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Kenneth Purvis Perkins, 73, passed away April 27, 2012. He was born August 7, 1938 in Phoenix AZ to Iris E. and Andrew C. Perkins, now deceased. His brother Ronald C. Perkins is also deceased. In 1961 Kenny was one of the members of the AZ Guides and Outfitters Assoc. Also, he was a charter member of AZ Desert Big Horn Sheep Society. In the 1950s and 1960s he raced dragsters with partner and owner Mike Kannapel. Later on he belonged to the Bass Pro Club. He belonged to Masonic Lodge #20 in Mesa, AZ and also Scottish Rite. Presently he owned & operated Perkins Diesel Service of Mesa, in business since 1948, and was a longtime member of Associated Diesel Specialists. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his devoted wife of 51 years, Mary A. Perkins, 3 sons, Andrew C. Perkins Sr., Kenneth (Jay) P. Perkins Jr., and Ronald C. Perkins Jr., also 4 grandchildren, Andrew C. Perkins Jr., Ryan Kelly Perkins, Hannah M. Perkins, and Trey Wilson. He will leave an empty place in our heart forever. His most endearing quality was “telling it like it is.

Benjamin Mark Hutchins, 29, passed away May 2, 2012 in Mesa, Arizona. Funeral services are Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at the LDS Windrift Ward, 777 East Elliot Road, Gilbert, AZ. 85234. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Marjorie Alice Gunnell, a resident of Gilbert and Mesa, AZ for 29 years, passed away on April 29, 2012 at the age of 87 at home in Mesa. Marjorie was born in Everett, Washington on September 26, 1924 to Florence Alverson and Lloyd Winchester. She attended school in Everett and the University of Oregon. She was one of the first women to work in the Civil Aeronautics Administration as a communicator and was working for the CAA when she was transferred to Idaho where she met her husband, Roy Gunnell. He preceded her in death in 2006. She is survived by three children: Marcia G. Madsen, Darla J. Klovski, and W. Steven Gunnell, as well as 5 grandsons. Marjorie is revered by her children for her faith, strength of character, unfailing kindness, and dedication to her family. She studied, played, and taught piano and organ from a young age, serving as an organist in virtually every LDS ward in which she was a member, as well as in the Mesa Temple. Marjorie, Roy and their family lived for many years in Bountiful, Utah where Marjorie began teaching in 1966. After moving to Gilbert, she was an officer of the East Valley Music Teachers Association, including serving as President. Teaching young people was her passion. She received the Honored Teacher Award from the Arizona State Music Teachers Association. Marjorie completed her BA in music in1995 at ASU at age 70 and continued teaching thereafter. Visitation will be Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa. Funeral services are Monday, May 7, 2012 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at the Gilbert Lindsay Chapel, 1150 N. Lindsay Rd., (Lindsay and Houston), Gilbert. Interment will follow at Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Arizona American Guild of Organists – Marjorie Gunnell Scholarships at Box 60701, Phoenix, AZ 85082-0701.

Edgar Neeley Bouchard, of Tempe, passed away April 18, 2012 at age 80. Born April 9, 1932 in Prescott AZ, he grew up in Tucson, graduated from Amphitheater High School and attended the University of Arizona. After service in the US Army Signal Corps, he spent his career as a broadcast engineer working at several radio and television stations in Arizona including KVOA, KOOL TV, KNAZ, and KUSK among others and was also an active member of the Arizona Broadcaster’s Association. He is survived by his wife, Janette, and children Marla, Brian, and Wayne. Services will be held Wednesday April 25 at 11:00 am at the Tempe ward meeting house of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1221 W Howe St, Tempe, AZ. There will be a viewing one hour prior to services. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

C.W. (Neal) Nielsen, 90, passed away April 17, 2012. Neal was born to Neils Rasmus Nielsen and Mary Alida Wright Nielsen in Salt Lake City, UT on October 31, 1921. Neal served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also served as a young missionary in the Northwestern States Mission for the LDS Church. He was a graduate of the University of Utah where he met and married his sweetheart, Virginia Sorensen Nielsen on May 2, 1947. He had a lengthy career in the credit reporting industry, thirty of those years as president of the Credit Bureau of Phoenix which grew to be known as Credit Data Southwest. He was honored to serve in many capacities in this industry including as International President of the Credit Bureau Association. He was a long time member of the Phoenix 100 Rotary Club and the Phoenix Male Orpheus Chorus. He loved working in the Mesa Arizona Temple where he served in many capacities including Sealer. Neal and Virginia served two LDS missions after his retirement (London South and Temple Square in Salt Lake City). Neal is survived by his wife Virginia, sons Jordan (Marsha), Tim (Barbara), Paul (Debbie) and Todd (Kathy). They have 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. He has one surviving sister Lois Janke, Salt Lake City. There will be an open house Friday, April 20 from 6:30-8 PM at the Nielsen residence in Mesa for friends and neighbors wishing to express their condolences and memories of Neal. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 21, at 10 AM preceded by a viewing at 9 AM at the Mesa Central Stake Center, 925 N. Harris (south of Brown Rd). Interment to take place in Salt Lake City, UT. Funeral arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the LDS Missionary or Perpetual Education Fund at www.ldsphilanthropies.org.

Bruce McRae Radcliffe, 91 of Tempe, AZ. passed away at Beehive Homes, April 16, 2012. He was born August 4, 1920 in Shiprock, NM to Mark W. and Evelyn Taylor Radcliffe. His youth was spent in various moves to NM and AZ due to his father’s work. His family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he graduated from West High School. Bruce loved all sports especially Football, and Track and Field. He attended University of Utah, then served a mission in Argentina for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1940-1943. Bruce, nicknamed “Bud

Storey Lynn Ellis,60, passed away April 16, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. Visitation will be Friday, April 20, 2012 from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way in Mesa. Funeral services are Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at the LDS Cortina 2nd Ward, 19413 S. Sossaman in Queen Creek.

Charles “Chuck

LaVerde Johnson Gunter rejoined her Father in Heaven on April 15, 2012. She was born in Blanding, Utah on March 18, 1920. At the age of 13 she moved to Virden, NM, and then to Duncan, AZ 4 years later. In 1946 she moved to the Valley of the Sun where she lived the remainder of her life. She worked as an officer of the ASU police department for 17 years before retiring. LaVerde was predeceased by 3 husbands, 4 siblings and her oldest daughter, Helen Ruth Johnson Abbott. She is survived by daughters Ruby Kay Johnson Erickson, Shirley Ann Capps Johnson and son, Larry Wayne Capps, 9 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Viewing will be held at Noon and services 1 PM, Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the LDS chapel in Tempe located at College Ave. & Alameda. Burial will be with predeceased family members in Virden, NM. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Ryan Gordon Putman, 23 passed away April 12, 2012 in Chandler, Arizona. He was born November 23, 1988 in Mesa. He was a student with a passion for learning new things.

He enjoyed photography, firearm collecting, debating, fishing, and researching new topics. He was preceded in death by his grandmother Pat, and grandfathers Gordon and Ray. He is survived by mother Melanie Koebbe, father Randall Putman, brother Kevin Putman, step-father Robert Koebbe, step-mother Jean Cheah, grandmother Ruth, uncles Wayne, Robert, Mike, Mark, aunts Cindy, Sheila, Twila, Wanita, Debbie, Cammie, cousins Andy, Misty, Debbie, Marilyn, Candace, Beverly, Tammy, Diana, Heather, Douglas, Sandy, and Robbie. He is also survived by his close friends including James, Clayton, Nicholas, Chase, Evan, Chris, and many others. No service is planned, his ashes will be scattered at Sycamore Creek. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Ireta B. Updike, age 92, died on April 9, 2012 in Mesa, Arizona, and is reunited with family and her eternal companion Paul J. Updike, who passed in 1996. Nancy Ireta Bench was born in Fairview, Utah to John L. and Elvira Cox Bench, the seventh in a family of 8 living children. Her early life was shaped by her Mormon faith, a loving father and mother, the trials of the Great Depression, farming, a large extended family, and the mountains and valleys of central Utah. Upon graduating North Sanpete High School, she began nursing training at LDS Hospital in 1939 in SLC. She came to Mesa, AZ for health reasons and to further her nursing training at Mesa Southside Hospital. She also met her future husband, Paul at a Mezona dance. Upon her graduation in Utah as an RN, she returned to Mesa in the fall of 1941. Paul finished his LDS Mission in the summer of 1942. They married that November in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Their family grew quickly, with seven children eventually gracing their Phoenix home. Ireta also continued as a nurse, periodically helping to supplement the family’s income. Her nursing skills were her hallmark for over 45 years. Besides nursing, she served in her church as a teacher and in compassionate service. She was also elected as PTA president twice at Emerson School in Phoenix. Most famous of her many skills were her legendary homemade bread and rolls, enticing many to just skip dessert. Ireta is survived by seven children Lisle (Julene), Robert (Margaret), John (Janet), Galen (Maxine), Janet ( Rod Campbell), Paul Jr.(Cari), and Nancy (Art Case), 43 living grandchildren, (2 pre-deceased her) and currently 79 great-grandchildren. Her Funeral will be Saturday, April 21, at 10:30 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at the LDS Vineyard Ward, 1054 W. 2nd Place, Mesa. Burial at Greenwood Memory Lawn in Phoenix at 2 PM. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Bruce Chester Hunt, 88, peacefully died on Tuesday April 10, 2012 as he lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease. He had been lovingly taken care of by the staff of The Carriage House in Snowflake Arizona for only 4 days before he passed away. Bruce was a loving, hardworking son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather; a brave soldier, an honest business man with integrity and a righteous, valiant man of faith. Bruce was born November 6, 1923 in Joseph City, Arizona. He was sixth of nine children born to Benjamin and Pearl Hansen Hunt who owned and operated Homestead Dairy. He was herding and milking cows as early as age 4. Bruce graduated from Holbrook High School in 1941 where he played on the Men’s basketball team. He put in the final basket for the Holbrook Roadrunners to win the State Championship game his senior year. He served in the Army Air Force as a radio operator. He had many harrowing experiences while serving all over the world. He often delighted his children with bedtime stories of his many adventures from China, India and Iceland. He was honorably discharged in 1946 as a Staff Sergeant. He married Zena Louise Beadle on December 31, 1947. He attended and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1951 with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. He was a Manager of Foxworth Galbraith Lumber Company in Mesa and Wickenburg Arizona. In 1967 he moved his family to Flagstaff Arizona as manager of Kaibab Cash and Carry Lumber Company. He later purchased this business and renamed the company Hunt’s True Value Lumber Company. He was active in his community as a leader in the Rotary Club. He served faithfully as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in many capacities; one of which was Branch President in Wickenburg Arizona for 12 years. He and his wife Zena served 2 LDS missions in Ireland and Africa.

Bruce is preceded in death by 5 siblings; Max, Rex, Bud, Rolf and Helen Hunt, and one grandchild, Casey Nimmer. Bruce is mourned by his sister Nona Kingsbury and his brother Kern Hunt, his wife Zena Hunt, his children, Lois Waterman, Deborah Esquibel Hunt, Jennifer Menegas, Colleen Crane, Sandy Harenberg, Jeff Hunt, Doug Hunt and their spouses, 36 grandchildren and 55 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 3 PM, preceded by a visitation at 2 PM at the LDS Chapel, 3025 S. Hawes Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212. Interment at Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85207. Funeral arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Charles C. “Smokey

Max S. Blazzard, age 87, died April 7, 2012. He was born March 10, 1925, in Thatcher, Arizona. He and his wife, Mae, were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona temple and enjoyed 64 years together. Max and Mae are the parents of 5 children, 27 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Max served in World War II as a radio operator and was later employed by the Arizona Highway Department for 29 years. Upon retirement, he and his wife enjoyed traveling to 49 of the 50 states. A viewing will be held at 9 AM on April 14th, in the LDS Del Rio chapel in Tempe, AZ, followed by a funeral service at 10 AM. Burial will take place later that day at the Emery Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were handled by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Roger Nephi Ferguson, born September 6, 1932, returned home to his Father in Heaven on April 7, 2012. He died of Asbestosis, peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family. He was born to Byron and Fawn Ferguson in Santa Monica, California. He was the second of 7 children. His family moved to Provo, Utah, where he graduated from Brigham Young High School and attended Brigham Young University. At the age of 19 he married his childhood sweetheart and the love of his life, Sybil Rae Clarke, on July 10, 1952, in the Manti, Utah Temple. They would be married 60 years this coming July. His wife and 5 children were the most important achievements of his life. Roger always enjoyed the outdoors; he loved golfing, fishing, hunting and spending time with his family and friends. Roger always needed to stay busy, and enjoyed people, and sharing what he had. He loved his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was involved in all of their lives and tried to help each one as he felt was needed. Education was so important to him that he set up an education fund for each of them, and a scholarship education endowment fund for others. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he devoted much of his time and talents serving others. Roger was a true entrepreneur. Together with his wife, he developed Diet Center International, where they had over 2600 franchises. He owned farms, ranches, a fish hatchery, an ice plant, a pharmaceutical laboratory and print shop. He had many real estate holdings as well as development companies. Some of his accomplishments were:

• Youngest President of the Utah Asbestos Installation Union

• Farmer of the Year Award from Farmers Merchant Banquet

• President of Diet Center International, Inc.,

• Diet Center Inc. was listed as #13 in the top 100 Franchises in America by International Franchise Association

• Who’s Who in America Business

• Who’s Who in the West

• Inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame,

• Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce.

• Board of Directors of American Health Co.

• 7 hole in one’s

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Gayla Ferguson and Julie Hamling. He is survived by his wife Sybil, children Debra (David) Preece, Michael (VaLene) Ferguson, Wade (Lanell ) Ferguson, Lois (Jeff) Webb, Rissa (Eric) Koenig, 28 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday April 14, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Larkspur ward, 9565 East Larkspur Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. A “Celebration of Life

Crandall Bland Giddings, 96. Born 28 December 1915, in Weiser, Idaho. Died 8 April 2012, in Mesa, AZ of complications from a broken femur sustained in a fall. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Anna Kiefer, of Kings Park, Long Island, New York. He was a magnum cum laude graduate of Brigham Young University, with MD and PhD from the University of Cincinnati. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in WWII and the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a pioneering physician, a founding member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists who established the first nuclear medicine facility in the Valley (1959). He played the cello with Pablo Casals and Zara Nelsova, and helped found the Mesa fine Arts Association/Mesa Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Cello Society (1969), and the San Marcos Symphony Orchestra (1989). He was Mesa Artist of the Year (1972) and received the San Marcos Symphony Distinguished Service Award. He was a lifelong genealogist and family historian who took great pleasure in tracing elusive connections, and published numerous books on his family history and ancestors. He loved the wilderness of the American southwest, and was an Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver, and a river-rat who made six Colorado River descents through Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon with Scouts and Explorers. Wherever he lived, he planted trees; many hundreds over his lifetime, and he was well known for his love of geese. He is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Lucille Layton Giddings; step-daughter Cathy Wiggins (Olympia, WA); step-son Hal Trost (White Fish, MT); sons Thomas Crandall (Mesa, AZ) and Luther Val (Silver Spring, MD); grandchildren Calvin Aono Giddings and Naomi Anna Haruko Giddings, and many who loved and will miss his impish sense of humor, generous spirit, and citrus gifts. Funeral services are Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 11, preceded by a visitation at 10 AM at the LDS Harris 2nd Ward, 1455 N. Harris Dr., Mesa, AZ. Burial will be in the American Fork, UT Cemetery on 5 May 2012. Donations may be made to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 425 E 100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.