Articles
Obituaries July 1, 2009
Donald J. Murray, M.D. passed away June 15,2009 (There was no funeral, private services). He was born in Buffalo, New York, December 1, 1926. He grew up in Buffalo and joined the Army in WW. II. He went to the University Buffalo College and medical school and graduated in 1954. Don moved West for his internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix and worked 3 years on the Hopi Navajo reservation in the Public Health Services. Next came a residency in radiology at Loveless Clinic in Albuquerque. Then Don moved to Scottsdale and worked at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital for several years. He finally took a job as head radiologist (1980-1990) at Gila General and Miami Inspiration Hospitals in Globe, Arizona. Dr. Murray retired in Globe and enjoyed a happy retirement. He is survived by his wife Vivian.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LaBarty Lee Swift, age 29 of Bylas, Arizona passed away on June 20,2009 in car a accident on Hwy. 70 near Peridot, Arizona. He was born in San Carlos, Arizona on September 27, 1979 He was the son of Robert. and the late Ester (Kitcheyan) Swift. He worked as Crew Boss for San Carlos Apache Tribal construction. LaBarty graduated from Fort Thomas High School in 1998. He played football, baseball and basketball during his high school years, enjoyed fishing, cooking and playing co-ed softball and was most happy just being outdoors. He was most fortunate to travel with his mother in 1992 and visit Jerusalem and see the Holy Land. Preceded in death by his mother Ester Kitcheyan Swift in April of 2009. LaBarty is survived by his father, Robert Swift, his sisters, Roberta Swift, Natalie Anderson (Leon Jr.), Laurie Casse (Coleman, Jr.), and his brother Arlando Swift all of Bylas, Arizona The Wake was held on Saturday, June 27,2009 @4:00 P.M. At Robert Swift's Residence in Bylas, Arizona Funeral Services were held on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 1 :00 P.M. at Bylas Miracle Church Interment will be at Navajo Point Cemetery in Bylas, Arizona. Assisting the family; Lamont Mortuary of Globe. For more info log on to: www.lamontmortuary. cableone.net.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXEvelyn Copp, 90, a homemaker who enjoyed golf, baking and fishing and who was active in Daughters of the Nile and the Eastern Star, passed away June 27, 2009. She was 90. Mrs. Copp was born Aug. 31, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was reared in Long Beach, Calif. There, she met her high school sweetheart, George Copp Jr., and they were married in March of 1941. In 1954, she and her husband relocated to Phoenix, and there, as a homemaker, she reared her two sons. Her husband retired in 1972, and she and her family moved to their summer home north of Payson, at Rim Trail. Upon her husband's death in 2004, Mrs. Copp moved to Cottonwood, where she resided at Cottonwood Village. Survivors include two sons, John Douglas Copp and James Edmond Copp; and five grandchildren, Jessica, Jacqueline, Kevin, David and Rebecca. Arrangements were handled by Messinger Payson Funeral Home.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXDorine "Dee" Sams of Payson passed away on June 24, 2009 at the age of 81. Born in Osage City , Kansas on February 22, 1928 , she was the sixth of seven children born to Arthur and Nellie Thompson. Dee 's family moved to Denver, Colorado when she was in grade school in the 1930s. While attending North High School , Dee met her future husband, Tom In 1944 she learned to build and pilot a glider. Dee was the only known female glider pilot in the United States , at that time. Dee and Tom married in 1946. They lived in Denver until 1958, when they moved to Scottsdale. They raised their family in Scottsdale . Dee was active in the Scottsdale Artist's League and co-founded the Scottsdale Teenage Art League. In the late 1960s, Dee began her career in real estate. In 1976, they moved to Payson. Dee worked for Christensen and Associates and Coldwell Banker real estate offices, before opening her own office, Dee Sams Action Realty, in 1986. She also became a real estate appraiser. Dee retired in 1996. A self-described "tough old broad," Dee was a very determined, "can-do" person, who always seemed to know how to get through the hard times. She was extremely family-oriented and loved being close to her three daughters, her sons-in-law and her three grandsons. Dee and Tom loved to travel, especially going on cruises. Dee is survived by her daughters Sam (Andrew) Bowles, Jerri (Charles) Copenhaver, and Jill Morgan (Kevin) Seitz; grandsons Tylor Morgan and Tanner Morgan; sister Karin Nedeau; and her dear companion Irv Zelgewicz. Dee was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Thomas A. Sams, Jr.; her grandson T.J. Copenhaver, and five sisters and brothers. A service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, June 27, 2009, with a viewing one hour before, at the Payson United Methodist Church, 414 N. Easy St., Payson, AZ.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX