Obituaries

1949 – 2023 John Van RiperAnother fallen soldier and hero left us on April 14, 2023.  John Van Riper, 74 of Chandler, Arizona.  He joined the Army in 1967 to an honorable discharge in 1970 to fight for his country. A barrage of sniper fire ended a combat mission of the 162ndAssault Helicopter Group during the Vietnam War, wounded my...

Joyce Ann (Cornelius) Johnson, 85, of Chandler, Arizona passed away peacefully on April 11, 2023. Joyce was born in Peoria, Illinois to Dee “Poppy” Cornelius and Ann “Nanny” (Koch) Cornelius. She moved to Arizona with her daughter in the 1960s, where she met her husband, Phillip Arthur Johnson, and became the stepmother to his four children. Joyce and Phillip had...

We are sad to announce the passing of James Monroe Anderson Sr. of Gilbert, Arizona.  James was born on February 13, 1944, and passed away at the age of 79 on April 21, 2023, at 10:02 AM.  James passed surrounded by his loved ones after a battle with heart failure.  He will be sadly missed and will always hold a...

Daniel Kent Cripe, age 67, of Chandler, AZ, passed away peacefully at Chandler Regional Medical Center surrounded by family and loved ones on April 21st, 2023.Dan was born on January 31st, 1956, to Kenneth and Marjorie (Herman) Cripe in Beatrice, NE. Dan spent his early childhood in Wymore, NE before graduating from Ruskin High School in 1974. After graduating, Dan...

Gearldine (Jeri) May, left to be with our Lord and Savior on April 20th, 2023 at the age of 86. She was born on November 10th, 1936 in Mesa, Arizona to Charles Albert Horne and Reva Tryon.Jeri was a remarkable individual who touched the lives of many. She will always be remembered for her thoughtfulness and generosity. She unwaveringly and...

Chief Master Sergeant E-9, Ret. USAFDalton Odell Smith, Ret USAF Chief Master Sergeant E-9Dalton O. Smith, 86, passed away on October 28, 2022. He was born, September 17, 1936, in New Bern, North Carolina. As a young boy, he was placed in the Oxford Orphan Home in Oxford, North Carolina. He remained at Oxford until he graduated from High School....

Randall Clarence Jones, age 71, passed away on April 12, 2023, of kidney failure in Gilbert, Arizona. He was born on October 13, 1951, to Clarence Stewart Jones and Meredith Hanseen Jones in Salt Lake City, Utah. After having lived in New Mexico and Southern California the family settled in Los Altos, California in 1957. Randy attended Loyola Elementary School,...

Helen Louise Tedder Levi, 86, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2023, at her home in Tempe, Arizona surrounded by her loving family.  She was born July 22, 1936, in Panama, Oklahoma, the daughter of Ralph T. Tedder and Geraldine Alice Lamb.Helen met and fell in love with her husband R. Duane Levi in Cashion, Arizona and they were married for...

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Snavely Daniel Swaim Sr., born August 29th, 1934. He passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side on April 4th, 2023.Known to most as “Dan Swaim,” he was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended R.J. Reynolds High School and then the University of North...

Lois L. Landis passed into the arms of her heavenly father on April 12, 2023. She was a lifelong resident of Arizona.Lois leaves behind 3 children, Beverly Landis, Barbara Ballard and Martin Landis, all residents of the Phoenix area. Lois also leaves behind five generations including two grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.Mom retired from the Phoenix Police Department...

It is with great heartache we announce that James D. LeMay, a man filled with love, integrity, compassion, and a spirit of adventure passed away on March 31st, 2023. He was born in Watertown, SD on October 2nd, 1939, raised in Jamestown, ND, and married Janice Peterson on June 7th, 1959, in Langdon, ND.He graduated Magna Cum Laude from University...

Garrett LaMar Rodrigo was born on May 1, 1996, in Chandler, Arizona, and passed away on April 4, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents HD Kingsley G.P. Rodrigo and Norma Rodrigo; grandfather, Lynn LaMar Ross, and uncle, Scott Ross.  He is survived by his parents, Kingsley and Natalie Rodrigo; brothers, Quinn, Ian and Gavin,...

Dillie Mae Collum (McCullough), age 99, went to be with Jesus on April 10, 2023. She was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on November 18, 1923, the oldest of 9 children born to Ruth & Jimmie McCullough. She passed away in Chandler, Arizona where she lived for 35 years. Mae was a woman of faith and an active member of her...

Kathaleen Jesse “Kitty” Strohmeyer died peacefully on April 7, 2022, at the age of 96 in Chandler, Arizona.   She was born on April 23, 1925, to Jessie and Cleaton (Jones) Wilkes in Maxton, North Carolina and is survived by her daughters Dawn Hoy and Linda Maughan; adored son-in-law Bob Maughan; grandchildren Kristin Seagrave, Jacob Knutson Hoy, Robert Maughan, Matthew Maughan;...

Terri Marie Sauer-Kennard, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend went home with our lord after a courageous 6-month battle with NASH, on April 2, 2023, in Chandler AZ. Her husband and partner of 30 years was at her and never left her side.Born in St Louis, MO to Ferdinand Sauer and Carolyn Sauer-Kehm on July 30, 1961. ...

Phillip (Phil) Franklin Culver passed away at his home in Sun Lakes, Arizona on March 14, 2023, at the age of 83.  Phil was born in a tiny little house in Sayre, Oklahoma on July 6,1939 to Dwight Wesley and Birdie Josephine (Beavers) Culver.His family was very poor, and he spent long days during his childhood in the cottonfields.  As...

Bryttn Grace Earlywine returned to the loving arms of her Heavenly Mother & Father, on March 29, 2023, following a long journey with leukemia.  Bryttn was the youngest of five siblings, born to parents David and Diana K. Earlywine on January 9, 2011, in Mesa AZ.  She was known by all her friends, family, teachers, doctors, and nurses to live...

Jesusita Padilla, 79, of Chandler, AZ passed away on March 31, 2023, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Presidio, Texas on June 3, 1943, but lived in Chandler her entire life.Jesusita was inspired by many family members.  She worked at the DeMarcos gift shop in the Sky Harbor Airport as a cashier for approximately...

On March 31st, 2023, Thomas Jeffrey Strom (Tom Strom), loving Son, Brother, Uncle, Grandson, Nephew, and Cousin, passed away in Phoenix, AZ. Tom Strom was born on April 14, 1994 in Rochester, NY and baptized on July 3, 1994 in Geneseo, NY. Tom attended Notre Dame Preparatory School in Scottsdale, AZ and was trained in USMC Electro-Optical Repair at Fort...

On Thursday, March 23, 2023, Rudolph (Rudy, Arturo, Gordo) Arthur Duarte loving Son, Brother, Father, and Uncle passed away unexpectedly in Phoenix, AZ at the age of 54.Rudolph Arthur Duarte was born on December 16, 1968, in Phoenix, AZ to Rosemary Loya (Duarte). He attended Edison Elementary School and spent his high school years at North High School.Rudy had a...