the clothes her family wore. She also enjoyed creating beautiful ceramic figures which adorned her home and garden. Lois loved gardening, and at one time nurtured over 100 varieties of violets and fuchsias. While raising the girls, Lois and Gordon always had a place “at the lake” where she enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, swimming and skiing.
Lois and Gordon retired to Yuma from Fairfield, California 20 years ago. During her years in Yuma, Lois enjoyed traveling with Gordon in their motorhome, spending wonderful times with their 3 daughters, 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and many friends they made along the way.
Lois also cherished the many friends and neighbors she had here in Yuma. She never knew a stranger.
Lois leaves to cherish her, her husband Gordon Lindsey of Yuma; her sister Mary Jo Nicholson of Cupertino, Calif.; daughters Cheryl (David) Meeker of Lebanon, Ill., Paula Lindsey-Nash of Fairfield, Calif., Denise Mize of Vacaville, Calif.; grandchildren Michelle Miller of Lebanon, Ill., Melanie Jones of Swansea, Ill., Tim Meeker of Lebanon, Ill, Marium Rouse of Lebanon, Ill., Jessica Mize of El Dorado Hills, Calif., Jared Mize of Placerville, Calif., Jolene Mize of Folsom, Calif., Joshua Mize of Dixon, Calif., and Jamie Mize of Vacaville, Calif.; great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Whitney and Lindsey Miller, Abigail and Benjamin Jones, Arianna and Nevalei Rouse, and Kenlea and Essie Meeker.
Lois was preceded in death by her son Roger Lindsey; great-grandson Ethan Mize; and sisters, Rose Lipe, Irene Absher, Ann McAleer, and Zela Mae Hille.
Lois was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and neighbor who will be missed by all who knew her.
---MADGE ELAINE (PAGE) WILLIAMS---
In the twinkling of an eye, Madge Elaine (Page) Williams, 75, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 4, 2007 at her Yuma Valley home. She was born to Lucy Mae and John Page in Weatherford, Texas on March 16, 1931.
Madge grew up in the restaurant business. Her parents’ most well known business was “The Hole in the Wall” on Main Street. Madge spent much of her time there as a child. She attended Roosevelt Elementary School and Yuma High School. While in high school, Madge was very involved in FHA, Pep Club, the golf team, and was editor of the school newspaper, the “Thermometer”. As a reporter, she had the opportunity to meet several Hollywood stars while filming their movies in the Sand Dunes; including Burt Lancaster, Tex Ritter, Bing Crosby and many others. It was there that Madge met her high school sweetheart, Burnis. They married two months after she graduated, July 29, 1949.
After marrying and preceding their only child’s birth, Madge worked for The Yuma Daily Sun and The First National Bank. During that time she and Burnis were stationed in the Army in Missouri, she worked in a shoe factory. After their daughter was born, Madge became a full time mother.
Madge is survived by her husband, Burnis Dee Williams; daughter, Karen (Rick) Dinsmore; granddaughter, Melissa Dinsmore; grandson, Jonathan (Lara) Dinsmore; great-grandson, Cade Richard Dinsmore; sisters-in-law, Madelyn Cliff, Betty Jo Hotka, and Junie Holmes; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in Yuma and in Texas.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, John and Lucy Mae Page; and brother, Verne Page.
A graveside service was held Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at 10 a.m. with Pastor Tyrone Jones as the officiate.
Pallbearers included Jonathan Dinsmore, Melissa Dinsmore, Rick Dinsmore, Mike Magana, Armando Torres, and Jose Mendoza.
Honorary pallbearers were Cade Dinsmore, Dr. Dale Webb, Dr. James F. Martin, Chuck England, Ben Smith, Jose E. Garcia, Ana Briseno, Ruth McDowell, Martha Gonzalez, and Patty Robey.
A very special thanks goes to Pastor Tyrone Jones, Melinda Perez and Angels PRN, Janet Jones, Joy (vocalist), Charles and Linda at Johnson Mortuary, and Dr. Martin’s staff.
Madge loved God with her whole heart and it was her desire to honor Him and share his love with everyone she met. And she did!
