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Katherine Groseta

Katherine Groseta, age 84, of Cottonwood, died on July 22, 2005, in her home. Mrs. Groseta was born on Sept. 9, 1920, in Jerome, to Croatian immigrants George and Anna Maglicic.

She graduated from Jerome High School in 1938. She attended nurse’s training academy at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in downtown Phoenix. She graduated from nurse’s training in 1941 and started work as a registered nurse at the Jerome Hospital. She also worked at the Clarkdale Clinic, Cottonwood Clinic in downtown Cottonwood, which later became Marcus J. Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Groseta also worked at the Marcus J. Lawrence Memorial Hospital at its present location on Willard Street and Highway 89A, now known as Verde Valley Medical Center.

In between working at the local hospitals here in the Verde Valley, Mrs. Groseta worked as a Public Health Nurse in Casa Grande and in San Diego, Calif. She retired as an RN in 1983, while working at Marcus J. Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

On Sept. 18, 1946, she married Peter Groseta, Jr. in St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Clarkdale. After they married, Mrs. Groseta moved with her husband to the Groseta Ranch in Bridgeport, where they raised cattle and alfalfa hay. In 1948, Mr. and Mrs. Groseta purchased the W Dart cow outfit, where they raised commercial cattle in the Cottonwood and Clarkdale areas.

Mrs. Groseta served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Croatian Federal Union (CFU) Jerome Lodge No. 38 locally for several decades before it was consolidated into the Phoenix Lodge. Mrs. Groseta, along with her husband, Pete, served as Grand Marshal of the Cottonwood Christmas Parade in the late 1990’s. She was a long-time member of the Cottonwood Civic Club, Retired Nurses Association and a lifetime member of the Verde Historical Society. Mrs. Groseta was a member, along with her husband Pete, of the Arizona Pioneer Stockmen. She was also a member of the Yavapai Cowbelles.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter; her sister, Ann; and her parents, George and Anna Maglicic of Jerome.

She is survived by her sons, Peter Andrew “Andy”, and wife, Mary Beth, and three grandchildren, Paul (Gretchen), Katy and Anna, and George Stephen Groseta. In addition, she has four nephews, two nieces, and sister-in-law, Margie Groseta.

A Rosary and Vigil was held on Monday, July 25th, at 6 p.m. at Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood. Services were held on Tuesday, July 26, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church in Cottonwood (Bill Gray Road and Highway 89A).

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Church Building Fund of Immaculate Conception Church at 700 N. Bill Gray Road, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 or Northern Arizona Hospice, 269 South Candy Lane, Cottonwood, AZ 86326.

(Information provided by survivors.)

Melvin Willard Clack

Melvin Willard Clack, age 85, died at his home on Friday, July 22, 2005, surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 31, 1919, in Rocky Mount, N.C., the son of Hunter Moss and Lutora (Newell) Clack.

Mel served in the United States Army Air Corps and the Air Force, having enlisted in mid 1941. He was stationed in New Guinea and Australia from 1942 to 1944. He also served as a radio operator on a C47 and in 1945 taught classes in Texas for the Air Corps.

Mel worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Aberdeen, S.D. He and his family moved to Prescott in 1953, where he and his wife opened Mel’s Café. In 1956, he became an Independent Dealer with Goodyear, selling tires to Cyprus Bagdad Copper Co., retiring in 1997.

Mel was founder of the Yavapai Center for the Blind in 1980. He started a 3rd grade School Reading Program in the 1970’s with all of the public schools, then worked solely with Washington School and Miller Valley School. He started collecting magazines which came from the Lions paper bins and Prescott Library which he distributed to the YMCA, PCDC, Open Door and some shut-ins. Mel was very involved with the Angel Tree Camp.

Mel was very active in the Prescott Noon Lions Club, Prescott United Methodist Church and Aztlan Lodge #1 Free and Accepted Masons in Prescott. Mel enjoyed walking the neighborhood, and occasionally got lost. He would meet some of the neighborhood kids on his walks and always had a Butterfinger or silver dollar in his pocket to give them. He took care of the birds around his house, feeding them daily only the best, and tended to the watering of the gardens and all the beautiful blue spruce trees around the house he and the family planted. Mel loved to read (Talking Books) and remembers fondly sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge with his life long friend Joe McIlvain on a troop ship. He was proud of his loving wife, daughter, and grandchildren.

Mel is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Dorothy Clack of Prescott, and daughter, Becky (Jerry) Cochell of Prescott. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Andrea, Julie and Samantha Hernandez; great grandson, Kai Hunter Clack of Prescott; granddaughter, Jodi (John) Woodburn of New Mexico; great granddaughters, Kelsi and Jordi of New Mexico; his sister-in-law, Lola Clack of North Carolina, and several nieces and nephews. Mel is also survived by a loving friend, Bobbie (Bill) Peterson. Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Hunter Moss and Lutora Clack; son, Douglas Hunter Clack, and daughter, Linda Carolyn Hernandez. Also preceding Mel in death were his brother, Alvin Clack, and sisters, Thelma Bullock and Mavis Spruill.

A celebration of Mel’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at Prescott United Methodist Church, 505 W. Gurley St., Prescott. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

The family suggests donations be made in Mel’s name to Northern Arizona Vision and Hearing Loss Center, Mel Clack Building Fund, 440 North Washington Ave., Prescott, AZ 86301 or Prescott United Methodist Church Children Playground Fund, 505 W. Gurley St., Prescott, AZ

86303.

Visit Mel’s obituary, guest book and video tribute at www.ruffnerwakelin.com

Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

(Information provided by survivors.)

Ramon Rivera

Ramon Rivera, age 70, died Friday, July 22, 2005, in Phoenix. He was born July 19, 1935, in Jerome, the son of Bartolo and Viviana Mendez Rivera.

Ramon married June Duarte Sept. 9, 1987, and she died in 2003.

Ramon is survived by his brothers, Ernie, Jesse and Joe, all of Prescott, and three sisters, Ynfra DeLeon of Phoenix, Ortensia of N. Edwards, Calif., and Maria of Yuma.

Visitation and cremation will be private. A committal service will take place at Mt. View Cemetery in Prescott at a later date.

Arrangements were handled by Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home.

(Information provided by survivors.)

Scott L. Webb

Scott L. Webb, age 74, of Prescott Valley, passed away on July 23, 2005. Diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2005, it took his very active life in less than two months.

Scott was born on Aug. 17, 1930, in Toledo, Ohio. He served for 30 years in Law Enforcement. Scott was a member of the Elks Lodge #330 of Prescott. He was particularly proud of his role as the Arizona State Commander of Veterans of Underage Military Service. Scott was also a member of the American Legion Post #6 in Prescott and VFW Post # 10227 in Prescott Valley.

Scott is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 50 years, Maxine M. Webb, four children, five grandchildren and one brother.

A commemoration service, in honor of Scott, will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 29, at Sunrise Funeral Home’s Chapel in Prescott Valley. Full military honors will be provided by American Legion Post #6.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Scott’s memory be made to the American Lung Association. The family was cared for by Sunrise Funeral Home & Crematory in Prescott Valley.

(Information provided by survivors.)

Daniel V. Budrzysky

Daniel V. Budrzysky, 52, of Prescott, born Dec. 2, 1952, in Detroit, Mich., died Saturday, July 23, 2005, in Tucson.

Private cremation took place at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley.

A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, at Unity Church of Prescott, 145 S. Arizona Avenue.

Arrangements by Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home.