Obituaries

John W. Lester, age 95, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. John was born in Binghamton, New York on September 1, 1930 to Clair and Evalyn Lester. John was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Shirley and his parents and sisters, Clair, Evalyn, Eleanor and Carolyn. Survivors...

We celebrate the life of Ann Marie Rock, who passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on October 8, 2025. Born on January 25, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, Ann made her home in Mesa, Arizona.

Ann is lovingly remembered by her sons: Jack Bialik (Sandy), Robert Bialik (Rhonda), and James Bialik (Patty); her sister...

Bernhard (Bernie) George Kury passed away on 10/23/2025 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Cathy and daughter Pam. Bernie was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1939 and spent his childhood growing up in Union, New Jersey. He attended St. Michael's grade school and Union High School. He...

Elizabeth Ann Pew "Amy", 96, of Mesa, Arizona died September 23, 2025, in Mesa. She was born on June 19, 1929 to John and Edith Johnson in Murray, Utah. Her family moved to Mesa where she graduated from Mesa High School. She married Joseph Harvey Pew on April 10, 1947. She is survived by their six children, Terry,...

Sam Baker, acclaimed children's author, decorated Marine Corps officer, NOAA captain, and lifelong learner, passed away peacefully in June at the age of 102. Though his life spanned more than a century, it was his final chapter — launched at age 95 — that captured the hearts of readers around the world.
Born...

Maewyn "Quinn" Ballard (Willis), a kind and gentle soul, passed away at the age of 74 on July 16, 2025. Born on December 10, 1950 in a small town in Texas, Maewyn lived a vibrant life marked by a fervent commitment to the well-being of others, a pursuit of knowledge, and the creation of beauty in its myriad...

Antoinette Josephine Rinaldi, aka Toni Underwood, aka "The Queen", died in Issaquah, Washington on May 25, 2025,... but that is the least interesting thing about her.

Toni was born in Millbrook, NY on July 13, 1920, the youngest of 9 children born to her parents, Stephen and Josephine Rinaldi. She often shared...

Jolynne Brown Burr
November 19, 1942 — June 26, 2025
Jolynne Brown Burr, born November 19, 1942 in Tooele, Utah, passed away June 26, 2025 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Her parents are Robert Maurice Brown and Jane Elizabeth Rydalch Brown. She grew up in her beloved hometown of Grantsville, Utah, where she learned to...

Marie Videtto Varker, age 89, beloved wife, mother and friend, passed away in the comfort of her home in Scottsdale, Az on June 3, 2025, leaving her husband Charles to whom she was married for 70 years, her three grown children Charles Varker, Christine Varker Maxwell, Diane Hart, eight grandchildren and nine great...

Irene B. Metz, 95, died June 14th after a thankfully short struggle with cancer. She spent her life taking care of family, including her late husband E. David Metz. She was a vital part of her Valley community since moving from Washington DC to Phoenix in 1952. She supported many charitable institutions, especially...

Kami Himes passed away in her home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in May. She was born September 8, 1965, in Scottsdale, Arizona— daughter to [predeceased] George and Sherry Karakey, sister to three [survived] siblings: Roxi, Buddy, and Launi.

She graduated from Horizon High School in 1983, and went on to earn two...

Ralph Whittaker Pryor Colonel (US Army Retired) and Business Executive Ralph Pryor, born1939, passed away on 14 March 2025 in his home in Scottsdale, AZ.
Ralph was a true Army "Brat", having been born in Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii, following his father's assignment to Hawaii, which the Japanese bombed in...