Biography of Samuel Hughes

Samuel Hughes, probably the oldest pioneer Arizonan now living, was born in Wales, British Isles, August 28th, 1829. In 1837 his father settled in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Hughes lived up to 1848, when he became a cabin boy on the Mississippi River, which vocation he followed until 1850, at which time he came to California overland from St. Louis. His first mining was done in Hangtown, California. In 1851 he went to Yreka, California. In 1852 he crossed the mountains to Rogue River Valley in Oregon, where he was one of the first to discover Rich Gulch at Jacksonville. In … Read more

Loennig, Alice Helen Williams Mrs. – Obituary

Muddy Creek, Oregon Alice Helen Williams Loennig, 93, a longtime Muddy Creek community resident, died Feb. 27, 2004, at Yuma, Ariz., while visiting her daughter, Sally Ganter. Alice suffered a fall while watering her petunias, survived hip surgery and a heart attack, but did not have the strength to completely recover. There will be a celebration of Alice’s life at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 27, at the Haines United Methodist Church. Pastor Sally Wiens will officiate. Private burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Alice was born at Terre Haute, Ind., on July 3, 1910, to Ralph and Carla Belt … Read more

Biography of James E. Mack

James E. Mack, Public Administrator of San Bernardino County, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in November 1848, and resided there until twelve years of age. At the breaking out of the war in 1861 he enlisted in the Fourteenth Massachusetts Infantry, serving ninety days as drummer boy. On the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Infantry for three years, but his mother prevented him being mustered in. In the fervor of his youthful patriotism he determined to try again, and enlisted in the United States Naval Marine Corps, but was again prevented from entering the service … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Isaac Lyons

The Honorable Isaac Lyons residing three miles northwest of Anaheim, was born in England in 1847, and came to San Francisco as a merchant in 1862. In 1868 he went to Prescott, Arizona, and in 1875 to Yuma, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years, with signal success. In 1887 he was elected to the Legislature front Yuma County by the Democratic party. Afterward he served two years as director of the Territorial penitentiary, his appointment to this position being received in March while he was yet in the Legislature. In 1883 he was … Read more

DeRoest, Barbara P. DeRoest – Obituary

Prairie City, Oregon Barbara P. DeRoest, 85, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died March 27, 2004, at her home on Pine Creek Road at Prairie City. Her graveside memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Tom Brock of the Baker City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mrs. Kim Eardley will officiate. There will be a reception afterward. Barbara was born on Aug. 6, 1918, to John W. and Magdaline P. Hass Williams at Baker City at the old Baker hospital. She was raised at Sparta where she attended … Read more

Biography of Charles O. Brown

Charles O. Brown, who has been mentioned in these pages already, was born in New York, and when but a young man came west. He is said to have been a member of the Giant on band which was engaged in gathering scalps of the Indians in Chihuahua, for which they received $150 each. Reference to this band has been previously made. Brown had gone to California when Glanton and his associates were murdered by the Indians at Yuma. It is not certain when he returned to Arizona, probably about the year 1858. He was a saloon man and a … Read more

Jewett, Joe – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Joe Jewett, 93, of La Grande, died Feb. 19, 2005. He was born May 13, 1911 in Helena, Montana to George and Alice Geary Jewett. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church in La Grande. Visitations will be until 4 p.m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Joe was raised at Winston, Mont. He went to electrical school in Chicago, and graduated after one year. He returned to Aberdeen, Wash., to finish his high school education as an adult. He worked about 1 year before deciding to go to … Read more

Biography of L. J. F. Jaeger

The following biographical sketch of L. J. F. Jaeger was furnished me by his son, now living at Tucson: “My father, L. J. F. Jaeger, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He worked as a mechanic in the Baldwin shops, Philadelphia. Later was appointed mechanic in the arsenal at Washington, D. C. In the latter part of 1848, he took the first sailing vessel out of Philadelphia bound for San Francisco, the ‘Mason. ‘ On reaching San Francisco he worked for a while as a carpenter. At that time the Bay extended to Montgomery Street. He was then employed as … Read more

Carrel, Charles E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Charles E. Carrel, 80, of La Grande, died Jan. 7. A memorial service took place at the Shangri La RV Resort in Yuma, Ariz. Johnsons Mortuary in Yuma was in charge of arrangements. Charles was born Feb. 21, 1927, in Deweese, Neb., to Joseph and Anne Carrel. He grew up in Nebraska and married Norma Snyder on Dec. 3, 1951, in Faibury, Neb. The couple moved to La Grande in 1969 and had two children, Lance and Pamela. Charlie owned and operated the Texaco Station at Greenwood and Adams in La Grande for 12 years and then … Read more

Heitz, Betty Doris – Obituary

Betty Doris Heitz, 79, died on Oct. 20, 2007, of a stroke at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma , Ariz. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday Oct. 8, at Burns Mortuary in Pendleton. Inurnment of ashes will be at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton. She was born May 9, 1927, to Frank E. and Luva (Roberts) Messersmith in Alliance, Neb., one of seven children. She attended high school in Curtis and graduated in 1945. She studied for one year at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then taught at a country school in Box Butte County, Neb. She married Lyle … Read more

Harrison, Hazel – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Hazel Harrison, 93, of Yuma, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande and Island City, died July 6. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday July 14 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Yuma. Mrs. Harrison was born June 19, 1913, to Henry and Flora Herrmann in Hester, Mo. She was raised in Island City, and graduated from La Grande High School. She married Howard Bousquet, and after his death, Albert Harrison. He also died earlier. She worked at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot in the early 1940s, and at the Yuma Proving Grounds from 1963 until her retirement … Read more

Rogers, Betty Doris – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Betty Doris Rogers, 79, of Yuma, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 20 at the Yuma Regional Medical Center after suffering a stroke. No services are planned at this time. Mrs. Rogers was born May 9, 1927, to Frank E. and Luva Roberts Messersmith in Alliance, Neb., one of seven children. She attended high school in Curtis, Neb., graduating in 1945. She studied for a year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then taught at a country school in Box Butte County, Neb. She married Lyle Dunham Rogers on Sept. 27, 1947, in Alliance. The couple … Read more

Allensworth, George Verne, Jr. – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon George Verne Allensworth Jr., 76, died April 4, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There was a celebration of George’s life Friday at the Richland Christian Church. Inurnment was at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Friends joined the family for a reception afterward at the Richland Christian Church. George Verne Allensworth Jr. was born on Dec. 10, 1929, at Galesburg, Ill., to George Verne and Francis Marie Lander Allensworth. George was raised and educated at Galesburg. He was a Galesburg High School graduate. On Nov. 4, 1949, he married Retha Stevens at Yuma, Ariz. They … Read more

Beck, Joyce Kennedy – Obituary

Joyce Kennedy Beck, 63, of Kennewick and formerly of Elgin, died March 17 in Yuma, Ariz., in an ATV accident. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Building 4 of the Benton-Franklin County Fairgrounds just off East 10th Avenue in Kennewick. Joyce was born June 1, 1944, to William and Mildred Kennedy in Portland. She grew up in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1962. She was married in January 1964 to Bill J. Beck of Hermiston. The couple moved to the Tri-Cities in 1969 where she worked for Ice Harbor Dam and the Social … Read more

Ingram, Thomas Fredrick “Tom” – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Thomas Fredrick “Tom” Ingram, 78, of Halfway, died Oct. 28, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His funeral was Friday at Halfway. Mr. Ingram was born on Feb. 13, 1923, to Earl and Pearl Gerberding Ingram in Eugene. He began his schooling at Burns, but finished his education in Baker County, graduating from Baker High School in 1941. In his youth, he lived in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho. After high school, Mr. Ingram worked at Yuma Army Air Base at Yuma, Ariz., during the war years. On June 25, 1945, Tom and Ann met. They didn’t see … Read more

Arizona Funeral Home Records

Funeral Log Books

This page links to known Arizona Funeral Records whether they be available online or offline. Funeral records are an invaluable source of genealogical information that can provide insight into the lives and deaths of our ancestors. They offer a wealth of details on the deceased and their family, including their names, ages, dates of death, causes of death, and other key information. While funeral records can be found in a variety of places, genealogists must be careful when interpreting the information they contain, paying close attention to accuracy and cultural context. By using funeral records in their research, genealogists can gain a deeper understanding of their ancestors and build a more complete picture of their family history.

Jacoby, Albert “Jake” – Obituary

Albert “Jake” Jacoby, 77, of Ontario, died Aug. 7, 2003, at his home. His graveside funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. MDT at Rosedale Memorial Gardens in Payette, Idaho. Visitations will be Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. MDT at Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, 2543 S.W. Fourth St. in Ontario. Albert was born July 28, 1926, the youngest of 10 children born to Jacob and Katherine Jacoby. He was raised in Windsor, Colo., where his family worked in the produce fields. His mother always told stories of what a sweet, loving boy he was. Albert served in the U.S. … Read more

Dryden, Thomas W. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Thomas W. Dryden, 95, of Baker City, died Jan. 2, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. At his request, there will be no funeral services. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Mr. Dryden was born Feb. 16, 1907, in Dodge City, Kan., to Charles W. Dryden and Rose Bell (Arbuckle) Dryden. He was the youngest of three children. When he was quite young, the family moved to Indiana, several years later to Arizona, and on to southern California. He married Doris E. Smith on Sept. 12, 1931, in Yuma, Ariz., and … Read more

Butler, Walt – Obituary

Walt Butler, 79, a former Halfway resident, died on March 9, 2005, at Yuma, Ariz. At his request, there will be no service. Walt LeRoy Butler was born at Wiley City, Wash., on March 21, 1925, to Walt LeRoy Butler Sr. and Annette B. Sams. Walt left high school early, acquiring a GED. He then entered the U.S. Navy and served until 1946. After the service, Walt went to work for Safeway stores in northern California, a career from which he retired in May of 1975. In September of 1971, Walt and Elsie Scoggin were married at Carson City, Nev. … Read more

Biography of J. W. Swilling

J. W. Swilling, known as “Jack Swilling,” was born in the state of Georgia in 1831. He emigrated to Missouri in early life, and there settled down. After having resided in that state some four years, his wife died, leaving one child, a girl, who afterwards married and lived in Missouri. About the year 1857, Swilling emigrated to Texas where he remained for two years, when he came to Arizona, and was in the employ of the Overland Mail Company for quite a length of time. During the Rebellion, Swilling was a lieutenant in Captain Hunter’s company of volunteers in … Read more