Paul Elias

Paul A. Elias passed away July 19, 2008 at a Hospice of the Valley home after a long illness.

He was a resident of Fountain Hills since 1982 and leaves behind his wife, Trudi, of 54 years; his daughter, Peggy Adams of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and son, Peter Elias of Scottsdale; and two granddaughters, Jennifer and Danielle, both of Pennsylvania.

Paul was born May 18, 1930, on the island of Java in Indonesia. He went to the University of Delft in The Netherlands and became a chemical engineer.

He moved to the U.S.A. and had several jobs and traveled all over the world. Paul enjoyed classical music, woodworking and photography and liked gardening. We will miss his great sense of humor.

Please send donations to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Karl Kuehl

Karl Kuehl, 70, of Fountain Hills died Wednesday, Aug. 6, at a Scottsdale hospital.

He had a 53-year career in Major League Baseball making his mark as a teacher and scout in the game. He was the 2006 recipient of the Roland Hemond Award for work in scouting and player development.

Mr. Kuehl grew up in California and started playing baseball professionally in 1955. He became the youngest manager in professional baseball as player manager at Salem, Ore. at age 21 in 1955. His only stint as a Major League manager was for the Montreal Expos and ended after less than a full season and a 43-85 record in 1976.

After six years as a base coach with the Minnesota Twins Mr. Kuehl went on to the Oakland Athletics were he was head of player development and an assistant to the general manager.

While with Oakland, he oversaw the farm system that turned out three consecutive rookies of the year, Jose Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987) and Walt Weiss (1988).

Other players who came out of the A’s farm system under his leadership included Terry Steinbach, Scott Brosius, Mike Bordick, Mike Gallego and Miguel Tejada.

Mr. Kuehl later worked with the Toronto Blue Jays and was with the Cleveland Indians as a special assistant to the general manager through the 2007 season.

Mr. Kuehl is also the author of two books about the mental side of the game of baseball. Those include The Mental Game of Baseball: a Guide to Peak Performance written with Harvey Dorfman and published in 1989, and Mental Toughness: Baseball’s Winning Edge, co-authored with his son, John and Casey Tefertiller in 2005.

His passion for helping players deal with the mental side of the game is believed to be his most enduring legacy in the game.

In addition to his son, John, Mr. Kuehl is survived by his wife, Norma; and daughters, Kara Neumann and Stefani Kuehl; six grandsons and a sister.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Sept. 6, at Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale.

The family is requesting memorial contributions in Karl’s name be made to Hospice of the Valley, Sherman House, 5801 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054.4503.

Ernie L. Oliphant

Ernie Oliphant passed away July 16, 2008. She was born Oct. 21, 1934, the middle child of Ernie and Beulah Reid, in Richmond, Ind. 

She met George at Earlam College and got married in September of 1955. They had three children, David, Wendell and Becky. In 1964 they moved from Newark, Ohio to Phoenix.

While raising her family she volunteered her time to the Phoenix Art Museum, Governor’s Commission on the Environment and Governor’s Highway Safety Council. It was through her work on the Safety Council that she became Executive Director of Operation Lifesaver (OLI), the railroads’ foremost safety program.

She enjoyed traveling all over North America and the Caribbean. She is survived by her sister, Edra Wiese; and brother, Paul Reid; her daughter, Becky Ozanne (Stephan); and sons, David (Stephanie Taul) and Wendell (Kelli Hoffman); and grandchildren, Ti Oliphant, and David, Valerie and Andy Oliphant and Kenyon and Mitchell Ozanne.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a safety program. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Phoenix Friends Meeting at 16th Street and East Glendale Ave, Phoenix. Cards can be sent to Sonora Rose, 16605 E. Palisades Blvd. Suite 110, Fountain Hills, AZ  85268.

Norris L. Reynolds

Following a prolonged illness and progressive dementia, Norris L. Reynolds, 66, passed away in Scottsdale (Bloomfield House Care Center) on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.

Born in New Castle, Pa. on May 9, 1942, to the late Dr. Amzie G. and Virginia (Hickok) Reynolds, he graduated from Neschannok High School in 1960.

Mr. Reynolds attended the University of Pittsburgh and Youngstown University. On Sept. 19, 1964, he married the former Margie Kuhn, who survives and was his constant source of care, courage and strength.

Also surviving is his sister, Thalia (Fred) Heiges of Hermitage, Pa. He was a very proud “Uncle Nowie” to niece, Laurel Anne (Frederick) Thorpe of Leawood, Kan. and nephew, Jeffrey George (Heidi) Heiges of Ellicott City, Md.; and great uncle to MacKenzie Olivia and, Morgan Elyse Thorpe, and Jeffrey George, Jr. and Aubrey Grace Heiges.

Other survivors include cousins and a host of abiding friends scattered about the USA since the Reynolds lived in Boston, Mass., Harrisburg, Pa. and O’ Fallon, Ill.

Their final move was to Rio Verde in 2001. Soon thereafter, Mr. Reynolds became ill, requiring assisted living services until his demise.

Extended “family” includes all of the staff at Bloomfield House Care Center and in particular, his primary caregiver for many years, Helen Walton, of Phoenix and then, his constant companion and beloved caregiver, Jonathan Jaime of Scottsdale, Jonathan was with him for the last six years.

Norris retired in 1994, after 30 years of service with Norwest Financial. His last position was in business development and his office was in St. Louis, Mo. Norwest Financial was formerly Dial Finance and is now Wells Fargo Financial.

His hobbies included boating and cruising. He volunteered as Santa for the American Cancer Society several years during the 1980s. Norris had a warm heart, was always approachable, and a friend to “all.”

No visitation hours have been scheduled with cremation provided as per his request. There will be a memorial service at the Bloomfield House, Scottsdale, AZ.  The date will be determined in the near future.

Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Desert Oasis Hospice, 20815 North 25th Place, Suite A106, Phoenix, AZ. 85050.

Lt. Col. Victor H. Stout

Lt. Col. Victor Hugh Stout (Ret.) passed away at his home in Fountain Hills on Aug. 8, 2008.

He was born to Myrtle and Dalma Stout in Thermopolis, Wyo. on June 30, 1919.

He was a veteran of WWII and Korea and was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and 10 other commendations or theater of operations ribbons.  He retired from the army with 22 years of service.

He was a 60-plus year member of the Masonic Lodge and was Post Master of Huachuca Lodge 53 in Sierra Vista, Ariz. He also belonged to the York Rite Bodies and to SABBAR Shrine Temple Tucson.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn of nearly 50 years; his daughter JoAnn Serro and spouse Tony; his son Larry Myers; his sister-in law Kay Stout; nine grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Messinger Mortuary in Fountain Hills on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Masonic service at 12:30 pm.

Funeral will be held at St. Anthony on the Desert Scottsdale on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 1:30 pm. Interment at Paradise Memorial Gardens, Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale.

In lieu of flowers, please make remembrances to Shrine Crippled Children, 450 Tucson Boulevard, Tucson, AZ or to preferred charities.