Obituaries

80, of Scottsdale, Arizona, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on August 23, 2015.  Mary Lou was born March 8, 1935 in Royal Oak, Michigan to Andrew and Rosella Lorts, who preceded her in death.  The family moved to Arizona in 1948, where Mary Lou attended St. Francis Grade School and St....

Patricia Jean Brewer Hart passed peacefully surrounded by family on August 26, 2015. Daughter of Patricia Ann and Dr. Edward Allan Brewer, she was born on December 5, 1964. She attended St. Gregory grade school, West High, and the University of Arizona. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She worked many years in the hospitality industry and...

Bonnie Stirnweis, 97, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 27, 2015.  Bonnie was born to Swiss immigrants, Peter and Marie Bartschi, on February 27, 1918. She was delivered by her father on a houseboat on the Arkansas River and was raised in Ida, Arkansas, moved to Portland, Oregon with her family at age 18 and began a career in retail fashion...

Tiffany Ann Makaus, age 46, passed away at 1: 45 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2015 in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. Tiffany was born in Phoenix on February 25, 1969 to Suzan Spearin Makaus and Peter Robert Makaus. Tiffany’s early education included attending All Saints’ Episcopal Day School and Xavier College Preparatory High School. College years brought her to...

Bertha Miller, beloved mother and grandmother passed away on August 24, 2015 at age 95.  Bertha was born in Cissna Park, Illinois on June 7, 1920 to Bertha and Martin Reuter.  She left high school early to help her dad in his business. She helped with wallpapering, painting and driving the truck.  She left home and lived with a family...

John Adam Hines, beloved husband, father and grandfather died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on August 21, 2015.  John was born on April 26, 1936 in Garden City, NY. He graduated from the Webb Schools in Claremont, CA in 1954 and the University of Southern California, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega, in 1958. ...

62, of Payson, AZ passed away on August 19, 2015. Bruce is survived by his parents Bruce and Kathryn Barton, wife, Brenda, daughters Lisa Reagan and Amora Mueller, brothers John and Andrew and wife Charlotte, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, two nieces and one nephew. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy and is a veteran of...

60, of Goodyear, AZ passed away August 5, 2015. Erin was born November 23, 1954 in Long Island City, New York to Warren and Margaret Lawracy. She attended Saint Johns High School in Long Island, NY. Erin worked at McMaster Carr for 10 years in South Brunswick, NJ as a Sales Manager. She arrived in Arizona on June 25, 1997...

Reg “Coach” Matthews, 91, passed away peacefully on August 16, 2015 surrounded by his wife, daughter, and granddaughter. How does one tell the story of a man who lived such a rich and full life? We begin where it all began- in Natick, Massachusetts. Reg, or Butch as he was called in his early years, was an all around athlete...

Robert L. Bayless III passed away August 18, 2015. Bob was born in Phoenix on September 2, 1942 to Pauline Hickcox Bayless and Robert L. Bayless, Jr. He attended St. Francis Grade School, Brophy, and the University of Arizona. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. After college, Bob began work in the insurance business and created Bayless...

Mary Favela Knowlton, 99, passed from this world on August 15, 2015. Mary was born in San Joaquin, Sinaloa, Mexico on July 24, 1916. She resided in Arizona for the past 91 years. Mary worked at Luke Air Force Base making parachutes during WWII. She also worked for many years at Korrick and Diamond department stores in downtown Phoenix. She...

Helene Brandenberger, 85, of the Valley of the Sun, was born in Paris, Kentucky to Mary Soule and Herbert Thomas Sledd, January 2nd, 1930. Helene’s parents moved from Kentucky to Arizona for her mother’s health and Helene and her siblings followed when she was about six. Her father was a Federal Housing Manager and the family moved frequently. Helene graduated...

Dr. Maura Hi’ilani Lynch, 51, of Scottsdale, Arizona formerly of Kailua, Hawaii was taken from us while she was on her morning run. Maura died on June 12, 2015.She lived a gracious life as a healer, a writer, a mentor, a spiritual guide and a caregiver; she lived in truth, beauty and love practicing her belief that all people are...

Wesley Allen DeMarce “Red” 66, one of the last, true Marlboro men, passed away Saturday, August 15, 2015 at his home in Mesa, surrounded by his children.Red was husband to his high school sweetheart, Susan (Lewis), dad to Matthew (Amy) and Kristy, (Hale), devoted Papa to Lexi, Mattie and Lyndy, son, brother, uncle and friend to many. A Phoenix native,...

SHAWN ROBERT SPEROFF entered into the loving embrace of our Lord on August 4, 2015 in Phoenix, AZ at the age of 28. He is survived by his mother Joann and father Robert, brothers Ryan and Brandon and many loving family relatives and friends. Shawn ‘E Boy’ was born in Memphis, TN on March 15, 1987. The family moved to...

Antonio S. Rodriguez, 48 of Phoenix passed away Aug. 6, 2015. Born in El Centro, CA and moved to Phoenix where he graduated from Alhambra High School in 1985. He worked as a meat cutter and loved to have fun with friends and family. Tony never married or had any children but enjoyed his two nieces and spent time with...

David Tapia Rodriguez was called home to his Savior, our Lord, on Monday August 10th, 2015. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, friend, and servant of God. Honor, courage, integrity, humility, and dauntless pride in all he did, were the foundation of his journey through this life. He was a loving and giving man to any and all...

Herminia Martha Tigue, born December 8, 1939, was called home on July 10, 2015.Affectionately called Mennie by her family and Martha by her friends, she lived her life with enthusiasm. She had a lively family history, going back to her grandparents, Ignacio and Angelita Flores, who in Mexico; became the parents of 18 children. Her Mother, also named Angelita, came...

Judith A. Grier passed away peacefully on August 12, 2015 in Tempe, AZ. Judy is survived by her son Bill (Denise) Grier, granddaughter Kayla and her sister Cathy Ryan. She was born in Milwaukee, WI and later moved to Arizona where she worked as an administrative assistant in the banking and healthcare industries. Judy enjoyed spending time with her family,...

91, passed away on August 10, 2015. He was born on October 2, 1923 in Watertown, New York. Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1943 and became an Army Paratrooper. He subsequently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Denison University in Granville, OH in June 1949. He moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1952. After several positions in...