Clytie Mae Smith Fleetwood
Clytie Mae Fleetwood, 96, passed away peacefully February 21, 2019, at her home in Sun Lakes, Arizona, surrounded by her devoted children following a brief illness.
Born on a ranch on July 18, 1922, in Tokio, Terry County, Texas, and raised on a farm in Eastern New Mexico, she was the only daughter of Andrew Quincy and Lillie Helmer Smith. She received her teaching certificate at Eastern New Mexico College in Portales, NM, and taught school in Dora, NM. She was a member of the Bethel Baptist Community and of the Rebekahs. She met her husband Haldon Thomas Fleetwood in Clovis, New Mexico, where he was serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps, and they were married July 13, 1944, in Portales, New Mexico. He preceded her in death in 2008.
Clytie was a member of the so-called “Greatest Generation,” living through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and World War II. While her husband was serving in the Pacific Theater for the Army Air Corp, Clytie lived in Los Angeles working in an airplane factory installing insulation in war aircraft. When her husband returned from the war, they moved back to New Mexico where Hal worked for Standard Oil Company. After a few years, they moved back to the family farm for a few years before returning to Los Angeles to care for her husband’s grandmother. From Los Angeles, Standard Oil relocated the family to Tucson, then eventually to Holbrook, Arizona, where they were in the service station business.
Clytie also taught school and worked in the Holbrook School Library. While living in Holbrook, she was active as a Girl Scout leader, a member of the Holbrook Hospital Auxiliary, Health Systems Agency in Flagstaff, Governor’s Highway Safety Commission, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, community fundraisers, Lady Elks, Bridge Club, Navajo County Fair Racing Commission, transported the ill to the hospital, knitted stockings for newborns and planned patient parties at the Holbrook Hospital. In 1979, Clytie was named Holbrook’s Woman of the Year.
Clytie and Hal retired to Sun Lakes, Arizona, in 1984. She attended church at Sun Lakes Baptist then was a member of Sun Lakes Community Church until her death. She and her husband loved to travel, play cards and spend as much time as possible with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She has traveled most of the United States with family, oftentimes making them family history trips with cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her only brother Andrew Quincy Smith, Jr. and one grandson, Richard McNabb.
She is survived by her two children, Michael Fleetwood (Marina) of Sun Lakes, AZ, and Mona McNabb (Teddy) of Holbrook, AZ. Grandchildren: Adam Fleetwood of Dallas, Texas; Hailee Pierce (Sean) of Phoenix; Casey Black (Vickie) of Superior, Colorado; as well as Jeff McNabb; Doug McNabb; Michele McNabb; Marissa Mitchell; Kendall Cox; Nathan Cox. She had 14 great-grandchildren.
Following a private family memorial, she was interred at the Valley of the Sun Cemetery, Sun Lakes, AZ, on February 25, 2019. Funeral arrangements were handled by Bueler Mortuary, Chandler, AZ. Family luncheon was provided by the Pleasant 2nd Ward Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Rev. Jerry Van McGhee
Rev. Jerry Van McGhee, Pastor of Sun Lakes Community Church, Sun Lakes, AZ, joined his Heavenly Father on March 5, 2019, surrounded by his family. He touched the lives of many while on this earth, and he will be sorely missed by his family and many friends here and across the world.
Jerry was born in Chicago, IL, on September 29, 1937, to Bevie and Chester McGhee who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ernestine, his three children: Cathy McGhee, Mike McGhee (Shari), and Crystal Bashaw (Paul); six grandchildren: Stephanie Robnett (Brian), Courtney Orban (Travis), Shaylin, Cody and Chance McGhee, Julia Bashaw; as well as six great-grandchildren (Brice, Paris, Gracie, Fiona, Hannah, Kevin). Jerry is also survived by his sister Sue Whittaker (Jerry) of Scottsdale, AZ, and brother Ed McGhee of Cleveland, TN.
Jerry graduated from Lee College, Cleveland, TN, in 1967 and earned his Master’s Degree from California Graduate School of Theology in Glendale, CA. He served 50 years as Pastor of churches in Noblesville, IN; Norwood, OH; Richmond, VA; Phoenix, AZ; Chandler, AZ (22 years); and most recently in Sun Lakes, AZ. While pastoring in Chandler, Jerry also taught classes on two occasions in Russia for Campus Crusade International Leadership Academies and ministered in the villages of Romania on two separate occasions.
Jerry served four years with the City of Chandler as a council member (1984-1988); two as vice-mayor. In 2003, he retired from pastoring the Sun Lakes Community Church in Sun Lakes, AZ, and joined a volunteer ministry called SOWERS (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready to Serve), serving six years as president. After 13 years of volunteer work, he returned to pastoring the Sun Lakes Community Church for the second time for almost four years before passing away on March 5.
A memorial service and celebration of his life was held at the Sun Lakes Community Church on March 16, 2019. A memorial fund for Pastor Jerry has been established supporting the provision of clean water wells and churches in Sierra Leone, Africa. This is a project supported by the church and was a personal favorite of Pastor Jerry’s.
Peter Swanney Mason
Peter Swanney Mason was born in Vancouver, B.C., on November 14, 1927. He went to join his family and many friends in heaven on March 7, 2019. We were all so comforted by the fantastic care given to Peter by the Saints at Hospice of the Valley.
Peter and his wife Sandra moved to Sun Lakes in 1990. He loved Sun Lakes and was involved in all the many activities that have been available.
Peter is survived by Sandra and a combined family of six children and seven grandchildren. He would want us all to “Keep smiling, and everyone will wonder what you are up to.”
In lieu of flowers, if desired, please contribute in Peter’s name to Neighbors Who Care.
Don Craig Clark
D. Craig Clark passed away in Sun Lakes, Arizona, on February 26, 2019. Don Craig Clark was born to Don and Beth Clark in St. Anthony, Idaho, on July 14, 1936. Craig moved with his family to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1950 where he graduated from Anchorage High School in 1954. After attending Oregon State University, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and flew A-4 jets from the USS Kitty Hawk.
Craig was honored to be the best man for his college roommate in 1958; it was there that he met the bride’s best friend and maid of honor Bonnie Jaeger of Condon, Oregon. Craig and Bonnie were married two years later on July 17, 1960. After the birth of two daughters and Craig’s separation from the Navy, the young family drove to their new home in Anchorage, arriving in January of 1964 – just weeks before the 1964 earthquake. Their son Todd was born in Anchorage.
Craig was an Alaskan aviator working for a variety of small plane operators before purchasing Anchorage Airways in 1973; they flew charters for oil companies until 1982. Always interested in technology, Craig and Bonnie started CompuEaze (later Network Business Systems) in 1987. Craig and Bonnie retired to Sun Lakes, Arizona, in 2003.
Craig is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonnie, and three children: Shelly Eldred (Martin), Tammy Walsh (Mike) and Todd Clark (Lisa). He leaves five grandchildren: Paul Eldred (Ryan Moothart), Katrina Eldred, Nick Mele, Sarah Clark (Mike Pikul) and Makayla Clark. Craig has one great-granddaughter, Naomi Eldred. He is also survived by his sister Judi (Larry) Haney.
Services were held at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Chandler, Arizona, on March 16 at 9:00 a.m. A memorial will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, in June.
Leo Callaghan
Leo Callaghan, 82, of Sun Lakes, AZ, passed away peacefully with family at his side on January 31, 2019. Leo was born on September 26, 1936, in Liverpool, England. After his service in the British Army, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1957 and made his way out to California where he met Anna, his wife of 53 years.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Leo began a successful career in real estate. While working full time and raising a family, he was still able to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science from La Verne University in 1973. After a successful career as owner of his own real estate agency, he and Anna retired to Sun Lakes in 1992. During his years at Sun Lakes, Leo continued a part-time career in real estate, but also enjoyed his time golfing, traveling the world with Anna and entertaining the room singing karaoke.
Leo is survived by his wife Anna, his three children and his many grandchildren. A private memorial service is planned for April.
Ben P. Ray
Ben P. Ray of Sun Lakes, Arizona, passed away on February 8, 2019, at the age of 86. Ben was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, to Robert Burdette and Marie Anderson Ray. He was the youngest of five siblings, all of whom have predeceased him.
Ben was a graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) with a degree in business administration and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduation, he was in the U.S. Army stationed in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1956, Ben joined the management team of the J.C. Penney Company for the California-Arizona region. He married Jeanne Ludlow in 1957 in Van Nuys, California. While with Penney’s, he was associated with the store in Tower Plaza in Phoenix. In 1969 he became Regional Manager for Fashion Fabrics in the Arizona-Nevada region and was responsible for opening six stores in Phoenix, one in Flagstaff, Yuma and El Centro and two in Las Vegas.
He moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 1975 with his family where he owned fabric stores in both Carlsbad and Roswell, New Mexico. He retired in 1994 after selling his stores in New Mexico. He and Jeanne moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona, in 2002.
Ben was an avid gardener and enjoyed traveling, reading and bridge. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandson. He was active in bridge clubs in Sun Lakes and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes.
Ben is survived by his wife Jeanne of Sun Lakes; son Dr. Douglas Ray and his wife Karen of Awatukee Foothills and their three sons Nathaniel, Harrison and Jackson; his daughter Sara Ray Hermance and husband Bill of the Woodlands, Texas, and their children Meghan and Benjamin, his wife Lyndsey and their son Ezra.
Joan Margaret Sheehan Cahoy
Joan Margaret Sheehan Cahoy, 90, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on February 12, 2019. Joan was preceded in death by her parents George and Mayme Sheehan, two brothers Robert and Leslie Sheehan, sister Marie Sheehan and grandson Ryan McMullan. She is survived by her husband Dr. Harold Cahoy, whom she married in 1958, and their children Ann Cahoy Okner (Marc), Susan McMullan (Bob), Patrick H. Cahoy, (Laura) and Mary Lipinsky, (Joe). And grandchildren Kyle and Allison (Ally) McMullan and Tyler (TJ) and Maggie Lipinsky.
Joan graduated valedictorian from Union High School in Rural Le Mars, Iowa. She received a bachelor of science and teaching degree from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, and a master of science degree from the University of Iowa. She took her dietetic internship at University of Iowa Hospitals. She was a registered dietitian until her retirement.
Joan loved her grandchildren and Nebraska Cornhusker football. She lived her life with abounding grace, a kind spirit and a tender heart. She deeply cherished her husband of 60 years, Harold, and their four children.